Prisoner to gambling

Hi James, you're doing good. Heading for 2 weeks now, well done. Watching those videos sounds like torture, hope you manage to stop this now?

Day 13

Thanks so much for the posts Sha999 and Slot Fool. I've self excluded from every online site but could do with self excluding from betting shops in my local area. Always been dubious that they wouldn't recognise me from a photo but I suppose the embarassment of being stopped would be enough to put me off!

Watching the gambling videos on Youtube is torture. Its my way of keeping in touch with gambling without gambling and needs to stop! It is only making me think about it more.

Had a couple of really strong urges over the last couple of days and managed them quite well. Driving home from work I had a strong urge to call in at the services to get on the slot machines. Thankfully I thought the urge through and saw myself losing £100 minimum. It was clear this would happen as I've done this countless times in the past and never walked away with any money. Being an unlucky gambler is finally paying off!

Just need to keep treating these urges with the same respect and coming to the same conclusion, that I will just lose and increase my hefty debts.

So onwards and upwards, nearly two weeks and feeling tonnes better mentally and physically.

Thanks for reading

James

Hi James

Successful ex-gamblers say not giving into urges made them stronger every time.

Well done, good on you. We are winning by not gambling.

Shaun

Day 15

Thanks again for the support Shaun. That's really interesting, i wonder if it has something to do with feeling like you are in control again. 2 weeks ago I was a broken man with no control, in such a short period of time i already feel stronger.

Not had any major urges since the last post. I have again thought about stopping at the services to gamble although I soon dismissed these thoughts and I suppose these strange ideas of gambling at the services on my way home will become less and less the more I keep driving past them,

Its a strange thing addiction, to the non gambling a lot of this wouldn't make sense. It's amazing the lengths you'll go to gamble and the risks you'll take. So much easier and less stress not to gamble.

Did watch a youtube video of someone on the fobts, do need to stop this. Not only is it really sad to watch videos of other people gambling, i fear it will trigger something in my brain to copy. I am always hoping they will lose to show me that you cant will on them but I really shouldn't need a video where they are likely only to put up videos of their wins and not upload the losses, to prove to me they take your money. The only times Ive took money out of them evil machines, are times when i've kept the money for 1-2 days max before putting it back in. I cannot win because I cannot stop.

Thanks for reading

James

Keep going James . Make it through the weekend and stay strong . Your ticking off the days nicely . It will get easier . All the best

Hi James

I once did 8 months gamble free and had to force myself to gamble, I know doh! During that time I hated the thought of gambling. Absetence makes it easier.

Shaun

Day 18

Thanks PWM101 and Shaun for your support it is much appreciated!

Been having the odd urge to gamble but nothing too bad. Kept myself busy over the weekend and spent it mainly with the wife which was nice. Its good to live a normal life again, even going out for a coffee is a luxury as my cycle of gambling and then having no money means I can never do anything.

It's probably too soon to do these activities unsupervised but when I feel up to it I will have to leave my bank card at home and just take a tenner out. I can't risk an innocent trip to town turning in to a £500 loss which is so commonly does.

Feeling really good about getting through 2 and a half weeks, just need to keep focussed but already feeling a lot better being away from the stressful life I was living 3 weeks ago.

Onwards and upwards

Thanks for reading

James

Day 20

No real urges since the last post, payday on Monday and already preparing myself for this biggest test.

I have borrowed money on a 0% credit card to get out of my overdraft after the last bout of gambling. I borrowed too much just in case and have made an extra payment back off the card so I don’t have the temptation of gambling it. Would like to think I wouldn’t but felt good to pay some debt off and I now know I don’t have any money to gamble until monday.

Onwards and upwards, James

Day 22

Just over the 3 week mark, still having urges to gamble but no money to gamble with still. Just 2 days to payday and the real test will begin. Need to stay strong and be mentally prepared for having money in my account. Will have a think over the weekend how I can limit the amount of available money I have on me at any time. I will probably start leaving my bank card at home and just take a small amount of cash out with me.

Onwards and upwards

James

Hi James

Just a quickie pal, I have contacted my bank and had my debit card daily ATM reduced to £10 a day, apparently they cannot set it to £0. This way I can use my card in the shops but limits my cash to £10 per day. I know you will stay strong come pay day, you are doing great, keep going.

Shaun

Day 25

Thanks Shaun, I'm just changed bank accounts so i'm going to enquire about that limit because that would really help me!

Got paid yesterday, needed to get my haircut so went in to town. At least the last two times i've done this, I have had my haircut then veered off in to the bookies and rinsed £400 to £500 a time. My plan was to just take enough for the haircut but was in a rush and forgot to leave my card in the car. I walked past a load of bookies where I have been before and was just intent on not going in and tried to remember how angry they made me feel. So had my haircut, then treated myself to a coffee in town and it felt really good to be 'normal'.

I've always got to be aware that this can change in any moment but I do enjoy this gamble free life.

Onwards and upwards,

Thanks for reading

James

Well done James on walking past those shops!

Wilsy

Hi James

The more we resist the stronger we become. Good news, next week the govt will publish its findings on FOBT's stake reduction, hopefully it is going to be £2 a spin which will help the thousands of people still playing them out there.

Shaun

Day 29

Thanks Wilsy and Shaun for your support. That is great news, some sound dubious about the stake reduction from what i've read but any little helps in my opinion. If nothing else it should be a sign to the bookies that they can get away with pillaging peoples money at the rate they have been. Them fortune spins are rediculous, £50 for 5 spins that sometimes pay zero. I've have done the £20 ones but luckily stayed away from them most the time. It still didn't change the end result for me, I was going to waste hundred whether I used the fortune spins or not but for some it will definitely limit their losses. I take it roulette will still be £50 max stake?

Nothing major to report, have been leaving my bank card at home and just had £20 emergency cash on me which I've not had to use so it has been a cheap week. Cycling at least 100 miles a week at the moment which is going me wonders for my health and mentally keeping me focussed on training rather than gambling.

Off in to town today with my friends, thinking I might take £50 cash and leave my bank card again. This will just make any urges easier to deal with. Need to always be on my guard and properly plan my outings to avoid slipping.

Onwards and upwards

James

Hi James

I believe the the stake reduction will be on all games on FOBT's. Great news you are gamble free and at the same time looking after your health and mind.

Keep racking those days up and keep up the good work.

Shaun