Finally stopped kidding myself and realised I am a gambling addict. I can't believe I have been so stupid over the last 3 years and the amount of money I've thrown away on online sports betting. Like many I've had a few good wins and should have stopped there and then, but we can't. We can't stop until it's all gone and then the feeling of complete devastation and emptiness engulfs us. The sleepless nights, the pounding heart beat, the urgent calculations of how you’re going to get out of this mess, only for those to go out the window the following day with more losses as you think the quick fix will be a big win that never comes and even if it did it would disappear because we can't stop. Well no more, now is my time to stop! I'm in over 10000 of debt and nothing to show for it apart from a beaten expression and numbness to everything. Every thought of every minute over the last few days has been about how I've got myself in this mess and what it will take to get out of it. I've finally accepted I'm an addict and it's ruining my life. It ends now! Day 3 of no gambling and I don't even miss it. This site is the best thing that has happened to me, reading through other peoples experiences and realising I’m not alone. It's time for me to smile again and remove the mask I’ve been wearing for the last 3 years. It's time to be happy again.
My first target is to reach January’s pay day the 28th without betting, if I do that it will be a full months pay without gambling the first time in 3 years, but my real target is life without gambling and I know I can do it!
Afternoon and well done for taking that first step, it the hardest one
I to was into sports betting football mainly but it didn't matter what Sport volleyball beach football badminton tennis things I know nothing about
You've made a great start by doing 3 days already the best thing I can suggest is putting blocks in place closedown all your accounts and install blocking software K9 is my preferred choice. Look they is ways round it be I have not tried if I get the urge I just do something to take my mind of it. If your poison is the bookies then I would recommend taking someone with you to self exclude.
Keep updating your diary I will follow your journey and help where I can as well as on this site I find it useful reading other peoples diaries as well just take one day at a time that's the best way
KTF
Thank you KTF. I was the same chasing bets on events that I had no clue about just hoping things would turn out in my favour. Putting crazy money on Brazilian college basketball for instance, ridiculous! I have self excluded myself from all online bookmakers I can think of. To be honest I've never set foot in an actual bookmakers in my life, it's the ease of online gambling that has done me in. I think if I actually held the money in my hand I probably wouldn't have been so stupid, but it's too easy to blow it all when it's just numbers on a screen. Thank you for your support it means a lot.
Hi cralog i to was a big fan of sports betting but like most compulsive gamblers i could not win because i can never stop.i have tryed all different ways to control my gambling but each in every time it ends the same way.i
tryed only online with limits on my account but just opened more when i wasn't allowed a bet.so i have now closed them all.i tryed going into shops so that after coupon or other bets were beat that was me to next day,but i found a reason one way or another to get back to those bookies.even putting large bets on my card as it was easier than handing money over plus was a way to get more money on than i could lift out the bank.there is always a way around gambling all the time unless you give all your money to someone to look after for you or you really want it that bad you stay away.it is really
hard as i have tryed and failed few times myself but this is my time and i am not going back there. Take care and hope you have a gamble free day
Hi cralog,
Thanks for your post, and well done for finally admitting to your gambling problem, and also wanting to do something about it.
It seems like you’re very determined to stop, and thus taking the necessary steps to enable you reach your goal.
All the responses you’ve got so far from some of our forum members has been very encouraging indeed, and I’ll advise you to stick to their advice, and also learn from their experiences.
It’s important that you replace your spare/ gambling time with other activities/ hobbies to distract you from gambling, and also to avoid being bored and thus leading you back into gambling again.
You have managed to abstain for 3 days, and with your determination, you’ll hopefully be able to achieve your target – to lead a gamble free life. Just take it one step at a time, and before you know, 3 days will turn into 3 months, and then to 3 years, and so on. You just have to try and be patient with yourself, and never to give up trying.
I also suggest that you stay in touch with us, and post frequently as you can to the forum. That would help you to stay focused in your recovery process.
Maybe, you’ll like to contact our free phone Helpline and speak to one of our advisers regarding further help and support. An adviser can refer you to 12 sessions of free counselling if that would help you to stop.
Thanks once again for your post, and pls. keep posting.
Best wishes,
Beatrice
Thank you for the support and kind words Scotty and Beatrice. Hope things are going well with your recovery Scotty and you are gamble free at the moment.
I'm on day 8 now and no gambling. Happy to say I have had no urge to gamble, the thought of placing a bet actually repulses me at the moment, which is great news! Had a busy Christmas with my girlfriend and I'm really enjoying our time together.
For the first few nights after I stopped gambling I'd wake up time and time again dreaming I had placed a bet or was waiting for a bet to come in. I'd wake up so relieved that it was just a dream. Thankfully these have stopped now, as have a lot of the feelings of anxiousness and self loathing of those first few days. I read on someone elses diary that it takes 21 days to break a habit so I am really focused on reaching that target at the moment. I feel very confident that i can do this, then my next target will be Januarys pay day. But I'll take it one day at a time.
Heres to another gamble free day!
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