Hi all,
I used this forum in the past and now I want to start using it again. I plan to update my diary once a week. My story is that I started gambling when I was 18, 2002, which grew into a major debt problem in 2011. I have since completed an IVA in November 2016 to clear all of my debts, which was not easy at all, so I am proud of myself for getting through that and now being debt free.
since 2011 I have managed to go long periods without gambling, the longest was close to 2 years. During this time I had blocks on my computer and phone. For some reason these blocks got removed and I have been kidding myself that I could maybe gamble for fun and I would be ok. So over the last few years I have the odd day where I would sign up to a new bookmaker online and bet on football. Every time I would then exclude myself and say that is it, never again. Go for a few months and the same thing would happen. I don't really even enjoy it if I win, because I know I will just continue until I have lost, it is so pointless.
I have recently got married to the most amazing person I could ever wish to be with and we have spoken this week about how I am still struggling with gambling. My last bet was around 2 months ago now and I do feel like I am back on track again, but the worry is always there that I might slip up again. With the help of my wife, we have set up on a block on my phone, which instantly makes me feel so much more secure, since I cannot access any gambling websites even if I wanted to. We plan to speak about my issues every week and write a diary entry. All of our savings are in my wifes bank account, and I plan to show her my bank statements every 3 months. I think I became complacent, and in denial that everything was ok. So it time to take this seriously again. My wife is so understanding and wants to help me, and I don't want to do anything to risk our future hapiness, we have so many plans together that I can't wait for us to do. I don't want her to worry that I might be gambling. It doesn't just effect me anymore.
I think we have a great plan in place, and I am determined more than ever to beat this for good
thanks for your support
Dan
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Diary - week 2
A very busy week work, gym, playing football and planning our future a bit more, so I have been keeping my mind off gambling and not been tempted at all. I think the way to beat this is to keep yourself busy and obviously to have blocks in place, which I do. You can't just say I am going to quit without some sort of strategy. I am still not exactly sure why I have done it in the past but I thought I would make a list of reason why life is so much better without gambling, of which there are so many reason, so I could look back at the list if I am ever tempted again.
1. Don't need to waste time watching so much football just because of a bet. Enjoy watching a game instead
2. Much less stress in life
3.Know exactly how money I have
4.Feel so much happier
5.Not constantly thinking about gambling
6.Can do other things
7.Look forward to the future and a happy life
and the most important thing I want to acheive by not gambling is to make my wife proud of me and for us to have a happy life together.
Couple of football games to look forward to this weekend, and the fantasy football that I am playing keeps it entertaining.
Here's to another good clean week 🙂
Hi Dan. Congratulations on getting through that first week. I feel like I can relate a lot to your plan - especially the pain of football and the avenue it can drag you down with bets left right and centre.
I think you've got the best proactive approach with your wife. You are being open, honest and realistic. That's essential to beating this really. You are gonna slip up and get urges but if you have the right blocks in place and are open and honest - those urges can't win.
Try coming on the Chatrooms if you haven't already - they're every weekday at 7pm and 9pm and then 8pm on Fri-Sun.
Diary - week 3
another busy week, working every day and the time has just flown by. Not watched football during the week and gambling really has not been on my mind at all, it feel very much under control which is nice. Not much else to say, couple of good games to look forward to again this weekend, I will be watching Man utd vs Spurs tommororw and then Brighton vs Southampton Sunday lunch time. My wife will be happy to find this out if or when she reads my post 🙂
Also up early tommorrow morning for a gym session and out tommorrow evening to a fireworks display. Cycle ride on Sunday morning, so I have no time to waste on gambling!!!!
Until next week.....
thanks
Dan
Hi Dan mate,
Nice to see you back for another week, this is a crucial time! You seem to have things under control by the sounds of it which is a really great position to be in. How did the football go? Used to be a bit of a trigger for me - but I'm slowly being able to enjoy it again now I've got blocks in place.
Sounds like a really decent weekend - my highlight has been washing my car...which isn't exactly the best ha!
Good luck for the next week mate
Diary - week4
Another good week, certainly feel like I am making good progress again now. No temptation and I'm sure its partly down to the blocks I have in place, I cant gamble even if I wanted to. I have said it before but this cannot be beaten without the correct blocks and having a strategy in place.
Thanks Adam for your comments. I didnt bother wasting my time watching football during the week, means when I do watch it I actually am enjoying the game instead of thinking about a dumb bet. Two big games on today man city vs arsenal followed by chelsea vs man utd so an enjoyable sunday afternoon to look forward to 🙂
Diary week 5
Heading into week 5 of my diary already the time is flying by. I haven't been well this week and been off work so certainly haven't been thinking about gambling. In fact in the last few weeks I have spent hardly any money. It is nice to know exactly how much you have and where it is going, and to really appreciate the value of money. When gambling the money doesn't really mean anything. In my normal life I have never really been a big spender.
Feeling much better now and back to work tommorrow, looking forward to getting back to normal, just hope I feel ok.
Thanks for any support
Dan
diary week 7
i missed last week so now heading into week 7 already. still no temptation which I think helps by not bothering to watch much football. I am only really watching a couple of premier league games at the weekend and fantasy football makes it fun. not much else to say but keeping it going and hopefully I'm doing a good job at beating this.
thanks
dan
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