Relapse, seen sense but it’s killing me inside.

Hi

Try not to be too hard on yourself,it’s happened now, you went all that time before now you’ve got to go even further in time abstaining, you’ve realised after the event so to speak,that’s the power of this addiction,for me what’s firmly planted is that it will always put you on your a**e, and I have a big red stop button that’s been there since my last relapse,you will always lose money as with compulsive gambling  you can’t accept and be content with one win, then you lose and then you chase,it affects your soul and mind, get back to putting the measures in place no one that’s been working for me is having no access to money, I’ve got Apple Pay on my phone that’s it, my wife does not trust me with money and has taken over the finances for which I am very grateful for,be forever on your guard and take one day at a time, talk to a trusted person of what’s happened don’t hide it mate, start again,you’ve abstained before and you can do it again! 
I wish you well.

s

@steve850 

Thanks for taking the time to reply. You kind words mean a lot. Thankfully my wife controls the finances and it’s just pocket money I get. It’s not the amount,  it’s having that 1 bet again. Just proves no matter how long you abstain the temptation is always there and always will be. I never in my life realised how mentally gambling can affect you. Just need to take it day by day and lick my wounds. It’s kind of a relief that I can be free again from this demon.

cheltenham is allways going to be the hardest week of the year for lots of people including you.  Next year put some extra blocks in place, al on here transfered all his money to his wife beofre that week so he simply couldnt gamble..... its these tough blocks that gets us there.

step back up and put those blocks in place for when the grand national comes a long.

U just have pocket money great just next time u know ur in danger transfer that pocket money to her so u know ur safe..... be it a week two weeks a month just untill u know youre safe again.

All the best

Ive been transferring all my money to my dad for five years now and its worked wonders. i dont think ill ever look to change that.

Adam

@aliwonton1 

keep going, it’s shocked me too, I’ve had addiction counselling and it has helped me, I recommend it if you can afford it mine was around £30 an hour but they explain the way the brain has been altered by doing gambling compulsively over a number of years , they give you pointers in the right direction and explain the complex way why sometimes you give in an relapse, that’s good your wife has control,working me, try and find time to exercise even a brisk walk say 5000 steps daily, to start and then go from there, helping me,yes I get one bet I’ve been there but that turns in to the dangerous cycle starting again,don’t give in to it mate, I had divorce papers served on me as my wife had enough after Xmas when i relapsed for the fourth time, I nearly lost literally everything my kids, wife,house,what most guys dream to have,we’ve reconciled but I know I can’t ever chance gambling ever again,my mental health has been affected and gambling played a huge part in that, it takes your soul, turns you in to some one else, so I have to keep working at it be on my guard daily,I’ve stopped drinking alcohol too as I think it goes hand in hand,only now have the odd social glass of wine now and again,keep a diary whilst in recovery, ?

Try not to have any spare cash in your wallet self exclude from every way we know,try not to put yourself and people,family around you through the pain and remember how it felt after relapse, talk to your wife if that overbearing temptation I know well comes along again and say how your feeling.

Thanks so much for the comments. Gambling affects your mental strength to a whole new level. You end up living in a separate life to everyone else and the lies are that bad you start to believe the lies are true. My wife has all finances as I know I can’t control our finances. My wife hates me gambling and what makes it worse I continue to relapse. Last one was 220 days GF. I need to put the past in the past and focus on my recovery and stay GF, I know this feeling will pass but it’s still early days since my relapse. The government needs to do more. Bookmakers are seen to be doing something about problem gamblers but they will still take endless amounts of cash from the punter but never say maybe you can’t afford it. If the punter dose well they can restrict you and even block you. That sounds a good one coming from a problem gambler. I am the bookies best punter, as I am compulsive gambler and very rarely stop unless I have nothing left or will end up losing it in the end. Here is to another day GF. Stay strong everyone. GF is defo the best life for me.

all the best

ally

13 days GF. 13 days from my relapse after nearly 1 year GF. What I have realised in the past few weeks is how being a compulsive gambler can affect your mental health to a whole new level. Every relapse I have had has been worse than ever. The past weeks has been of hurt as I was doing so well and gave into the temptations of Cheltenham. I do fell better fir realising straight away how big a mistake it was. When I am GF my head is a lot clear and more positive. Life is to short to be chasing our life’s away. In the end the bookie will always win.

38 days GF. Staying positive and keeping busy. Taking every days as it comes. Once you give up gambling it’s scary how much it affects your mental strength and breaks you down slowly into the compulsive gambler that I had become. There was no way I would stop until I had nothing left. Anyone out there questioning they have a gambling problem. Stop while you can.

77 days GF. Not been on to much lately m. With being extremely busy with work and out with the dog and golfing any spare time I have. I always wonder how I ever had time to gamble. Any gambling thoughts keep busy is my advice. Once a compulsive gambler always a compulsive gambler. Times are hard with day to day bills never mind giving it away to a bookmaker. Another recession is on the horizon I fear. Stay strong folks.

86 days GF. So glad Ascot is over and all the promotion work plastered all over the tv as well. So happy I kept myself busy and didn’t get soaked in. Stay strong a gamble free life is so better than chasing your life away. I was reading an article of someone who hit a wee run and the bookmaker was concerned he had a gambling problem. Funny for the past 4 to 5 weeks he’s blown all his wages and never heard a pep out them. It’s shocking in every way. The government has to get involved. The industry is struggling and there desperate to take workers hard earned cash. Stay strong folks.