Decided I should start a recovery diary and log my progress, hope it helps! Today is Day 2 (with Monday being Day Zero) and it’s still pretty raw thinking about it all. I was so close to doing a bet last night but thankfully I stayed away.
I did something I always hated doing which was picking a bet but not actually placing it. The 2 teams I picked both won but instead of feeling annoyed I felt just indifferent, maybe coz I know any winnings would soon turn into losses and much more. Even as I sit here typing this I still dream of the one big win that solves all problems. What makes it even more difficult is I have plenty of cash available at the minute so it’s not like I’m waiting for payday and can’t gamble until then.
It’s only Day 2 but I look forward to my first milestone of 10 days.
Hi Jax, I also want to start a recovery diary and if you do not mind we can share the same page and discuss our progress. I am also addicted to sports betting and I have decided to call it a day forever. My major issue atm is that I am unemployed which means I have alot of time on my hands and whenever I get bored I turn to the bookies to bet. As you mentioned I always dream of making that massive win but i have realised that the whole gambling thing is a scam. I always think gambling could be a source of income and being unemployed it always motivates me more to try and win my money back till I lose it all.
This is Day 1 and also the beginning of the end, the most important thing now is to keep myself busy and my mind off betting. I have intensified the job hunt and also ordering the latest football manager game to keep my mind preoccupied. I use to spend hours playing that game when I was younger, you should also give it a try! It is very interesting. In addition to this I have unfollowed all gambling tipsters on twitter as they are part of the problem with gamblers these days. Betting has affected me emotionally and my family keep noticing my mood swings, I can not continue like this. I have a very close friend that is also an excessive gambler, he is even worse than me. I made sure I told him my intentions to quit gambling and also told him to please not discuss anything gambling related to me. I really hope he can also take some steps towards quiting as well.
Well this is day 1 looking forward to day 100
"I Shall Stay Gambling Free"
Day 2! So far all good. Yesterday was my first day gambling free and funny enough so many good things happened. I applied for something about 7 months ago and yesterday they finally got back with a success letter. I am a big football fan and looking at football news yesterday and the Europa matches coming up did give me the urge to bet but i fought back and tried to take it off my mind. This is the step forward! Thinking about it have you heard of any millionaire that made his money off sports betting? its a lose lose situation with gambling. I wish everyone a gamble free positive day.
"I Shall Stay Gambling Free"
A bit down today not because of the urge to gamble but because of the money that I have wasted. I am going out later today and looked at the clothes I have and just wondered what I would have bought with the money I wasted gambling. It is just too crazy really! I will never ever go through that gambling phase again. All I can do now is just to learn from my mistakes and move on! Forward and Backwards Never!
"I Shall Stay Gambling Free"
Day 3! Had a great time yesterday with the girlfriend. I could properly concentrate on her without checking my phone to see if the team that I bet on has score or not. I bet my girlfriend use to think I was crazy with the mood swings, If the team I bet on is winning I will be so happy and bubbly but if they are losing I will be so depressed, sad and snappy. Its actually funny because she asked yesterday why I am not on my phone much today, if only she knew. I have not told my girlfriend about my issue because I believe she will look down on me and see me as less of a man. I believe I can beat it without telling her about it, it will be better for me mentally.
Talking about mentally, the mind is such a crazy thing. It is your brain and your mind but you are not totally in control of it. In this world if someone can totally control himself he will be a very successful man. Its just like in Uni, the more you study the more you will pass your exams! The more you can control yourself to not be distracted or be lazy and keep studying the more you can be successful. With this gambling sickness, we just have to control ourselves mentally. We have to block out the urges and the memories of how much we have lost and the will to try and win it back. We are all greedy if you think about it, we all believe the amount of money we have or earn is not enough and we want to earn more and more and end up losing everything. Even when we win through gambling we want to go again and win even more and more.
I am happy to see another day, gambling free and the only greed I will have from now on is to have more and more gambling free days under my belt!
"I Shall Stay Gambling Free"
well done protosta. a really good start
how have you been Jax? you've been very quiet? getting any help?
Day 4! Thank you triangle, I really appreciate you taking the time out to send me a message.
Yesterday was a good day, there were some urges since it was a Saturday and you know there are a lot of football matches going on. Now that I am not betting I could fully concentrate on watching my favourite team rather than monitoring all the teams I use to bet on for my accumulator. The self control is getting much stronger and I am feeling much better about life. Hopefully it continues to stay that way! Oh and just to add a sparkle to my Saturday... Chelsea lost! Hahah
Day 5! Was a very good weekend, didnt think much about gambling. Got a busy day planned today so I can keep my mind off the bookies! Have a great week ahead everyone
Hi Day 7! still going strong. been so preoccupied that i even do not think about going on gamcare to update my status.
