Help

Hi Matt

Parent of someone in your position speaking -

Focus on the positives - you are holding down a job where you have a bright future. In most jobs there is a fair amount of organisational skills involved. Use these skills to make a written plan for your recovery i.e. counselling, financial management, self exclusion, counting off the days not gambling, finding other ways to channel your energy - and whatever sort of day you may have keep looking at that plan and talking to people on here. It does help to get others involved in your finances as it makes it harder to gamble but that is up to you of course. You have succeeded before and you can do it again as you are doing now. We all know on here that it is not easy and recovery is a rollercoaster ride but there are a lot of positives from people to be read on here as well that are quite inspirational. Good luck Matt and wish you many more gamble-free days.

Thanks both of your reply. I have managed another weekend gamble free. The losses are crippling Emily and yes we have to accept that the only way to re-coup them is to quit gambling and forget what we have lost. Every day gamble free is a step to a better future. We both know that a win will always be followed by eventual losses.

To be a parent of someone with this illness must be hard but your support will be invaluable. I have battled through this alone really and continue to do so. This diary is my place to let it out. The written plan is something I will definitely do. Thanks for the ideas and replies on my diary. They truly help.

Day 16 begins. Another tough one with football a plenty to bet on but I will abstain!

Day 19 nearly finished. Another full football coupon to avoid tomorrow

Keep up the good work Matt

You seem to be doing well Matt, good work.

It's tough watching all this sport to try and not think about having a bet....it's literally shoved in your face everywhere. I have thought about betting today briefly but I came on here.

We don't want to give our hard earnt cash to William, Paddy, Victor or any of their other friends.

Stay GF mate.

RA

Day 22, pay day Friday the next big challenge although as soon as I am paid it will all go out to pay off these ludicrous gambling debts 🙁

Thanks RA. So tough. I literally have no money to bet anyway!! I've invested some time in my fantasy football team recently, that helps distract...not sure how.

Day 24 begins

Matt 24 wrote:

Day 24 begins

Just a couple of days behind you Matt.

I normally start punting straight after midnight when i get my month's wages, tomorrow night i am paying bills instead.

Stay strong and do what you know is right for you!!

Skyblueblue

Well done Matt, stay strong and positive x

Staying strong. Pay day tomorrow but literally nearly all going out to start paying the debts back.

Well done skyblue

Thanks anon100. I'm sure we all have different stories but still facing the same battles just in different ways. Hope we can beat this for good

Day 30 today. Still staying strong. Pay day come and gone. Most of which went on debt repayments. Going to take a long time to recover financially but my home life feels a lot better, this cannot be a co-incidence. The distraction of gambling has helped me think clearly but the financial pressure is now weighing heavily. I will not gamble though, the hole is deep enough and I have to get out of this legitimately.

dAY 37 Gamble free.... feel a world better about things but finances are in a right mess. How I do Xmas I do not know. I will not be gambling though