Day 1

Steve

Welcome to the forum, a place full of like minded people who share the same goal

To put an end to the self gifted misery that is the compulsion to gamble.

There is no cure,quick fix or intervention that can halt the self brought misery,but there is something wholly wonderful sitting right under your nose

Recovery.

You have to want it more than you do that next punt,my advice please take it, commit wholly to it and live within it.

Take some practical steps to eradicate the opportunity for that next punt

There is a triangle

Time-money-location

Take one away at all times and the next bet is impossible to place, giving the rational side of your brain valuable time to think.

Get some blocking software, seek help wherever you can find it, there's a wealth of it out there.

I came here nearly four years ago a broken man,suicide seemed like the best option, today I know that would have been a permanent solution to a temporary problem, one I self created.

Abstinence is a gift,it's there

Take it, be kind to yourself in turn that will bring kindness to others

Enjoy it, today you will win without waging a bean.

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Thanks for your reply Duncan, I feel good about giving up I feel a fresh start coming on and as usual I have been open to my misses about what I have done, unfortunately this feeling is always the same and just become routine in my habits, I have past this site many times and I know the triangle you talk of which now I will try and action and see how it pans out, my problem is I have a odd habit in that it's not daily habit it's random could be tomorrow I next gamble could be 3 weeks and when I do it it's very damaging, it's normally every 2 -3weeks and I find it hard to keep on top of and seem to forget this feeling of dread pretty quickly which leaves me open to do all again, I kind of mean if my habit was Daily I could keep on top of it daily and in check, not sure I'm making sense or not. I've seen many posts from you Duncan and wanted to say your a good man helping others it's nice to see people like you out there. I'm sure there's many others on here but just come across some of your posts even before I joined and had that feeling mate. Day 2 and no urges but not really surprised as this is how my habit works. Have a wonderful day people

Had a day off work yesterday, wasn't feeling great. All was going well until the misses had to pop out, I had 1800 in my account withdrawing I'm doubtful I will get it due to reading the small print after and breaching the max bet of 30% of deposit. So I went on to see how my withdrawal was going or so that's what I'm telling myself! Any way it's now down to £1000 it's not bothering me much as I say I'm very doubtful I will recieve it and rather they refused me 1000 then 1800, I didn't deposit any money so that's the main thing, just P****d that I couldn't go the day without slots being involved! So I guess I'm back on day one. On way to work now and feeling better, determined not to see any deposits onto a site on my online bank statement this fresh month it's horrible seeing that big list of deposits on statement and thinking about all the nice pressies I could of brought my beautiful loyal better half n kids! So selfish of me!

Hi Steve, thanks for posting on my diary, it really means a lot to get support. I've been down terrible path like you becoming addicted to online slots after being gamble free for 20 years from arcade slots. Like you, the times I would access online slots were random, I can never rationalise what sets me off......anyway last year I really tried but kept being drawn back in, this year I've been gamble free apart from one small blip in Oct & another last night which shows you can never be complacent. What has helped me this year is doing it for myself, my own self worth & peace of mind, taking small steps, one day at a time. Focus on one day at a time and with support you will get through this.

Mo

GT wrote:

Welcome.

Sounds like an absolutely perfect time to stop this gambling madness. You have young children who have every right to demand as much of your time and your love as possible.

Small prints, eh? There are millions of those small prints that makes it totally not worth our while to give money to 'them'. 'They' will do everything to make profits.

Presents are not everything. Time with your family is.

GT

So true, I am looking forwards to spending all my time off over Xmas with my family and not With laptop in front of me, it's not going to be easy, but look forwards not seeing a single deposit made for the month of December. Thanks for your support n time to reply.

Mo wrote:

Hi Steve, thanks for posting on my diary, it really means a lot to get support. I've been down terrible path like you becoming addicted to online slots after being gamble free for 20 years from arcade slots. Like you, the times I would access online slots were random, I can never rationalise what sets me off......anyway last year I really tried but kept being drawn back in, this year I've been gamble free apart from one small blip in Oct & another last night which shows you can never be complacent. What has helped me this year is doing it for myself, my own self worth & peace of mind, taking small steps, one day at a time. Focus on one day at a time and with support you will get through this.

Mo

Is be very pleased with myself if it was twice in a year, a relapse doesn't mean all is lost, it's hurt you and frustrated you, this isn't a bad thing. The difference this time is you are no longer accustomed to this feeling and it means something this time, remember when you was playing all the time, if you was anything like me you would say this to yourself day in day out and you would feel this feeling but in a strange way you wouldn't feel it at all it just become something you told and you knew it was a lie.

This time you can actually feel this feeling for real!! Not sure if I'm making any sense at all really or just nonsense but it is 630 am and I'm running late for work.. Ha have a good day mo.

I've decided to post here every day in the mornings on my way to work, it kind of beats worrying about how to get out of this hole I'm in! I've started to read a self help book called "the power of the sub conscious mind" by Dr Joseph "something"* seems to make a lot of sense so far good bit of positive thinking can't be a bad thing eh

Well done at trying different avenues Steve. Go to keep going and not look back.

Hi Steve , Just what you need buddy , PMA ! Nothing to do with womens problems , just a Positive, Mental , Attitude.

Your doing well my friend , stay safe !

Best wishes ......................................Alan

ALAN 135 wrote:

Hi Steve , Just what you need buddy , PMA ! Nothing to do with womens problems , just a Positive, Mental , Attitude.

Your doing well my friend , stay safe !

Best wishes ......................................Alan

thanks Alan, stay stronge yourself matey.

I have a issue, I had deposited £100 into a gambling account and withdraw £1000 due to small print they knocked it back, I figured they would anyway but I got the email confirming this, they took the money and left me with £100 back in my account, I had no intention of gambling again but now I have £100 sitting in my account I wanna play it if it goes I don't mind just want to end this madness and put it to bed once and for all! What do I do. This all happend about a week ago now just got the email.

Hi Steve , easy for me to say buddy but I'd just leave it behind and walk away , theyv'e taken lots from you in the past so whatsanother £ 100 ?.

It might just stop you being sucked back in again ?.

Your choice my friend !

Best wishes for now .......................................Alan

As soon as I got that text telling me I was credit with £100 I knew I would gamble it, and when my misses told me to get some dinner on way home from work as she was at her mums with kids I got excited not only could I gamble it I could do it in peace!! Of course I lost it, but I'm glad it's out the way and over with, now I can self exclude and forget all about it! I still have my goal that is to not deposit in the month of December, which I'm confident I won't. Have a wonderful Friday people.

Saturday day off today, would of defo been playing slots, misses went out to do a boot fair this morning, I was home looking after kids, found myself enjoying there company loads, giving them 100% attention is much more fun, would normally be playing slots in between feeding them changing them and getting grumpy with them when losing!! Had real fun today!