degenerate gambler

Some progress today.

I missed my bus had to wait for next bus for over half an hour and did not go into nearby bookmakers with my last few quid as usual. 🙂

well done on your decision

there is lots of support in gamcare

you could even give them a call and get some help?

tri

Lost my wallet.

Finding it really easy to not gamble when I have no money and no bank cards. 🙂

Know how you feel - losing what you had available almost felt like a relief as there were no urges when all you had was a tenner left to last a week till the next payday.

The problems start again come payday though so you need to think ahead and if you feel that you need to put some blocks in place.

Today is my payday but I dont have my bank card (got my father looking after it for me) so I know theres no danger of me going crazy like I used to do EVERY payday for 15+years!

Found my wallet 🙂

Still have some money and at times I am trying to convince myself a bet is a sound financial decision.

Still not going to bet.

Realised I still had an Open account with an online bookmakers after receiving a free bet email.

Apparently, I gamble far too much money and waste away all my savings is NOT a detailed enough reason for a certain bookmakers to close my account. I had to give more reasons.

Degenerate

Fella welcome to the forum a place where you will receive a wealth of help and support in your quest to arrest the destructive gambling from your life.

Honesty with everyone has been the greatest tool I have in maintaining continued abstinence.

I hope you continue to make the right choice,have you installed blocking software on your computer to help yourself,I believe it is available for free.

Regards the wallet,I did laugh out loud,why??

Because during my gambling life I lost count of the wallets containing weeks wages I lost!!

The lies I told to cover my addiction truly pityfull at times.

Keep making the right choice,enjoy the fact that for us to win we don't have to wage a penny.

As for the offer of a free punt,we both know that doesn't exist!!

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back

as i learnt to my detriment closing an account is meaningless its so easy to re open again

i had to self exclude telling them i was a compulsive gambler who had a massive problem with gambling

self exclude for as long as you can

normally up to 5 years

@duncanmac I am not installing blocking software, may be possible on my mac but I have access to too many devices and i am not sure if it would be any help. I mostly gamble in bookmaker shops.

@triangle Yeah I closed all my accounts at new year when I stopped for 4 months. Opened a couple more after Grand National relapse.

I think I am much more aware I have a huge gambling problem. Losing around a 600-1000 a month regualrly.

I thought my relapse after 4 months was okay cos I was in control and only betting small stakes but the bets gradually increased month after month.

Reading through forum articles and particularly relapse articles has been a big help. I am in the same boat as everyone else and a few months of control does not mean I am cured. Need to avoid all gambling in all forms.

Day 7

Progress. I have gone a week without gambling for first time since April. Still need to find a hobby to fill my time.

Even though I am still pretty low on funds I am eating better, regularly and feeling a lot better throughout day. Not dwelling on 2nd place horses and useless jockeys.

Day 10

🙂

Day 15.

Not gambling was pretty easy for a week there. Urge to gambling is getting much stronger. Finding it difficult this week.

Although I have not been gambling i have not exactly been managing my money well. Now that I have less money to spend I am getting much greater urges to gamble. Staying strong though.

Hiya mate, thanks for your post on my diary. I too have a problem in a bookies with horses and dogs and then when theres a gap the cartoons fill the time. I just gamble bigger and bigger till the bookies closes or my money runs out. For years I have spent a months wage on payday and had nothing to spend for the remainder of the month. I beat it for over 250 days but then slipped up. I was close to giving up, but somehow I ended up back on here. Stay strong, you are a few days ahead of me and if you stay ahead of me you have a bright future. The most important thing I did to help me stop was giving someone else control of my finances. I thought I could be trusted with my card again, but I was wrong and slipped up. Now I'm back to square one and have told my mum not to ever give me my bank card again and to only give me small amounts of money at a time.

you can also ask bookmakers to selfexclude you permenantly or up to 5 years and not just online sites they have to oblige there is no shame in doing so you are the wise one by doing this , all the best simon

Thanks for advice.

I too have been kicked out my local bookies at closing many times. Some days staff like to knock off early when shops empty and I can see them groan when I walk in bookies, they know I will be there till closing time.

I have come very close to having a bet today. I was pretty sure I was going to at one point but I do not want to undo all work I have done to stop myself gambling. I stopped myself this time.

Its been hard work not gambling for past couple of weeks and its difficult for me to get to 20 days nevermind 200 but im getting closer.