Hi everyone. Taken me ages to realise I gotta do something about my problem. I'm 37 got a missis of 13 years 2 girls 6 and 7years old . Got my own business, house, nice car. But my gambling is turning me into somebody I'm not. My dad always had a few quid on the horses everyday ВЈ1 yankee. I started having a challenge bet against him on a weekend to watch on tele and its all gone from there. Up to a few years ago I was happy with 10-20 quid on a weekend but then I won a ВЈ1 Yankee and got £3000 back.. That was the trigger, I started doing bets everyday of the week. Always chasing that nice win again... Don't get me wrong I havent lost thousands like some, in fact, I'm probably only a few quid down the problem is I can't stop gambling.... I gamble through boredom. I drive a truck and we sit around fr 6 to 8 hours a night waiting for loads, i would be betting on anything and everything. I decided a few weeks ago that was it. I closed all online accounts down and said no more betting. That lasted 2 days !! I can't sleep, I feel breathless, I felt like my life was empty.... I was more bored than ever as I would wake up and have a bet on horses then watch them, then look at football at night then when at work be looking for next days football. As soon as I wake TV was on for racing....any ideas of how to get out of this circle...... Cheers
Put a blocker on whatever device it is you are using & get on here! You can literally while away hours reading & if you feel up to it writing posts & giving your support to others fighting this same hard battle! Get out in the fresh air & do laps round the truck, buy a book...You have to break the cycle & it's hard because the addiction doesn't want to lose you so it does everything it can to lure you back when you try & leave it. The lack of sleep & the palpitations are a side effect of withdrawal, they soon pass & with it passes the anxiety that gambling brings! You say you don't like what it is doing to you, gambling does change us, it makes us sneaky & manipulative & selfish especially with our time! I imagine then, even if you don't realise it, it is probably having an effect on your family as no doubt it is making you stressed out!
You really have come to the right place for help! You owe it to you & you owe it to all 3 of your girls, don't give up giving up! 2 days was a good starting point on your own, watch how quickly the today's add up with the help of this forum if you just keep choosing 'no' - ODAAT
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