Take care and God bless
Since my last entry a lot has went on in general. Fall outs and discussions about everything all came to a head and finally I revealed to my OH about my gambling and the debt I find myself in. Like an idiot since my last post I started betting again and won initially. At the weekend I lost the 200 profit I had and another 100 of my own money, will I ever learn? I need to stop right now, I know that but I don’t seem to be able to do it. I always dream of that one big win which reels me back in. I just need to get my head down and work hard to get out of this debt. It will take about 5 years but you have to start somewhere! No point sitting here in another 5 years still in debt (or even bigger debt).
I got a part time job recently (I have a full time 9 to 5 job also) for some extra cash and even though it was hectic my first night I actually quite enjoyed it! Got paid 60 for the shift which is decent considering it’s only for one night. I will get one shift every fortnight at least but hopefully be more than that. Just need to cut out the gambling as it would wipe out all the hard work and it would be for nothing.
The little bundle of joy will be arriving soon and I can safely say my life will never be the same again after that. I can feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders already having to provide for the 3 of us. I have never wanted much responsibility in the past and now that I have it – well it scares me to bits.
Actually being a father excites me though. I want to be the doting Dad that would do anything for his kids and provides for them. I look forward to watching them grow up happy and full of life where anything is possible for them. I will give them all the love in my heart and protect them with everything I can. For them I will stop gambling. For them I will work harder than ever before to build a loving home for the 3 of us.
Hi potosta I am just seeing all of these posts now as I haven't logged on in a while. My previous post shows that I haven't been doing too well on the gambling front although I am determined to beat this addiction! I felt embarrassed about coming back on here after betting again but so many of us are in the same boat.
I used to love FM and would have spent hours on end playing it but don't have a PC or laptop in the house which is prob a good thing. I can relate so much to what you are saying i.e. sitting with girlfriend checking the phone for scores etc. You do be in other peoples company but your mind is elsewhere. The jubliation of winning and loathsome feelings when we lose is all too much to take at times.
If you do see this then I'm would be more than happy for us to share our progress!
Also Hi to Triangle, hope all is well with you too!
Hi Jax,
Please just keep strong and keep going. It is not an easy process but the most important thing is keeping your mind occupied. I invested in the new FIFA16, which I play whenever I am bored and also have been doing a professional course online as well. Anytime I have the urge to bet I just quickly latch on to something to keep me away. You see I look at the bookies as a loan shark, we are literally borrowing money if you think about it and when we pay back we pay back with alot of interest. This means whenever you win money you will eventually lose that money plus more of your own money. There is no winning! Betting is all a scam and a fraud. Keep strong my brother we will beat this thing together!. Congrats on the baby coming!
Day 15! "I Shall Stay Gambling Free"
Bookies as a loan shark, that’s a good comparison protosta. No matter how much we get off them they always get it back plus interest!
On my way home from work yesterday I ended up in a betting shop, I’m not going to lie I really felt the need to do a big bet to recoup some of my losses. I had a bet picked out and all then it dawned on me ‘what the hell am I doing?’ I physically felt sick to the pit of my stomach. I chose to put the pencil down and walk out with my money still in my wallet. (The bet lost so I saved a lot)
Even though I knew it was wrong I still wanted to do the bet simply to win some money, not for the buzz or boredom or anything like that. When I look to the future all I can see at the minute is stress over money which is stupid. I am in a position where my debt is manageable even though it will take years to pay off, I won’t struggle month to month as long as I keep my head down and work hard. The range of emotions I’m feeling at the minute is overwhelming at times although I know from previous experience that will pass.
I don’t have a Playstation or Xbox myself protosta but have played 3 matches against my mate on FIFA16 and won, he wasn’t too pleased as he plays all the time though lol!
Reading a lot of threads in the New Members section and I noticed a constant throughout. Most of the new posters had lost all their money at the time of posting which in effect takes away their ability to gamble. I've been there in the past and yes it does help until the next payday that is. I find myself in the opposite position though as even though I have accumulated debt I currently have plenty of money in my account and it would be very easy to go and place a bet. I suppose I feel by having money and not gambling I prove to myself I can do it!? I could use it to pay off some of the debt but don't want to get penalised for early repayments. Think I will put the extra cash into the credit union, that way it's not easily accessable as I'd have to call into the branch to withdraw.
Yesterday I tried closing 2 credit card accounts, both of which have a zero balance. The 1st one was no problem and they closed it without any hassle. The 2nd one offered me £20 credit on my account and an extended interest free period for being a loyal customer! I have to admit credit cards have contributed to my debt problem but I’ve only ever used them for purchases, never for gambling. My credit rating couldn’t be better as well as I have never missed a payment on anything but it means I constantly get offers through the post for loans, CC’s etc. Think I’ll just use the £20 for groceries!
I woke up this morning to a text from a local arcade I used to frequent but haven’t been to in ages. It’s £10 free credit to use on any machine or roulette I want. Machines aren’t my thing anyway but it’s almost like they know I’m attempting to stop gambling! It’s a clever way of tempting you back but I’ll let them keep their tenner.
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
