My life without gambling

Hi Adam and welcome,

I'm late twenties and had this addiction since 17. In that time the longest i've gone is 18 months. The good thing is that you have identified you have a problem and are willing to tackle it. This will ruin your life if you let it so you need to pick yourself back up and get back on here should you ever relapse.

Just put as many blocks in place as possible to prevent you gambling should the urges get the better of you. When you do get urges, they normally come as bright ideas of winning loads of money and clearing all your debt, but some great advice I was given was to think the urge through to the end. The end is always further losses because as a compulsive gambler we cannot win because we cannot stop.

Also, a mistake of mine was to pile all my wages on debt repayment but this just leaves you feeling like rubbish and gets you thinking that gambling is a quick fix. Try to set up the detb repayments to an amount you can afford but still treat yourself. I try to purposfully treat myself every month i don't gamble.

Most of all just stick with it, you'll get there in the end because you want to stop, just don't give up.

Good luck

James

Thanks for your comments. It's a terrible cycle that is miss understood. I'm more determined than ever and hopefully i am able to tackle the addiction this time!

Day 4 today. Walked past the bookmakers and didn't even look twice. I'm probably still in the honeymood period at the moment, but many times I have gone a couple of weeks and re lapsed.. NOT THIS TIME! I want to get past the "90 days mark" as per GA meetings and hopefully continue to push forward. I still keep dreaming of the big win and worrying about debts as I now have a mortgage to pay. I still have the glimmer in the back of my mind that makes me think I can put accumalators on and occasionally go to the casino with friends but as a problem gambler we can never win and that can only be the start of a relapse. I am keeping going and this time wish to break the addiction as I'm determined to not let it break me. Heres to a gamble free weekend! (y)

Adam,

Well done for admitting your problem and trying to do something about it. You're on the property ladder at 22, that's some achievement in itself. It's only natural to keep thinking about something that has consumed so much of your life for the past 5 or so years. In my experience don't tell yourself that that is it, and you can never gamble again in any form at this stage. That will become something that you will come to accept in time. For now, take it 1 day at a time and try to win each day, rather than looking 20 years into the future. Put blocks on all of your devices asap, as this takes away the ability to slip up.

Good luck whichever way you choose

Russ

Still going strong. No accas over the weekend, turned down a poker game with all my friends and felt brilliant for it!

Hi, Well done for doing so well!

My boyfriend is 25 and has had a gambling problem since he was around 15. He knows he has a problem and I think he is trying but is not getting far. I need advice on how to help and support him. What did your partner do for you?

Hi, thanks for your kind words!

My girlfriend was very supportive. It's a small thing but she absolutley loves coca-cola and she decided to give that up whilst I gave up gambling.It was only a small thing, but it was a really nice gesture as she was willing to give something she loved up just to try and help me through it. Not as if she had a coca cola addiction haha! Might be worth offering to do the same, so it seems as if you are both going through something.

She also took control of my cards and we set up a joint account so she could see every transcation I was doing.

It's a horrible addiciton to have, I advise you to just stand by him and be as supportive as you can.

Day 7 today. Feels like a lifetime. For some reason I ended up playing free money three card brag last night. No intent of depositing any money but chasing the rush I suppose. Any advice on how to fill the void! This is the longest j have gone without gambling in over 6 months and I want to keep it going this way.

I have blocks in place for all of my tablets and phones linked to the Internet. This was my girlfriends iPad. I have now told her that if she Ever sees me with it, consider than I'm gambling. Day 8 tomorrow still no gambling. Feel better, just had an evening on the Xbox with my mates!

Good idea, I will get her to do this, this evening. 8 days in now still going strong. Much happier for it, can start spending money on me and my girlfriend again

11 days through, still going strong! Another weekend is coming and all my friends are talking about putting their accumlators on this weekend. Another mate of mine just had a big win aswell. Makes you feel as is you are a little left out, but I know that my livelyhood and money is more important than to feel left out. Feeling strong and happy to continue!!!

15 days without a bet and I couldn't be happier. Feel so much better about myself and have had the chance to actually spend money! The programme on BBC last night really hit home and it's sad seeing others go through the same addiction as me. I am determined to keep this going and have made short term goals to over my addiction. Onwards and upwards

I actually can't believe that I have come this far already. Gambling is slowly but surely becoming a distant rodent in my history. I love checking how many days gamble free I am and it always puts a smile on my face. I finally have disposable income, which is brilliant. I bought Fifa 17 on release day, went to an all day rave on Saturday and I'm going to Dublin for the weekend with the lads. All these things would have been impossible to do a couple of months ago, and finally I a,m enjoying the sweeter things in life rather than waiting for my next bet. Life is brilliant.

I am only 10 days away from reaching the sacred 90 days. I can't believe how far I have come. I actually see all my friends with accumalators on and laugh how angry they get about it. I don't even think about gambling at all anymore, a complete contrast to the person I used to be. I know 90 days is just the first hurdle but I am determined to keep jumping over them. Amen.