On-line Casino

Only started my diary mate done the same as you in the past yet somehow came back to gambling for some reason. We'll done for coming on make sure you post regular and exclude yourself from the sites your on. It will get better!

Hey Johnny thanks for the kind words, I hope it gets easier but to be honest i don't really know what to expect at the minute. I only got paid on Friday and i had lost all my wages by Sunday lunch time. I wont have money again until the 15th of July and i know for the past few months i would sit up knowing my wages would be in after midnight and start gambling from then. Need to work out something to ensure that doesn't happen again. Also good luck with your struggle and if you think i can help with anything let me know. I am sure i will need help at points in the future. Cheers

Hi YoBeep - Welcome to the site and well done for admitting you have a gambling problem which needs to be sorted. As johnny5 has said, make sure you self-exclude from all your online sites, and if possible install a blocking program such as K9, BetFilter or GamBlok.

K9 is a free one by the way. These barriers will prevent further temptation and can be a major factor in your recovery.

Next, try to analyse exactly why you gamble - in your case perhaps boredom, being away from the family because of work, stress?

It often helps to understand why.

Many of us here have found that getting new interests and activities not only diminishes our time available to go online and gamble, but it also enriches our lives - even simple things like walking, sports, hobbies, or just spending more time with the family.

Another option - can you hand your finances over to a trusted family member? If you don't have ready access to surplus cash, or even worse - other people's cash, then again gambling is taken out of the equation.

There is a triangle analogy often used here:

Money-Time-Location. If you take away one of those three then gambling dries up.

I hope some of these strategies may be of use to you. I echo johnny's advice to post regularly on here and engage with other members - you'll find a lot of support and encouragement to defeat this destructive and pointless addiction.

Best wishes,

Joanna

Hi Joanna,

I have already handed all my finances over to my mum, seems crazy at 29 i cant even handle my own finances but if it means i can get myself out of this then that's exactly what is going to happen.

To be honest i have tried to understand the reason for gambling and right now i don't have the answer, Maybe in a few days after some more time thinking about it i will be able to answer it but for now things are like a blur and i have told so many lies covering for the gambling i honestly don't know what the truth is any more.

will keep you updated on things as time goes on but thanks for the kind words and advice. Cheers

Today, i received money from the shares i sold in my company, got 946 in my account and the first thing i did was deposit the 46 straight into my on-line account thinking that it was only a small bet. luckily my bank wouldn't let me deposit any more without going through my fraud prevention or i would have lost it all. Instead i seen a bit of common sense and transferred 890 into my brothers account which brings down my total debt to him at 210.

feeling a bit low lately and don't really feel like doing anything again. Football starts and 4.30 and glad the world cup is on as it really helps break up the day and lets me become free for a few hours.

hopefully this will get better.

Hi YoBeep,

Just read your diary and know exactly what you are going through.

I too came to a stop last night because the fraud dept in my bank stopped the transaction.

Glad you came to your senses about your shares, its such a shame because when we dont gamble and behave rationally we are able to see the illness for what it is and have so much control and determination not to get sucked into the downward spiral but once we are in there then there is no stopping us.

I too feel rubbish today but rather than dwell on the urges and regrets try and congratulate yourself that you have almost paid off a debt.

It sounds rich coming from me but stay strong and keep focused and unlike me lately be switched on to complacency!!

Best wishes in your recovery.

Hope x

Well just about to go see my financial advisor and find out what the best course of action is for the future, not looking forward to it at all. Worried that they will go for bankruptcy which will affect my job.

Don't really understand how its come to this and missing my old life. Wish i never started gambling and could have been out on my bike today without a care in the world.

Hi YoBeep,

I too remember and will never forget the regret of starting this vile habit. Unfortunately one thing we cannot do is ever get our money and proabably more precious our wasted time back. It is a very sad consequence of this illness and one that will haunt us forever.

But on the positive side, bankruptcy is not always the only solution. I am on a debt management plan which I have 3 years left to pay but when I started I thought I would never be able to pay off, there are always solutions to helping people with debt and bankruptcy is the last resort as you will know. But there is always light at the end of the tunnel (difficult to see sometimes) but if we dont gamble we are win.

I cant believe how many times i have said lately I wish I could turn the clock back 10 years and how different life would be but the situation is this now and we do have control over our future, one thing for sure we cannot allow gambling to be part of that future as it has taken up too much of our precious air space and time.

Stay strong, I hope all goes well today, lets know how you get on with the advisor.

Best wishes

Hope x

Hey Hope,

Thanks for all the kind words it is really appreciated.

well met with the financial advisor and having come up with a plan it looks like if i can keep my job and don't gamble i could be debt free in around 19-20 months.

Basically decided it would be better to have next to no money for the next 2 years than drag it out longer than necessary.

Starting to feel frustrated with a lot of things at the minute and snapping with everyone when its not their fault.

Don't really know what to do at the minute for the best maybe its time to get out the house for a while.

Hello YoBeep,

So glad it went better than anticipated with your finacnial advisor yesterday.

The hardest thing to deal with (and I am talking from experience) is trying to live and survive on a reduced budget, I was fine to start when I had my DMP in place and felt in more control of my finances, but then even after all the trauma of acknowledging the debt I am in and having been used to a higher standard of living, the urge to gamble became strong again and I unfortunately gave in. I think this is the time when us CG's are at our most vulnerable because we are too impatient to get back to our previous standards of living.

I am not sure where you are located but I found attending GA an absolute invaluable source of support. I was able to talk and talk about my gambling and never once was judged for having relapses. This may help deal with your frustrations as well, as you may be confined to who you can disclose your problem too. I cant emphasise the relief of "letting it all out" when I went to my first meeting. Also listening to others therapies can put everything into perspective and make you realise how this horrible sordid illness can ruin our lives if we let it. There are also great stories of success which can be so inspiring and encouraging.

Take all the advise and use it that you get on this site and always remind yourself each day that just for this day you wont gamble. If you keep saying that to yourself (and anyone else you want to say it to) it will help you survive the day and the next morning you will feel so good about yourself.

Today you are angry with yourself that you have got yourself into a mess, but the anger has now to be directed towards these thieving, evil con merchants who entice us to pay for playing stupid games. They are not playing because they know they cant win, they are laughing at us for giving them big houses, flash cars, 5* holidays etc. Dont give them any more, keep all your money to yourself in your bank and then you can say today I have won.

Take one day at a time and you will get there.

Best wishes

Hope x

Thought I'd put a msg on here as you have been on mine!

Reading your story, I feel exactly the same. How can you be sensible have a good job and gamble more money then you physically have! Well lets make it the last time. I will be keeping tabs and hopefully in 2 years time we will both be in better places.

Hey Mr29,

Thanks for the message. yeah lets try and work together and see if we can both get out of this mess as soon as possible.

I will keep in contact with you every few days and see how things are getting on. if you need to talk then just let me know and we can even do it in the chatroom one night?

take it easy.

Well i know i havent been on in a while but thought i should give this a little update.

I haven't gambled since my last little setback and to be honest feeling a whole lot better about everything.

Managed to go salmon fishing a few times with my cousin and uncle although i think i need more practice!!

Debt is down to just a tad over 23K and counting only 2 companies left to pay off from 6 so hopefully if i can remain away from gambling it will be cleared sooner rather than later. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Cheers.