My FOBT recovery

Day 13.

A lot of recent thoughts about gambling , but also many thoughts about the consequences of gambling and how it can change the financial position of our family in one moment of madness.

I have to admit after the first week of not gambling lots of aspets within life seem much better , more money , more time , less stress , no lies and just straight forward life.

I had previously managed a whole 9 months of not gambling so I am under no illusion of the monumental task which is ahead of me , gambling will be with me for life , when I do gamble I cannot win for the simple reason I cannot stop.

Onwards and upwards.

Day 20.

A really tough first few weeks not gambling , thoughts of betting the odd £10.00 to see if I can turn it into more but the reality is even if I did win I would gamble the winnings until I had nothing.

The truth for me like most gamblers is , I cannot win because I cannot stop.

The journey of recovery is certainly not easy , changing habbits, ways and avoiding places which trigger certain situations.

However I need to remember by this stage of the month I would have lost £200.00 + easy so I can put that towards a weekend away and finally have something to show for my efforts.

PlasticDream wrote:

Hi John just want to wish you luck, I have done 20 months - relapsed . gambled for 3 months, did a year free then a relapse lasting a year (last march to now)

similar age to you, probably a similar story

Have you been to a GA meeting yet? I know you mentioned it being in a rough area but s**t, even if you got mugged or took a beating (which I doubt would happen) isn't that what is happening each time you gamble ? get your a**e to a meeting mate, get a taxi there and back if its that bad (I am in sheffield so a similar city and have to walk there and back) what will the taxi cost you compared to a days gambling ? im sure someone will give you a lift if you ask after the meeting

Give it a try mate seriously, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, it could be the thing that really kick starts your recovery

best of luck chief

Hi John, I'll be a bit more up front. Some members have offered you support. It would be nice if you answered them.

Triangle I will get straight to the point f**k OFF !

Hi John,

Stumbled across your profile just wanted to wish you well in recovery. I have read your posts and your ordeal appears to be very similar to my own. For the past 15 years or so I have always bet on football. I am a huge football fan and can happily sit and watch any match on tele/laptop whatever. Betting on games certainly adds spice to the game. Like you I'm sure we could go on and on sharing stories - last minute goals, disallowed goals, misses, saves, decisions. Win or lose it's taken us on a journey. I have miserably failed at giving up many times with a few 'small bets' gradually turning back into £50 spins on the roulette. Like you roulette is my flaw and once that gets me around the balls im in trouble. I had taken reasonable measures to stop, first being self excluding from local bookies. The fobt had got me too often. I used to blow £300 every Friday for about 12 months or so in the bookies. Looking back now I actually despise those machines and still don't know how they are legalised. I self excluded from all my online accounts. But with every commercial break (whether it be tv or radio) there always seems to be a new online company / betting site. I once told my friend I had no money to go out. I stayed in and lost £1000 on roulette. w*f. I slept with my eyes open and thought of a chase bet resulting to me placing £1000 on a both teams to score bet.

The longest I went without betting was about 2 years and I was in a good place. I am working hard to get myself back to that place. After losing £3000.00 (predominantely online roulette) over a few days of torture a couple of weekends ago i have now had enough of what this has done to me physically, mentally and emotionally. Not to mention those around me. Financially I have lost a lot but I'm not going to lose my family.

With you all the way mate.

john010380 wrote:

Triangle I will get straight to the point f**k OFF !

Classy response

Fact is triangle I do not need your self righteous posts on my personal diary , kindly pop off in another direction.

triangle wrote:

[quote=john010380]

Triangle I will get straight to the point f**k OFF !

Classy response

Hi John,

Thanks for sharing your story here, and due to the details you stated, it seems it has caught the attention of several forum members, and who are now encouraging you to give it all up. Most of them are speaking from experience, and it would be helpful to you if you’d learn from their experiences.

From your story, it seems like you’ve got too much to lose if you continue to gamble, or even make a selective gamble on some of those activities as you’re contemplating. Like you said, you have now enough money to forget about your past losses, and also pay for your wedding next year.

I suggest that you treat yourself and few others who have been supportive to you in the past if you can afford that, and at the same time pay for your wedding now, and before you’re tempted to spend that money.

I think it would be wise to follow most of the suggestion made by fellow forum members, and go for a stop.

It seems like you’ll benefit from counselling support, thus I also advise that you contact our free phone Helpline on: 0808 8020 133 and speak to one of our advisers regarding strategies, and also for counselling referral. Gamcare can refer you to 12 sessions of free counselling, and nearest to where you live, if that would help you to stop.

You’ve come a long way, and don’t allow that relapse discourage you. You can overcome this John, but you have to be firm in challenging yourself, and eventually, your hard work will pay off.

How would you like to see yourself in the near future; I bet you’d like to be leading a gamble free life and to use your money to benefit you and people around you. All these would be possible if you give yourself the chance to recover by following the advice we offer on strategies.

My best wishes to you, and please keep posting!

Kind regards,

Beatrice

The only unpleasantness came from you. Its a public forum. If you dont wish to invite comment, maybe express that

Yep, moronic response. We're all in it together. Some on here will dish out the harsh truths, telling it straight. Take everything on board. It's helped me, it'll help you.

Forum etiquette and support,

Please remember that the Forum is here to provide support and advice and sometimes people have differences of opinion and ways of communicating. Try to keep the disussion inline with recovery and support.

If people need support and advice the helpline advisors are available on the free helpline: 0808 8020 133 and speak to one of our advisers

Kind Regards

Forum Admin

thanks forum admin

Also from near your way, used to think when I went into a bookys and they offered you a t or coffee they were being polite. Then remembered from my sales career that it's a old trick. You will stay longer, as you can't drink a hot drink quick and leave! As far as fobts go I agree completely I don't understand nor want to any other type of betting. Doesn't intrest me in slightest a machine on other hand could take every penny I have

Day 25.

No thoughts of gambling at the moment , doing a lot with our house at the moment which with work is taking up a lot of my time , hopefully people running to admin when at the drop of a hat stops this week and if they have nothing nice to say simply dont bother.

Great dairy John, feel exactly the same I can bet on teh football and win but those machines huge wins and huge loses. For me adn every one is differenet I can not bet on a thing cold turkey stopped completly no more betting.

To be honest my little boy deserves better.

Good luck

Malc