Hi all,
Like many this is my millionth diary.
So I started gambling at 18. Had small bets and it grew and grew and I got myself into about £50k of debt about 4 years ago.
I have finished paying that debt off and am now looking to actually start living my life.
I’ve booked a holiday so need to lose my man boobs I’ve got.
I’m around day 80 of no gambling after having a pretty rough time around 6 months ago which has the highs and lows we all know. But that time actually helped me because I became addicted to 3 card poker online. I loved it. But then I won a load and lost it all again whilst sat on toilet. Anyway, the thing that literally made me stop completely was seeing a royal flush being dealt. I know for some that would give them the urge to continue...I just remember going wow (I wasn’t gambling just watching) and have never been back. It’s really odd.
I have no urges to gamble anymore and it’s a great feeling. I’m not going to be complacent and know I will always be a risk, but for the first time in 14 years I’ve really felt that I’ve actually kicked it.
I hate the thought of being in it’s ***, but I really do feel free at the moment. I do think that being in debt doesn’t help, so maybe that is one of the reasons, clearing the debt finally seems to have shifted my mindset.
Anyway, Wishing everyone a happy recovery.
Hello Mattm,
Well done on starting a diary and sharing your success of becoming free from gambling and free from the urges to gamble.
You mention that you are feeling great and this may inspire our forum members too. You also mention that you don't want to be complacent, so I wonder if you have already registered with GamStop? If not, you could choose to register for five years as a way of protecting yourself in the event of urges returning in the future. The GamStop freephone 0800 138 6518 is available 8am to midnight every day. https://www.gamstop.co.uk/contact-us
If you like, you can also telephone us on 0808 8020 133 so that we can email you about a free offer for GamBan blocking software.
Well done again and thanks for sharing your recent progress.
Take care,
Forum admin.
Hi,
Sorry for the delay. Yep I've registed with gamstop. Would be amazing if that was around 5 years ago!!
Today is day 102 being Gamble Free and I still have no desires. It's been the longest amount of time I've been without any urges. I genuinely feel great and at peace with my addiction.
If I could bottle this feeling up and give it to you lot I would.
Paying that level of debt off in 4 years is a magnificent achievement. Well done.
I haven't updated this for a while.
I still haven't gambled, and n0 longer want to, and have minimal urges. I think Gamstop has meant that I have that safety barrier of if I want to, I know I can't. So it means that urge just disappears quickly.
I am in a great place in terms of my gambling, and finally feel free of it - but not complacent. But still, I feel I have it under control.
The main issue I feel I have now - is that I maybe I feel a little worried about having money - to the point now that I am calling in sick at work A LOT. So I still have no money haha. I worked out that I have lost out on £4k of net salary payments this tax year alone, purely to calling in sick.
Anyway, I am retraining in a couple of weeks, and I'm hoping it gets me out of the funk that I am in.
Thanks
Matt thanks for the post and encouragement on my diary - You're quite right in that the progress made is something to be proud of and likewise for yourself, having a decent run of gamble free time - long may it continue.
I hope that you're also able to get help for the other issues - remember the strength is in recognising and asking for that help, not in trying to battle through alone
best wishes and thanks again
Makes inspirational reading. Thanks for the share
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