Hi All ....
so im going to be honest here, I thought these things were for weirdos who put £500 down on a horse race a day.
then I realised I've already spent £500 plus on betting machines since I got paid , which make me worse!
well today I'm changing day 1, gamble free (hopefully)
Morning fella
What a thought evoking post
The stakes placed are irrelevant it is the outcome that is important.
Ask yourself a question?
When I gamble, am I satisfied at any win that comes my way?
Or does it compel you to relentlessly gamble on.
If I lost I chased the loss, if I won I gambled until I lost.
I lived the same mantra for twenty years
I CANNOT WIN BECAUSE I CANNOT STOP.
Repeating the same action over and over expecting the outcome to change.
Something that in the cold light of day is utterly mad.
Welcome to the forum
Stick around, you will see what you gift yourself through arresting the cycle.
You actually become a winner without staking a single penny.
My nemesis was the fobt, a machine with a monkey for a jackpot, yet I could feed that and more in to it in a single session, episode of gambling.
My addiction was progressive, as I earnt more money, my stakes got raised with them, so too did the delusional life I lived.
My advice to you
Give recovery a chance, embrace it, give it half the effort and time you gave to gambling and be astounded by the result.
Bottom line is, with recovery there are no stakes, so what have you got to lose?
Abstain and maintain
Duncs stepping forward never back.
I couldn't agree more with the previous post, leading into Christmas I won a couple of grand here and there, however with the Christmas break as a distraction from work I was constantly ploughing in the £20 notes. I probably spend about £3k over the whole period. This makes me feel sick.
Thanks for sparing me the time, I made the biggest step forward EVER in my gambling addiction yesterday... I told my newly married wife. Her reaction was amazing, so supportive without being too forgiving.
I WILL stop gambling !
Fella
Help yourself, the advice I received on my first days recovery, still works today.
There is a triangle time-money-location
Take one away and the punt becomes impossible
Gifting the rational side of the brain time to think, time to re wire itself.
Be kind to yourself
Most of all don't punish yourself, the losses are gone, gambling won't win them back it will however add to them.
Duncs stepping forward never back.
I made it... 🙂 the hardest day of the week to stop gambling, I would normally bet on football,the machines,golf and more on a Saturday ... Not a bean today!
I wanted to... I couldn't however, I took away all ability, no bank card,didn't go up town near the bookies and made myself too busy with other stuff!
it was easy today, I hope everyday is like this on...
So I did it!
First gamble free weekend in years! I have to say, I've been missing out. I spent some quality time with my wife and family.
If this is what a gamble free life is like then I want it because it feels 100x better then that felling when you lose and better still feels better then when you win. So why bother ?
Its a a little early to claim I'm a reformed man but the first few days have been positive.
6 days gamble free - I'm no saint but this feels good.
I had £300 in cash on me today to pay my credit card off, I had to walk past the bookies, I started at it thinking that I could potentially turn the £300 into a £grand like I did 4 months ago... Then told myself I've probably gambled £3k between now and then .. That could of cleared my credit card in what hit! What a mug - walked away and went straight to the bank to pay £300 it felt great !!!
I feel like I've won £300 because 2 weeks ago I went to do the same scenario and lost £600 !
2 and a half years later - I’m back
I’ve found a similar trigger is back also... stress is high and the need to gamble is with it.
Hi mate, welcome back to the forum.
This addiction isn’t an easy one to overcome, I should know, I too have been battling with it for over 12 years.... but I know that it has taken me now to realise what it takes to give myself the best possible chance of succeeding.
I tried overcoming this addiction on my own but it simply wouldn’t work for me. So eventually, I confessed all to my partner. We now work together as a team to keep myself on the straight and narrow and away from the gambling demons. Do you have somebody who could help you along the way?
Have you put any blocks in place yourself? Exclusion from shops, GamCare etc?
Dan
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