Need to kick this habit once and for all

Hi Lofty.

Welcome to the forum.

Day one generally feels quite surreal in my experience and having read some diaries on here, there's a sense of panic as the lost money seems very 'real' and there's strong urges to try and get it back.

Please try and resist the urges - these companies are greedy and merely exist to take your money from you! Only when you break free from the cycle can you see how destructive they really are.

Make a decision to turn your back on it for good and stick to it - I found it useful not to check any sort of gambling website/results websites. I also installed K9 software on my iPhone for when my willpower wasn't strong enough.

I'm only on day four myself but I am thinking more clearly than I have done for months, the urges are nowhere near as bad and I have come to accept that the money has gone, drawn a line under it and now focused on making the money back (without gambling).

But always remember, you are not alone and you can do this, be strong and let time do the healing. I've posted some tips on my diary which may/may not help you.

If ever you feel the urge, come on here and update your diary. There will always be people here to support you.

Wishing you all the best.

Laura

Hi Laura thanks for the advice on downloading the k9 softwear, just in case I get tempted. Yea day one is really hard as you finally come to terms that you will never get those loses back and thinking of all the things you could of spent the money on.

So it's day 2 not and every time I think of gambling I feal sick as I always remember the moment iv lost. Iv also been in a bad mood today, probably to do with gambling. But I made my self go out today and I met a few mates in town as I waited for them I whent for a walk and I must of walked past 5 bookies/casinos , I was tempted to go into them but then I thought of the money I have lost and walked past them.

I know I have a long way to go and it's already hell and it's only day 2 but I think my secret wepon against gambling is remembering the pain of losing lots of hard earned money.

Ok so now it's day three of being gambling free. And it seems to be going very slow. My mood hasent changed and I'm still geting a lot of urgers to try and win my money back but I know I'd end up losing even more.

So today iv been keeping my self busy with playing guitar and writeing a song, since I have so ant emotions at the moment I figured it would help.

Hi Lofty,

Stick with it..

Like you said, the pain of losing hard earned money which has taken you weeks/months/years to earn just disappearing in a matter of minutes to the bookies is too painful.

They do not deserve your money.

Hopefully by today your urges will have reduced slightly - you need to accept that the money has gone otherwise you'll always be tempted to win it back.

Laura

Day 4 of not gambling,

Today has been a good iv been in a very good mood and have hardly spared a thought for gambling, I know it's still early days and iv still got a long way to go till I beat this, but this is the happiest iv been for a while.