Here goes nothing...

Hi Luke

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life. Your story is not boring it is your own unique road to here! As for having a demanding job and not having time to post may I ask how you managed to get into £7,500 of debt if you don't have five minutes to post. Please don't think I'm having a go but this was pointed out to me many years ago. If you go back gambling you have more misery awaiting. Therefore your recovery should be the most important thing in your life ahead of everything. Without recovery you are heading back to what you know doesn't work for you. try posting and reading as much as you can.

Take care

Wecome to the site mate.i have jst came back to this site today myself after losing alot of Money in last few weeks.sorry to here bout ur problems with this horrible illness.i have tryed to stop many times from the age of 18 am now 32 and after a few weeks of not betting I think I can control it again.how WRONG was i,get a few wins and was betting sensible then boom down 3/4k again.trust me mate the only way to win is not to gamble because as like me we cant stop ourselves going for more money.i will keep an eye on your diary mate as this is my 1st day bet free and hope we can encourage each other to rap this horrible disease.;-) take care mate. No bet today will definitely make for you a better tomorrow.

Scottyboy

Thankyou for your replies 🙂 smilie your point is very valid! I just meant I can go away with no internet for weeks at a turn so if you don't hear from me then you know why however I'll probably post a little something saying however long I'm going away for! Sorry if you misunderstood, and ScottyBoy I really liked that quote at the end, but hopefully we can help eachother through this, sick of it all now and want it out of my life, look after yourselves!

Luke.

No offence taken my friend! My recovery on here is for me and I give people pointers of how it was for me. No two paths are the same. What works for you works.

Take care

well done on making the first few steps towards recovery. It is a hard path but does get easier with time. Stick with it.

Best wishes

Keep up staying away mate 😉

Scottyboy

Had been clean just a few days before my mum put money into my account to pay back my girlfriend what I owed her (roughly £800) and I've just gambled it all away, can't stop crying and feeling pathetic, just a sorry excuse of a man, told my girlfriend but don't know if I can face my mum, she'll be torn to bits and so dissapointed, just so annoyed at myself, feel so helpless right now.

Please don't give up lucky0 - this has happened so many times to many of us on the site. If you can face telling mum, perhaps there is a way she could take control of your finances?

Have you self-excluded from all online sites, betting shops etc. ? Gambling has such a hold on our lives that we have to put up as many barriers as we can. Stay with us, and resolve to make this episode the catalyst for a new way of life. You can do it.

Best wishes

Joanna

Thanks for your reply, I sent a page text to my mum trying to explain why or how I had just lost the money, she didn't get too mad or upset but was just more dissapointed, after chatting to her I am alot more determined to beat this stupid addiction that ruins so many peoples lives, I feel like I not only owe it to my mum and girlfriend but also to the people on here, showing people it can be truly done.

Luke.

Hi Luke,

Just a little note to say don't give up.

I've just done my first month, and the urges have gotten less, but you need to abstain enough to allow them to do so...

I can hear you're frustrated and disappointed, but don't dwell on it because you cannot change anything, only the future.

Something which helped me (I have a sports betting problem, horses, and it was my 'system' which was my downfall and made me into a daily gambler) was that my Mum too wanted to help, fortunately I caught it before it got too serious, but she told me to ring her every time I got the urge.

So for the first week, breaking down in tears when looking at my kids every few minutes, I was a complete wreck and ringing my Mum every hour or so, apart from when sleeping.

However, it did help and it meant she wasn't giving me the money whilst the addiction was running through me.

There's nothing to stop her helping financially once the urges aren't quite as intense and you're less likely to blow it all.

Hope this helps, really want you to recover and find out about this whole other world that exists beyond gambling. The one we knew before.

Laura

Luke this is not about doing it for girlfriends, family or people on here! This is your recovery for you to take you wherever you want to be once free from this addiction. You and you alone are responsible for your actions. You have to be selfish in recovery to give it away. It is now your call to get on board and get into recovery. Remember if nothing changes then nothing changes!

Take care

Replies always appreciated so thanks guys! Feel alot more positive today, actually feel like I've realised that gambling is not the way to make money, usually about now I'd be thinking about a payday loan to fund my gambling so I could win and then pay off the loan, which never happened but instead, I'm resisting, I've come up with a new idea of helping to stop also, buying old furniture, doing it up and selling it on 🙂 hoping to bring my creative side out and it also helps with keeping me busy and avoiding urges, I also feel more in control of my urges, hoping I can go clean for atleast a month now 🙂

Luke.

Another day without gambling, table is coming along nicely aswell 🙂 hoping to have it finished by the end of next week and the money for it will go straight to my mum for my savings 🙂 Hope you're all doing well and sticking at it! If anyone needs a chat feel free 🙂

Luke.

Well done Luke!

Once you start to see some reward for not gambling it will spur you on...

Think of the nice things you could buy yourself or your family with the money you will save.

Perhaps a nice break away somewhere! No panicking when you check your online banking and there's always money missing, some coming back in, some going out... constant rollercoaster.

Keep your strength up... you control your hands, which control your bank cards, your money.

Be strong my friend.

Laura