So as my name suggests I'm at a cross in the road. Compulsive gambler since around 11 years of age started with losing all my money on slot machines and walking home as if gamble my bus fare to the dreaded fobts. I love a sports bet and until today was not willing to let that go but today was the final straw went to put football bet on won 700 and lost the lot. I won 1800 last week and lost the lot as well so really what is the point. I'm at a point where if I keep this up it will destroy my marriage so have come clean wife is supportive and I'm going to try my best to stop cold turkey. Gambling is causing me stress also to put on weight as when I win I pig out and buy c**P when I lose I don't want to exercise. It's taking up too much time sat Saturday afternoon watching soccer Saturday. I've got a good job and a nice life but this is the absolute scourge of it. I read someone's diary a few years back and they question did they really want to be like thus in 10 years well this has been the best part of 25 years altho it's only the past 10 I have acknowledged the problem. This is the turning point a stake in the ground the money is gone I don't care about that but I do car how it affects other aspects of my life. I'll be keeping a diary and hopefully chatting a couple of times a week as I need to keep my focus. Day 1 starts tomorrow
Day 1
Off to watch the football thus afternoon and a few beers. Need to keep my Saturday afternoons filled with things to do from now on it else I'll slip back into boredom and placing a football bet which leads to everything else unravelling. It's all or nothing and I have accepted that the problem I have is remembering how I feel after a bad loss. If I could bottle that it would be no issue quitting although I think that would be quite depressing feeling that every day. My aim is to get to 100 days and then readdress. Let's have a good weekend gambkefree and stress free
Have a great day Cross, keep strong, get through without a bet and it's day one done and dusted which you will feel good about and spur you on. Take care.
Thanks velvet first day down. I feel a bit if relief at the thought of no gambling to be honest I just really need to keep to it. I was just getting myself further and further into debt. If I won I gambled more and spent the money in needless things if I lost I borrowed more it's just a vicious circle. Let's hope I can move forward and repay some of the debts
Stay stong Cross, as a fellow sports betting addict i know how hard the weekend can be, but like you say if we win we lose, if we lose we normally lose more. So why the hell do we want to agree to staying in that life?!
Draw the line and move forward GF. Forget whats gone and look forward to what we can have without giving in to this addiction!
Good luck!
Thanks sj I've forgotten about the money it's taken a couple of decent wins where I couldn't even enjoy them for one day for me to lose them all and more to realise there is no point in it. Yes I enjoy a sports bet but really it's just hurting me in the long run. Money I now don't waste on a bet will either be put into paying off debt or treating myself to something. The money I've wasted has been ridiculous
Day 3 almost complete. No major urges I have to drive passed a few bookies later so hopefully that will be ok. I'm self excluded from them all but you can still walk in not sure if the people remember or even care. Really want to get myself debt free, no gambling will certainly give me a clear mind. How have a wasted so much time and money over the years? Bit of exercise tonight as well usually I have all good intentions but have a gamble lose and end up not doing anything or stuffing my face. I've out on around 5 stone in the last 10 years. That's got to come down
Day 4 almost complete. Left some cash in my wallet by accident went into town after work and at one point remembered I had the cash. I won't lie I did think about going to the bookies but convinced myself what is the point I can't even get out of there if I win. I ended up going shopping and then for a run . I feel so much better for doing so, I make plans each week to do certain things and usually betting gets in the way and ruins these plans. A small goal is to get to Friday with going for a run each day. I love a gamble and enjoy the rush but it's making me miserable in the long run, my weight gets me down and I don't want to be in debt. I need to stay on the straight and narrow to get life back on track.
Day 5 complete and also another day when I've been out running. How I'd love to keep this up, the exercise and no gambling is so much better for my health and mental health. I know I'm only just beginning but I'm hoping I can look back in a month and see that finances are recovering and I'm losing some weight. I'm going to make a conscious effort every month to remind myself how much better life us without gambling. Onto tomorrow hopefully another day gamble free and healthy. Here's to a clearer mind and body
So another day down and another day gamble free and a run. Feeling better. Went to the shop and bought some beers and wine for me and the wife. Nice to not try and win some free beer and it end up costing me a fortune. Actually felt good doing thus how crazy is that. Hopefully get another run in tomorrow and enjoy the weekend with family. Small steps but just keeping on track to what I'm supposed to be doing is good. I can feel the less I gamble to luckier I will get.
Keep going mate, doing well. I think theres an added sense of pride when we start treating ourselves to even the small things we've giving no thought to when consumed by gambling in the past. Feels like we properly earnt it. I think it helps us to see what we've been missing too, i know its given me a buzz to feel like im "using" the money i earn a little more now!
Totally agree if you were to explain thus to a non gambler they would look at you stupid. Anyway I earned a beer so will enjoy it. Thanks
Friday afternoon the scourge of my life. This is where 90% of my gambling occurs. Today I'm going straight home and will try a short run. I must not go near a bookies this afternoon
Well done mate keep making the right choices
Wilsy
First Saturday in ages I'm not surrounded in betting slips swearing at the tv because some team I know nothing about has conceeded a late goal and lost me my bet. Feels good going to look forward to watching the rugby
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