We’re going along ok. One simple change for me, went online and blocked my bank account being used for anything online betting, sport books, national lottery.
I’ve become more reflective, I don’t avoid racing (ITV) and realise how ridiculously hard it is to find winners. Mad how I would sit daily and bet (when not at work!) filling my hours, just aimlessly betting £10, £20 on anything. The ReqiestABet on Sky, promotions etc. i. now just watch football not getting anxious about a SoT or praying for a corner or a card. That changed how I viewed the sport.
it’s not a major timescale, a few days, but first time in years that I really applied myself and taken a step to remove problem gambling from my life.
I’ve also got a bit more money being put away for my holiday to USA next year and already have £1800 put aside. Small wins.
just wanted to share a slow, steady, positive beginning as I’ve been gambling since 1998, daily for the past 3 years.
Today, no real urges, another £200 in the holiday savings fund = £2000.
Last physical deposit / bet - 2.8.22
Day 32 - NO BET
had a couple of days where I would have been tempted but overall, and given how prolific I bet, I’m in a good place.
Hi
I am so much healthier now I do not want or need to gamble today.
I use to work so hard for my money and use to chuck it away for nothing.
You blocking your bank account being used for gambling is setting a boundary for your self.
For me I had to hand over all my finacnes I was that emotionally vulnerable with money on my person.
For me I use to avoid watching racing dogs casinos.
I was still escaping in one way or another.
In time I changed my focus to healthier hobbies and interests.
It is very healthy to remove problem gambling from my life.
You have put money away for your holiday to USA next year, that was very strange rewarding myself and my family and getting away.
You are fulling a want to do thing.
On our first holidays I took my worst enemy with me and was not that healthy.
I found it difficult to give up my control issues.
I am pleased I have invested so much time and energy in to my recovery.
My family no longer fear.
My family are honest with me today.
Love healing and peace to every one.
Dave L
AKA Dave Of Beckenham UK
Another week, done. No real urges or actual desire to bet.
38 days.
46 days no bet/deposit.
no issues Monday - Friday.
another Saturday fairly easy - especially given the Ayr gold cup is normally. Day I look forward too. I still watched it. Still picked a horse (it lost!!). Just enjoyed the race, zero stress.
good luck to other.
54 days. No urges, amazing how I’ve gone from 15-20 deposits a day to nothing. To not really wanting to. I can watch any sport without any anxiety of stress of a horse winning, placing or a team getting bookings or winning corners.
Sport is once again, sport. Fun. Competitive. Enjoyable.
wishing everyone well. Thanks for reading.
61 days. Sport is better, no arguments. Life is better
Another 7 days, no deposits! No bookies. No really wanting to do either.
68 days.
Tbh, I don’t miss the stress when I watch a live game, the corners and bookings etc, the Sat acca maybe a little more? Reality, I don’t need either to be happy and I feel more content in myself.
have a good week.
Day 80.
No real urges anymore. I still watch all sport, including racing and realise NOW how hard it really is. When gambling, I got lost, often in the chase and hoping for that win! Watching sport with no anxiety or stress is great!
My ONLY change, was blocking through my mobile bank app, any online betting transactions being able to be placed! It has been great for me and took about 5 seconds to do.
Day 84…first real test!!
I’m off work, bored last 48hrs and I find myself thinking about how I could fill my time. Now, work isn’t great - but finding the time a different challenge. With everyone else at work, not sure what I can turn to. Today has been hard and I’ve become irritable too…maybe because I am scrolling social media a lot too!
good luck to everyone else.
103 days! Not been to bad, work is busy and my only time has been when I was off work on holiday - so that will be my tests but week to week, no real urges.
Happy and proved to myself, I DONT need to gamble to make myself feel good! 103 days after so many years of daily betting is some proof!
Again, my only change, using my online mobile banking app to stop and block all betting transactions. Simple, 10 second change, has meant 103 days without deposit or transaction!
123. Days.
Given there is a World Cup on, in recent weeks Cheltenham and today Aintree and Sandown, it’s amazing how my habits and “need” “desire” to gamble just isn’t there!!
a reminder - I made ONE change. I used my banking app to block all gambling transactions. That’s the only change I have made. It’s changed my habit.
good luck. I haven’t been on as much as my minds first thought is no longer what am I betting on today!
So, went 146 days gamble free…but lured in by the Boxing Day buzz and sport, said to my partner will just deposit £... and that will be all... However a couple of winners in, I made a small withdrawal for half the deposit, £... I then won £... on a football acca and I was buzzing again. I made another withdrawal for £... and played up the rest, which I lost. So that should have been the end but I then deposited another £... across 6 deposits on the 27th. Already I was lying to my partner, already the arguments had started, this was no longer fun and I wasn’t going to enjoy the bets as the mood in my house had changed. Now, I withdrew £... on the 27th so across the 2 days, a few ££ profits, that’s the lucky part. For all the stress and arguments it caused, not worth it a jot. At this point, the 27th is my birthday - so that was spoilt too…
28th, gambling controls back on…back to day 3. Lesson learnt.
thanks for reading, happy new year!!
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