Evening everyone,
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I have been spending some time reading though forums and joining the available Live Chats. It has really inspired me to keep going and to finally become gamble free.
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I’m 39 and have been gambling since I was 13/14. Fruit machines at the local arcade then bookings/amusements/online when I got to 18. Slots are my go to, and I’m not really interest anything else, I have tried a lot of different things in this time. Face to Face, over the phone counselling, and currently just about to start peer to peer support. The previous times have always worked, the longest was 434 days which needed in November 2023. The problem seems to arise when I am set free from the normal 1,2,3 weekly meetings and I think I’m cured and can gamble at sensible amounts, which is never the way.
I recently spent 2k on slots, (this was money that I managed to save over a longer period) and blew it over a few days. Enough is enough and I am back on the straight and narrow. I will keep updating here as I go though my journey to keep my self in check.
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Day 3 completed - Gamble free.
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Martin
Hi martin,
Well done for getting the support you need on here and live chats and for also making to day 3.
The lesson learned here is that no matter how much time you work on being gamble free and for how long we always need to work on some sort of recovery and not to get complacent.
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I remember going 3 years without gambling and deviated basically into another form of it in which I realized and let go of it and reset my days.
Some recovering compulsive gamblers have to understand if it's a form of gambling it's gambling like the lottery... We had one chap who used to come to meetings but thought it was ok to just play the lottery as it wasn't much, after months he realized it was and made him go into slots again.
My best advice is to clear house and be honest with yourself in which it looks like you are. If you get a chance or if it's local try a GA meeting for just as support help and perspective.
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Dave101
Always find it incredible how much money people can spend on slot machines
Spins on physical machines are capped at what 1-2 quid ?
so to go through 2 grand must have taken a full day of non stop play ?Â
Did you not get fed up at any stage ? even when I was in my prime online jumping between slots , roulette and blackjack after 2-3 hours I would of had a gutsful of it because its so mind numbingÂ
Not judging but just genuinely find it fascinating how one is able to spend so long gambling in one sessionÂ
Hi Martin,
Interesting post, crazy to hear you got introduced to slots at such a young age but you should take courage from the fact you stopped for such a long time before, it means you have the ability to do it again.
One thing I would point out is if you truly want to stop, I would recommend completely stopping all gambling, setting a budget may work for a short period of time but more than likely this approach will fail and only lead to more gambling with larger amounts of money as you chase that dopamine hit.
Danny
Hello All, and thanks to the members who took the time to interact with my post.
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The main point I have taken from you all is not to let any other form of gambling to creep in and then potentially lead me back to the slots. I could spend all day on the slots and not get bored, it really just does take me away into another world.
Looking back though, when I was gamble free for over a year, it was a much better, I fact amazing, life in general. I always had money, I didn’t use as much credit cards etc and I felt like I had achieved something that was for me. Looking forward to going back to those days.
Thanks
Martin
Good luck martin, keep reading and coming back hereÂ
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