Today is day 2 of my recovery.i am a 52 year old man who has gambled for 15 years.For the last 5 years I have gambled or thought about gambling nearly every day. My job is very stressful and I think I initially gambled to escape the stress. I also miss competitive sport -used to play a lot of football but injury means I can't do this.3years ago I divorced and now miss the daily interaction of family life -I have 4 kids -so loneliness probably plays a part. I have probably lost 80 k plus -maybe more. My current debt is 17k. I now want a fight with this thing called gambling -I want to go toe to toe with it and know that the battle is in my mind.Typing this is helping me because it is making my problem real. In truth I have shown very little will power up until now but I feel as though if I don't act know I will gamble for the rest of my life. I intend to sort out my finances and make some plans for fun times with the kids.I will walk across the road if I am about to pass a bookies and will avoid online bookies - self exclusion hasn't worked for me as I just find somewhere else to gamble. I am going to be strong and I am going to be a winner in this fight!!!
Morning fella
Welcome to the forum.
My advice is simple, take all the help that is out there,there is a great deal,don't dismiss self exclusion or blocking software for your computer /phone.
Willpower alone is something that often fails because I know that addiction could always over ride the rational side of my brain.
Admitting we have a problem is the first step.
I hope you take as much from this forum as I do.
Abstain and maintain
Duncs
Alot of the same for me here.
Hi serenity,
Thanks for your post, and well done for using our forum as a form of support to overcome your gambling problem.
Much as you seem to be aware of yourself, and knowing what to do to abstain, you also seemed to have been struggling with your gambling problem for a while.
Posting into the forum frequently will make your situation real (like you said), and also make you stay focused in recovery.
Maybe, you’d like to contact our free phone Helpline on: 0808 8020 133, and speak to one of our advisers about other options available to you in terms of help and support.
Our lines are open everyday from 8.00am to midnight.
You seem to have taken a step in the right direction, so keep up the good work!
Best wishes,
Beatrice
Spent nearly all day yesterday involved in gambling .My football team was playing and spent early morning resisting the opportunity to go to the bookie.resisted but just before kick off opened a new online account with a 100% bonus. Lost £100 on football bets and slots.Then spent another 75 trying to win it back.Two Sunday evening football accas came in and so I ended the day £90 up. Really disappointed with myself and feeling mentally shattered.My eyes are hurting from looking at the laptop.
Woke up this morning thinking about fruit machines and know I will spend the day resisting the temptation to gamble again.gonna go to the gym to take my mind off it
Hi Serenity..............Feel your pain relapased yesterday big time myself, you are in the same situation as me something needs to change or we will keep going round in the same circle, we need to do things different this time as it is clear what we have be doing is not working, really not in a great position to offer advice as am now back on day 1 again myself but we have to keep trying........All the best....
I am back at work and resisting the urge to bet.I need to keep telling myself that it is a waste of both time and money.I want a gamble free life.I have the urge to do a football acca but will resist.I will tell myself what I have learnt here _I can never win as I can never stop !!!!!
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
