Time to Change.... Advice appreciated

Well done for facing this vile addiction...and for maki g the first step....you will find here so much help....I go to counselling but it is nearly a three hour round trip....but so worth it....take one day at a time x

Thank you so much for your reply. I'm glad the counselling is working for you and can only hope it does for me too. I wish there was a way for me to go face-to-face but right now I cant think how I would manage it (councelling is open 9-12 some days and 9-5 others but I have 3 young children one of which is at school and the location would take around 2 hours each way on buses as I dont drive). I could go to my GP and get referred for counselling locally but as gamcare have advised they wouldnt be specialised in gambling addiction and I think thats where I need to be right now. All the best for your recovery x

Sorry to post again Loxxie but I just saw your profile and thread and I suffer with the same gambling problem as you (online slots). If you have any advice I would really appreciate it. Feels like its impossible to escape from (adverts all over TV and internet etc). x

Hi there and welcome to the forum , I can identify greatly with your line about being alone and the huge sense of relief that you feel when you come here and realise just how many of us are affected by gambling, we all know exactly how your feeling right now and I felt exactly the same when I arrived here pretty broken 6 months ago .

I haven't experienced counciling myself but many swear by it or attending GA but its your recovery and just do what feels right for you .

There's a wealth of tried and tested knowledge on here and much to be gained on the diarys page either by posting or just taking a look at other peoples journeys, if you need any advice on putting blocks in place to stop you gambling then just ask , here or ask the gamcare team who will give you a list of basics to make your recovery journey easier .

Please feel free to share your story if you wish or if you don't thats fine too , take what you need on the site and ditch what you dont thinks applicable to you .

Best wishes for now and welcome to recovery !

My names Alan and I'm a Compulsive Gambler ( in recovery ) !

Thanks Alan 🙂 So overwhelmed by how helpful and supportive everyone is here.

I've got K9 on my computer (got my dad to put a password in), but would love to learn how to put a block on my phone. I did try K9 on my phone but it only blocks the apps and not the websites. When I tried blocking the websites it then blocked me from internet banking and a few others which I need to access to pay bills. I cant afford to buy any software at the moment because I'm in a bit of a mess but if you know of any ways that will help take the temptation away please share.... I really want to stop once and for all this time! xx

Good on you and good on your husband for suggesting GA. I completely get where your coming from regarding a fear in entering a room full off people you don't know, but hai they were also wearing your shoes at one stage and no doubt had the same fears.

Anyway, I would imagine it's still pretty raw but your posts show a determination.

I wish you well

Yeah , I'm not very usefull there either really , I have heard people say about struggling to block phone's and I'm pretty sure Gamcare gave some advice so maybe give them a post or a call , the only other option some have done is to downgrade there phone to non internet version , bit extreme I know but sometimes if needs must ?

Sorry I can't be of more use but I'm a bit old when it comes to technology , or maybe just old anyway , LOL !

I'm just off to work in a mo so will prob catch up with you a bit later , well done for all your trying to achieve , it is a bit daunting to start with but , let the brain fog clear a bit and things will start getting a bit easier , I'd been betting all my life pretty much and got really hooked on machines in the bookies for a few years ,but I've not gambled since being here , which pays great testiment to it working , don't beat yourself up , whats done is done , let go of the losses and you'll soon be back in a good place , your amongst friends who understand things that non gamblers can't , so a bit of willpower and you'll be fine !.

Take care and talk to you soon x

Thank you volcano. I will let you know how I get on. I know its only early days but I've tried to stop before and this time come to the realisation that I cant do it alone. I think the fear of going to GA is that I'm scared someone I know will see me (I've kept this to myself for so long) and I'm so ashamed of what I have become (lying to my family, running up big debts). But onwards and upwards...

Thank you Alan, and a massive well done. I'm surrounded by people who just simply cant understand the addiction so I think I've come to the best place for support. I'll get in touch with gamcare and ask if they have any suggestions for blocking sites on my phone. I'll keep you updated on my journey 🙂 x

No worries, yeah , my partner and all my family know and support me but prob to a non gambler it's hard to understand how we end up doing this to ourselves , to be honest I sometimes struggle to know how it got as bad as it did so know wonder they can't get there head around it !

Look forward to seeing you move forward with your life !

x

thanks deano, read your posts before and your doing amazing it gave me so much motivation. I'll get on to my network provider see if there's any way they can block just gambling sites. Thank you so much x

Thanks no maybe x Fingers crossed, its day 1 for me today (spoke to gamcare yesterday after i gambled for the last time and arranged the counselling). Already struggling. Just going to keep posting on the forums day by day to try keep myself strong x

Hi lau89xoxo... welcome to out little haven :-)... i too have an addiction to online slots and also scratchcards, and i can honestly say coming on here is the best thing u ever did!.. i too tried beating it alone, only to fail everytime... i have only lasted the longest period of time without gambling since joining this site, reading peoples tragic stories on here made me realise i didnt want to end up like that, and posting my story and even making a journal helped me massively.. i managed the longest iv ever gone without gambling which was 52 day!.. then i had a little blip where i bought some scratch cards and went on some slots for a couple of days, but now im back gamble free and im on day 17!....

Please stay on here and read peoples storys and even make a journal if u like, trust me it works, me and many others on here are proof of that!

Keep Strong

We cant win because we cant stop x

Hi...I've used my bb provider parental controls to block phone...it has a section to just block gambling....it's great and works a treat...I never actually used my phone to play slots....but it gives hubby....and me peace of mind to know I can't...ok....so it wouldn't block me if I went to another WiFi hit spot....but like I said...it's more for peace of mind....hope this helps x