The Start

Day 17 - Still going strong. No thoughts of gambling. Next min target is to get to 3 weeks.

Well, I'm back here, struggling again with gambling. I've been battling for the last few months, losing hundreds of pounds to online slots. Yesterday, got paid blew £500 on slots, I have enough money to see me through to the end of the month, but that's not the point, I'm throwing money away all the time... money that could be put to much better use. I've self excluded from every single casino I've ever joined and all for a minium of 5 years (I wish they could all be permanent). I've also been in contact with GamStop to volunteer help them with their new online self exclusion system. I am desperate for this system to go live, the thought of being able to blanket self exclude from every online casino is amazing. I really feel this will help me in my battle.

This constant battle with this addiction has been going on to long now, I've got an amazing wife and gorgeous children and don't want this to get to the point where I will lose everything.

I am going to try log back in daily and document how I'm getting on.

So today is day 1, I'm focused and determined. Lets beat this.

Day 2, keeping busy at work and keeping myself distracted from thinking about gambling.

Hi Gambler999 just wanted to drop by and offer some support 🙂

Online slots are my weakness too 🙁 and for the past few months i've been spending hundreds on them after being gamble free for over 2 years .I'm so angry with myself that i'm right back at square one but know i can beat this again and you can too .

I've gambled today so tomorrow will be a fresh start .You've done all the right things getting the blocks in place and self excluding so that's a great start ! Keep going and once those gamble free days are racking up you'll be feeling better in no time .

Just remember you cannot win because you cannot stop ! i keep telling myself this as even when i do win it all goes straight back to them one way or another .Anyway goodluck and keep going 🙂 Sunshine x

Hey Sunshine16 - Thank you for the kind words, I know we can both beat this! On to day 3 so the days are slowly racking up, my urge to gamble is quiet low and right now I have no casinos I think I can atually register at, I've self excluded everywhere.

Goodluck to you too, today might be day 1 for you but I'm sure you can make it to another 2 years and more. All the best 🙂

Hi Gambler999,

refreshing to read your last post and your positivity this early into your recovery and that your urges aren't bad. Keep that mentality going and the days will very soon rack up into double figures and beyond.

Well done mate!

Wilsy

Hey Wilsy,

Thanks for the kind words, still going to try check in daily and just give a quick update on how I'm feeling etc.. So today still feeling positive, no temptations as of yet and hopefully it will stay that way. I've recently been getting an Xbox and I've found that has really helped distract me from gambling, the more I play that the less I feel any gambling temptation 🙂

Hope everyone has a positive and hopefully gamble free weekend. I'll be back for another update likely on Monday. Weekend time is family time 🙂

Nice one mate, I've found computer games, films and TV Series really helpful, keep up the positivity, you are doing really well. What XBOX game floats your boat at present?

Wilsy

I'm totally hooked on Battlefield 1 - such a deep and immersive game! I use to play loads back and the day then children come along so stopped, but it's great to get back into it. Like you say TV shows are a big help so getting into a series on Netflix has been great too, watched Stranger Things, The Punisher etc... all great and keep my mind away from Gambling.

Well the weekend soon come and went, had a great weekend with the family, out for breakfast early Saturday morning and a bit of shopping. The wife and the kids went clothes shopping on Sunday, I thought I'd give it a miss 🙂 Happy to report no gambling, 1 week ago today was my last bet, so a little landmark. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Pleased you had a great weekend with the family, really does matter and great to hear you are a week into your recovery, keep making the right choices

Wilsy

Thank you Wilsy 🙂

I think this is day 8 now without any gambling, small urge to gamble but fighting that urge and trying to keep myself occupied. Hope everyone else is doing well.

2 weeks today since my last big blowout, happy to say I've not gambled since, I'm trying hard to keep myself preoccupied, no longer watching Gambling streams either. Had a research call with GAMSTOP last week, looking forward to that service launching soon, will be a great help.

Hi Gambler999

well done on not gambling for 2 weeks, go and add another week to your tally, nice and easy does it

Wilsy