LONELY

I have the same problem with sports and not being able to watch them without a betting interest. Although for the midweek games this week I had no bet and found myself interested in the scores but not obsessed!

Actually enjoyed watching my team for once, they played well and I wasn't distracted looking for other scores and seeing if someone had been sent off, how many bookings/corners/possession. All boring stuff that you dont need to know unless your a gambler!

Hi Dino,

Never too late to make a change to take you in the right direction, but you'll find that many of us, me included, hate that little moody world that blocks out everything apart from gambling. Having done this before, you know that you have the strength to do it, it sounds like the big step you need to make is to keep your resolve and to remember the bad times when those temptations come back in after a few months.

Don't worry about being better at offering advice than taking it, that goes for most people as its much easier to imagine yourself in someone else's shoes than to walk the walk. Don't let that stop you offering people advice either.

Quitting gambling is incredibly difficult, but at its heart is also simple. Understanding that you can't win because you can't stop when you gamble, and then making the decision every day not to gamble.

I've stumbled and fallen many times because I haven't followed my own advice. Welcome back to the forum, and hope you can summon the strength you have to beat this.

Ryan

Thanks for the support Ryan I think im going to need it.

I could say this time I really will quit gambling but to be honest i've said it that many times I really don't know.All I do know is that I don't like myself at present and worry what the future holds if I carry on gambling.

Doing all I can to take the temptatation away, all accounts self excluded but I usually find one .

One day at a time and thanks again for the support Dino

Thanks for the support tearofaclown I can't remember the last match I watched just for the game, selfishly wanting certain events to happen in the match ,spoiling the enjoyment. As I said living in my own little gambling world, and I don't really like it.

Maybe this will work for you, maybe not, but to somewhat fill the void of having an interest in the football, why not enter a fantasy football league? These are free and give you an interest in most games. There's no prize involved, but it gives you something to look out for in each game.

I wish you the best of luck in defeating this illness.

Thanks for the support everyone.

Day 2 of yet another recovery,feeling pretty low not much sleep and so so so mad with myself for letting this happen to me again,and yet I still have this urge to gamble.I know this feeling will subside with time, and through experience know that it will never leave completely.I really can't let the people I love down again.

On leave from work today so could be tough , wish me luck

Dino

Hi mate,

Stay strong. Not sure if you enjoy snooker but if you want to see a sportsman simply doing what he does best then check out Ronnies 147. It's on the BBC website to watch.

There are grannies in the crowd marvelling at his maximum, that's what's great about sport, not how much you can win on it. Simply watching a master at his/her trade.

I was a bit disappointed with his choice of sponsor but such is life.

Everytime you fight the urges pat yourself on the back, you've made the right decision

Morning all start of day 3

Better nights sleep,and feeling quite positive this morning although that feeling of some thing missing in my life still there.

On leave yesterday so had plenty of spare time,tried to stay busy and for some unknown reason ended up driving to my mum & dads grave.Not been for years, but confessed my sins to them both and did feel better,strange where we end up in our hour of need.Sorry for being morbid.

Today i'm going to my local non league football match with my 3 sons,something i've declined on numerous occasions to stay at home and well you know what.

The financial side of gambling can be rectified over time ,but the real damage is done to the relationships of our family and friends.

Have a good day Dino

Day 4

Had a good day yesterday footie with my boys and friends,and a massive hangover today but more importantly gamble free.

Recovery day today in more ways than one,thanks for the high five Em your supports much appreciated.

Just been watching football on tele, and advertising for bookmakers is everywhere I thought I had self certed from them all but new ones keep opening. Still got to stay strong,just a short post today as this hangover is getting the better of me.

Dino

Day 5

Feeling much better today,been busy back at work today and not had much time to think about gambling,the hangovers gone(if only this gambling habit was as easy to get rid of).

Your so so right Em I would take a hangover every day against, that lonely desperate ashamed feeling of those gambling losses.

Staying strong Dino

Day 6

Happy where I am at the moment, i'm a lot better person to live with than the one 6 days previous.

I have to be honest though I have been here before ,managing weeks of not gambling and then slipping back to my old ways.I really don't want that to happen again.

I don't know what the future holds,but I do know that I did'nt like my gambling past and the hurt it caused so i'm with you Em and looking forward to good christmas.

Stay strong Dino

Day 7

Another day chalked up,not really had many urges but sure they will come.

Dino

Keep strong Dino.

One day at a time - You can beat this.

All the best

Ade

Hi Dino,

Well done on your progress so far, glad to hear you had fun at the football, that is a hangover that feels much better than the deep bags and vacant expression that came to me after long gambling sessions. I learned to become ambidextrous when I was using the computer so that I could continue to click the mouse with my left hand when my right hand would start to cramp.

Keep stamping out any thoughts of gambling, and keep heading in the right direction.

Ryan