Pathetic

I've also gambled for 30 years, taken me 6 years in recovery to get where I want to be after many strategies, attempts and types of help and assistance.

Give us some more background as to what you have tried so far to stop and why you think it has failed?

My own experience is going through a cycle of wanting to stop, needing to stop but only when I got to the 3rd stage of learning to live without it could I make real progress.

I dont know if you have been on here before or not but there is a load of great support here through Gamcare and peers, make best use of it.

Its not impossible to stop after 30 years but I think the longer you have been under the spell of gambling, the more difficult it can be to address the problem.

Some manage to abstain quickly after admitting a problem. Others like you (and me) take a long time.

Good luck

Hi

I've been in your situation lots of time. It's very hard to escape the lure. I've tried blocks & got around them. GA, counselling and I still went back. At the moment I'm not gambling because I don't want to hurt my family and friends any more. I've also given up caring about money. That is part of the reason my brain turned toxic.

I think at the end of the day You need to be 100% committed to stopping, if that 1% is still lingering in your head there is always a chance of a relapse. I've also heard that Overcoming Gambling by Philip m*w is a good read. All the best.

Never give up at giving up.

Thanks Westsider & Captain for your kind words. I`ve tried GA , hypnotherapy, self exclusion, blocks & more blocks, I`ve no real access to my back accounts yet if I want to gamble there is always a way. As you know gamblers are some of the most deceitful & manipulative people around & when I`m in the gambling zone nothing & no-one will come between me & my fix. Anyway yesterdays gone, no point brooding about it, I can only affect today & beyond, & today I`m not gambling.

Hi rents 11 - if you can go a whole 24-hours without gambling, that's a 100% improvement on the day before! One day at a time, and you'll soon start building up those 'clean' days.

Come on over to the 'Overcoming problem gambling' page and join the '2014 Challenge' led by the dedicated Mr Brightside - you'll find a lot of support there - the only 'ask' is for you to commit to checking in once a week. I'm sure you'll find it a big help.

Joanna

Hi Rents,

You're right about gambling, its an insidious thing that can make use do things we wouldn't normally do in our right minds, and like any other addict, if we are determined enough there will always be someone willing to lighten our pockets.

I know the dark sobering realization that comes after you start to think about the big losses, and that is the toughest part. Defeating gambling starts with just one small step, and even if it is just getting through today, and then the weekend, you can start beating it one day at a time.

All the best, and hope the days to come will start to show a little of the light at the end of the tunnel.

Ryan

Thanks Joanna & Ryan, in that post gambling limbo today, can`t be bothered to do anything, everything is too much of an effort, the sun is shining & all I want to do is pull the curtains & hide away. Ain`t going to gamble though, there could be three hundred quid in my pocket & it would stay there. Can`t win because I can`t stop.

Trying to keep my head clear & the urges away. Take gambling out of my life & I`ve got sweet FA. No real friends & no real hobbies, that's what gambling does to you, isolates & ostracises you from everybody & everything. Need to somehow reattach myself to normality. but how do you change 30 years of warped behaviour. Anyway made it through another day, the new week beckons & hopefully gambling will stay under lock & key.

Hi Rents

It is usually normal to feel sorry for ourselves when we give up gambling. It is like a mourning period as we have lost our so called "best friend". It has been with us through thick and thin and always there when we needed it. Today you made a choice not to entertain it and you did it for a logical reason. You know you will be better off in the long run once you have detached yourself from the addiction that is gambling. Take care

just read your first post , well for the second time to be honest i read the other day think i had done nearly 4 weeks gamble free , then today well ive f***** up , annoying and im ashamed of myself but i dont want anybodys pity on here , but i know what you mean when you say what can you do but start again what else is there and hope that this time you/me stay gamble free, well hope you do well and keep it up, for me ive just blown 400 i didnt have that was for a new washing machine, im ashamed of myself and to be honest i think it was greed on my part aswell as missing the buzz that made me gamble again today all the best and just wanted to say i get what you were saying , and i must try harder

A boring normal day, walked the dog, did the shopping, dug the garden, cooked the dinner. Boring is good, boring keeps me out of trouble. How long will I put up with boring though, eventually the memories will recede, the complacency will set in & the cravings for the thrill of the bet will grow. Need to be strong, need to keep my guard up.

your right ive learned we cant be complacent, keep going mate this silly addiction of ours is making people rich at our exspence , im not letting that happen anymore and nor should you , keep strong mate and thanks for your comments

Cheers Tryer, only thing is I`m due that big win, I`ve made all the necessary sacrifices at the altar of ******* & joe coraals, it`s my turn & the voice is promising me riches beyond belief. lol what a load of b*****ks only thing I`m guaranteed is misery, heartache & an empty bank balance. Head in the right place & no thought of gambling.

Isn`t the human spirit a wonderful thing, only five or six days since my latest blowout & its already becoming a distant memory. It wasn`t that bad the voice is telling me, you were unlucky, next time you`ll walk away with your winnings. Need to be able to taste that despair, anguish & near suicidal thoughts. Leave me alone Mr Gambling, you & me are through.

Day 9, still in a good place, no thoughts of gambling. Big day of sport but enjoying it for what it is, rather than from behind the sofa because I`ve this months rent check riding on it. Made contact with some old mates this week & plans for a couple of meet ups but if I carry on gambling I won`t be able to go so plenty of incentive.