Hi everyone I have came to the conclusion that I have a gambling problem although I have known this for a while. I have tried repeatedly to stop but never gave it a proper try and would be back gambling within a day or two.
I live with my fiance and we have 3 kids one of them.are disabled and I think that's part of the reason why I gamble as the house is.so hectic.with life at work and at home.
I'll use any excuse to leave the house to go to bookies like taking kids to nursery as bookies is right next to nursery.
When dealing with money I will cut down money towards.bills so.I can have more money to gamble.
Saturday I had an appointment in town and only had 15 pounds in my pocket. Jumped.into bookies lost it and then another 50 pounds mean for electricity. I deal with the finances so my doesn't really know much but I know she is getting suspicious. I don't understand why I can't take the 50 Pounds and spend it on my kids because once I lose I always feel so guilty. So I am 100 percent giving everything to stop gambling time to get my priorities right.
Sunday 14th September
Feeling very determined. Come on here and read some great posts which make me feel a lot better. Speak to the online chat theybhabe arranged for a counciller to phone and speak to arrange a one to one meeting. Go the whole day without gambling first day I've not gambled in about a year when I stopped for 3 days. I always find the first day or two the easiest as I'm determine and motivated. Having to take my boy to nursery today which is right next to bookies. Usually i would go in for a quick bet maybe a few pound on a dog which would lead to me using my debit card spending a lot more. Well I'm determined I'm not going in today.
Good luck, be patient stay on this site regardless of how you go its worth it
Yesterday was a weird day. I'm nightshift so my fiance says she would take my son to nursery so I could sleep as I was absolutely shattered. Went to bed at 1130 but kept wakening up (old habbits as I struggled to sleep when I had a bet on would keep waking up for updates). Give in at 4 o'clock and get up but don't have any urge to gamble not even bothered about thinking about it. Just feel very weird but I have gambled for the last 10 years everyday so obviously its gonna be weird.
First real test is gonna be today (Tuesday) champions league football I always bet on European games. Not getting to bed till after 4pm today hope it goes fast. Got this weird feeling in my stomach it's like nerves. If I get by today I'm pretty sure that's the longest I've went without gambling.
Stay strong you can pass this test mate! If you get through champions league without a bet you will get a real sense of achievement tomorrow. One day at a time mate!
Congratulations on being honest and taking the first positive steps to beating this!
can you self exclude from bookies?
try thinking about something you could do with your family as a reward, a picnic or day out maybe. Maybe having small goals to work towards will help.
keep posting and reading and stay on here x
best wishes Laura x
Day 3
Well I didn't have a bet longest I have ever been and what's more weird as I didn't want to have a bet. I've always said to myself I thought the first few days would be the easiest as I was determined but in time the urges would kick through. My fianc gets paid on Friday (she gets paid every friday) and the weekend is where I do most damage. If I get through to Monday that will be 7 days and I'll believe I can beat this.
So far today (day 4) has been a lot harder. I knew it had to get harder. I'm thinking to myself just pop out put a wee tenner coupon on but I know I can't just keep It to a tenner I am.not a responsible gambler. Its definetely stress that makes me want to gamble. Four kids under 7 brings a lot of stress. Work and gambling are my ways to get away from it however I'm off work.till Sunday so usually this is were I would start to gamble. First real test for me right now only 5 hours to bed hope I can do it.
Hope you avoided the football mate.
You're right. A tenner on the football is pointless as win or lose that bet you'll lose that tenner eventually.
I have only just accepted this after 18 years and 200k lost in that time.
Keep in control mate
Mba
Day 4
Very hard day. Was awake all day as I have no nightshift and thought about putting a coupon on a lot of the day. This site is amazing because while walking down the street I started reading some posts about sone of the situations people have been in and now because of gambling. There's a lot of people who have lost a lot due to gambling yet have turned there live around and are on here encouraging people and advicing them. Walking down the street reading these stories I turned round back home. The urge to gamble had gone. 4 days gone without gambling no doubt its gonna be hard but I might just be able to do this.
Day 5
Had a really good day. Was busy all day and rarely thought about gambling. Got an email from a Councillor I've to go see her next Wednesday. 5 days without gambling and already noticed a difference on my bank balance. Weekend coming up plus pay day on friday. I've got to do this no point going all week without then falling at the weekend.
Day 6
Was a struggle. Usually on a Friday I would go down have a bet on the rugby football and maybe whatever tennis matches on. Kept saying to myself even just a ten pound bet think of the money you have saved this week. Like I've said before I'm not a responsible gambler I can't just put a wee stake bet on and then go enjoy the sport. Because if it wins I would spend my winnings lose then and then chase them and that's the vicious circle. If I get past Saturday that will be a week without gambling and I will have managed to get through midweek football Friday football and no bets on a Saturday. Saturday will be tough as again in saying to myself just put a fiver coupon on. I know this is just habit and I have to break it.
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