This is absolutely it this time!

Hi drew

I was the same, I bet on everything so when I stopped 57 days ago, I stopped any sort of gambling. I won't even do a line on lotto for fear that a win would trigger my compulsive behaviour. I want the rest of my life to be gamble free and the only way to achieve that is by abstaining completely.

I have to tell you that this last 8 weeks have been the best because the self loathing has stopped. I no longer hate myself. I lost a lot but it's gone and I've accepted that it's not coming back. You need to draw a line today. The past is where it should be. Take one day at a time and you will see how wonderful life can be without this terrible addiction. Keep posting here it really is a wonderful site and you will get loads of support.

All the best

Linda

Hi Drew. Best of luck on your journey. I hope this is the start of a new adventure for you. Stay strong and keep your guard up.

Hi Drew

Post every day. Stay strong. It's very tough but it can be done. You'll find great stories and inspiration on this forum. There's lots of good people here who will listen, empathise but never judge you because they've all been through it.

Kevin

Drew you have conquered the first and biggest hurdle, admitting to yourself its a problem. Like Linda said stop chasing previous losses. What I have done in the past especially with sports betting is wrote on word what I fancy betting on and see how it unfolds. 99 times out of 100 the teams I would have backed let me done and then at 5pm on a Saturday I'd say, saved £20 there then. Worked for me, try it or if not just keep posting on here and reading other people's posts. It really helps.

Mick.

Thank you very much for your replies guys, I think this is going to help hugely in beating this.

As they say, you have to re program and change your mindset in order to not gamble again and I think this place is paramount in changing habits. Today I'm just sad about all the lost money, sad about having no savings, having not enough money to live normally, sad I've wasted so much money and nothing to show for it. I'm pretty angry aswell tbh, I feel like a loser.

I can't wait til my next payday so I can prove I will never bet my money again. I do have some money now, but defo not wanting to gamble one penny of it.

What I have noticed on this forum so far is the fact how lovely everyone is, there's no hatred for each ither, in a weird way everyone of us is connected, seriously connected with problem gambling and not one person is wanting to hurt anyone, they are just trying to help each other. Im going to harbour this human feelings and sheer positivity and put it into my struggle. The caring nature of the fellow man 🙂

Thanks once again brothers and sisters.

Hi drew - can really relate to your story.

I too have begun my journey today (another one) after losing a lot of money yesterday. I opened up to my girlfriend yesterday and also my brothers and friends today. Try and talk to people close to you as they will support you, do not think this is selfish, they love you.

Hopefully we can help eachother on our journeys given we have started around the same time! My diary is 'andy's road to recovery'.

All the best Drew, hopefully chat soon. Andy

Hey Andy,

Thanks for the message mate.

Definitely chat soon man as I think it helps to have someone at the exact same part of the road as yourself. We will help each other spur on. It really will help as sometimes I feel know one knows what's it's like to be a gambling addict, it's such a secretive addiction. But you know and I know, so we can work together.

I hate gambling, hate how it's consumed me and played such a massive part in my life to date. I've probably thought about gambling every day, many times a day, for years. That's a horrible thought right now.

Let's beat it for good this time brother.

Drew

Struggling quite a bit right now - I am working nightshift at the minute and have an abundance of free time through the night! My usual routine is put some money down on some American sports, usually NFL, NHL or NBA and then i stream and watch it live - Ive just seen there is lots of basketball on tonight, but i know i cant bet on it... Hell, i think id even struggle to watch it. I love watching sports, but do i only like watching it because i have money riding on it most of the time? I wont bet, but its crazy how the slightest temptation can rear its head at any moment!

Hi Drew

Just try to distract yourself with anything you can think of. A little simple motto I have used in the past when I have had the urge to gamble is: "I will only lose anyway". Short and to the point. i always works for me.

Good luck. If you are still bored, read a load of diaries. Its amazong how the time flies when you do so.

Take care.

Feb.

Hi Feb,

Thanks for the advice mate.

I truly will lose, if it wasn't this time it'll be the next time. I guess i can only guarantee to win if i don't bet on anything.

Just got to change mind set and habit mate, its a very long road but i am 100% committed to it.

Take it easy,

Drew

Hi mate - hope you got through last night...

Perhaps start watching some films in spare time at work instead?

Hey mate,

Yeah i got through last night. I caught up on some of my American TV shows. Was hard looking at the results as the Kings won and thats what i really fancied.

But i guess, it could have so easily went the other way and i would have lost my stake.

Its all a game of chance at the end of the day, whether it be football, roulette, every form of Gambling. There is no method, tips, its all just chance. Well ive had it with chance im going to decide what happens in my life and not leave anything to chance.

Hope you are still going strong mate.

My biggest test will be the weekend with more sport, not fussed about slots or roulette right now (I used that for more trying to recoup losses quickly -In the process losing more of course...) But i do like watching soccer saturday and following the UK leagues.

Find something elso to do on Saturday for the future i think,

So glad you got through last night mate.

Good idea about finding something else to do on a saturday afternoon. I know how tough it can be when you see easy results and think 'i could have so easily won an accumalator today'. The fact is like you say, its chance, and its not worth the chance. I for one hardly ever won an accumalator even when i believed the teams i picked 'couldnt possibly lose'.

Stay strong mate, speak tomorrow.

Andy

Day 4 passed and still going strong.

No urges for today, which Is usually so hard what with Soccer Saturday.

Seen all the scores come through and I didn't even think for one second, oh would have picked them, etc. Just watched it as a football fan. Felt brilliant!

Long may it continue.

Today was a big mile stone for me, delighted it's went the way I wanted it to.

Stay strong everyone.