Heeeeeeelp!!

Gambling is affective my life in so many negative ways apart from my bank balance.
I've gained weight approx 3 stone, I train sometimes if I lose I don't feel like training if I win I feel like gambling more so it's lose lose. I can never get enough, it tiring and I'm sick of it. I want to get my life back in order I want to get my weight right.
It's time consuming not only in my mind but my weekends are spent watching sports following my phone waiting on results it's ridiculous I want my life back.
Worst of all tho is the effect it has on my anxiety. I'm unsure whether gambling caused the anxiety but it certainly doesn't help moods going up and down brain over working makes me worse it's got to stop.
I'm going to use this as a diary of not only my effort to quit gambling but getting other things sorted in my life also I'm finding it already helps writing my feelings down

So here's to day 1 again!!! Woke up with a hangover feeling, really can't keep going round like this all the time. This has Been going on for 20 years. I had 1 year off and it was the fittest and richest I've been lol. I've got a meeting where I have the opportunity to gamble on the way home today, usually means me turning up late or getting home late as I've detoured somewhere. I've removed all cards from my wallet, today I will not gamble.

Well I got to and from my meeting without gambling, can't say I didn't think about it but I've made it. Hopefully onto the next day and what may be a tricky weekend, thank God the football season is finishing cos the sports betting is what usually triggers an avalanche of other bets. I won 500 quid last weekend but unfortunately cancelled the withdrawal so I actually won nothing. What is the point in me gambling as I always give it back plus some more. Diet has been c**P today but will definitely go for a run tomorrow

Here's to day 2, still annoyed with how stupid I've been. Thoughts creep in should u try gambling my way out of trouble what a stupid thought that is considering that's what got me in this mess. Even if I did gamble and win I wouldn't stop and would end up losing everything.
I need to constantly remind myself what gambling affects, my mind, my anxiety, my weight, my marriage, my friends. I'm taking back control of my life and this time for good.

Hi there hatefobts.

You say you have pulled out all the stops the stops this times to prevent you from gambling but you mentioned you not going into the betting office on the way home. Does this not mean then, that you have self excluded yourself from any of them? This may need to be your next big step if you really want to progress further.

Wishing you the best of luck.

Our Lady

Hi our Lady I travelled to London yesterday so this meant stopping on the journey back. All local betting offices have been self excluded

Ah ok but im sure you can exclude nationally?? I dont do betting office or fobts so maybe someone else can confirm this better.

Hi HF , Our Lady is right there's a national self exclution helpline where you can nationally self exclude :)).

If you click on the " Get advice " tag at the top of the page and scroll down to " What can you do " ? then click on " Self exclution " it'll take you to where you need to be :))

OK thanks guys, previous experience tells me tho if I wanted to walk into those bookies and gamble I could, the self exclusion policy is not great. It works locally for me I don't want to be shamed and asked to leave. I'd much rather a card scheme with bookmakers where you have to provide id to gamble I think we are a long way off that tho.
Nevertheless day 2 gamble free is almost in the bag. Just been for a run and completed a weight training session. So unfit at the moment but am determined to stay gamble free and get fit. The weekend will be a test

If I'd wanted to get around the self exclusions that I put in place when I gave up gambling , then there would have been no problem as I'd only have to jump in the car and find a bookie that didn't know me ! . It's not about that but more about the time it can gift you to think about what "Placing that next bet " is going to do and the continuing carnage I was going to cause .

Ultimately if you want to continue to gamble then you will but if nothings worked before and you continue to gamble , I'd take every weapon I could along with me , it's about taking all the control you can :))

Spot on Alan, I put the blocks in place before leaving. It's my own will power thay self excludes not the bookies as I find they couldn't care less

Hi H,

Cheers for posting support on my diary. Don't you give in to those urges. It'll get easier after the initial weeks.

I can say for certain that I'd be popping to the bookies on the way home to blow a few quid if not for me starting my latest diary. As it is I'll go and do a few bits around the house.

Have a great weekend. No need to ruin it by gambling.

Cheers curly, played golf first time in 9 months today. Good to meet up with an old pal and really enjoyed it. Definitely think part of the reason I haven't played as that my mind was elsewhere and I always seemed busy or would make an excuse when really I was thinking about gambling or in the bookies. No gambling today. Spent £20 this afternoon which must be a record for a friday. Sat out the back enjoying a beer now. I must add without checking the rugby or football scores. I just find it mad that when u still even for 2-3 days your mind becomes so much clearer. Anyway tough weekend ahead, wish everyone the best for the weekend, let's hope this is my first gamble free weekend this year

So just finished my first gamble free weekend in ages, felt really good. Amazing how much you can do with £100 instead of just 2 spins on the roulette wheel. Hopefully I will start to value money again.
Also passed an9ther test today, I had to go to the bank to take out approx £400 to pay a debt. Usually if I take out cash I don't make it to where I'm supposed to and detour to the bookies. Even tho I had those thoughts today I made it to my destination and paid as planned. It felt really good that I was in control for a change. I'm not going to make a habit of taking out large sums but today was a test. Looking forward to some training this week and making sure my diet is right.