Time to grow up

You can do it that's for sure! I am now 4 days GF and have a good feeling. #staystrong 

So.. I have just done something I haven't felt ready to do since I started gambling offline. 

I have contacted the 3 venues I visit and self excluded myself. 

I'm genuinely proud of myself for taking this this step. I've never felt ready or brave enough to do this because it's admitting I have a problem. 

But I have finnaly done it! I'm feeling very happy and relieved right now. 

Hi Shantel,

Thank you for your message of support on my diary. 

I feel your pain reading your posts. Gambling is awful not just financially but how it can change us mentally. Like you, I was always a sociable person who loved a night out with friends but recently everything is about not spending money to pay off gambling debt and I’m just brutally bored with my life.

My issue has always been with roulette. I thought the bookies were bad enough but I’d have a limit on my bank card and couldn’t exceed my withdrawal limit. I joined an online site in June and lost 6k in an hour. I lost more 4 days ago. Two bad hours in the past 6 months and my gambling debt is far worse than it has ever, ever been. It doesn’t seem right.

I will definitely download gamstop but I’ll need to call to do so because I failed the verify process last night after two attempts. My phone is a work phone and I’ve no idea how long the contract has been which was one of the questions- typical.

Anyway, I wish you the very best on your journey and I hope we can be successful in eradicating this life destroying gambling from our lives.

RR

Thank you for your message RR. 

I can guarantee you if and when you join gamstop it will be the last time you ever gamble a penny online. 

Get on the phone to them first thing Monday morning. 

I wish you all the best, keep me updated on your progress. 

Dear @shantel17 ,

Thank you for sharing your story here on the Forum. It is great to see you have a positive attitude to becoming gamble free. You have done all the right things with having the blocks in place and limiting your access to cash.

I do hope you manage to keep up your recovery diary as it would be good to see your progress. Thank you for your honesty and by sharing it here you are giving support and encouragement to others as well as, I hope, receiving support.

Please don't forget that you can always contact us on the netline or call free on 0808 802 0133 for additional support or if you just want to talk.

All the very best and keep up that positive thinking

Forum Admin

Hi admin,

I will certainly keep up my diary and positivity at least week by week. 

Thank you 

This sounds so similar to me I've gambled for years but secretly as no one noes but the guilt I feel is awful it's early days for me 18 days lots of debts to sort out but I gambled £1000 a month if I won I was buzzing for 10 mins then all winnings would go then I would feel sick tortured myself over it but hey ho new start good luck on your journey 

305 days GF for me. Blocks are Vital but positivity is also key and if you ever need to talk use the helplines. That was and will never be my way as I am quite a closed person but this site has helped me immensely. Keep faith in yourself and take each day as it comes and deal with whatever situations arrive the best that you can.

DEVELOPMENT 

A quick back story, my dad was diagnosed with dementia last year and my mom had to quit her job and become his full time carer. I noticed she had been online gambling not too much money so I assumed it was under control. Anyway I got hold of he phone yesterday and noticed she had been gambling every night and was losing over £100 a week. Now my mom knows I used to gamble but no where to the extent. So I thought this is my time to be honest and hopefully save my mom in the process and I was honest about everything and I can't tell you what a weight it was lifted off my shoulders. My mom is an online gambler and doesn't have the transport to go to casinos etc plus shes a full time carer and wouldnt be able to do so even if she wanted too. I told her about gamstop and asked her to stop because I was worried about where it was leading. She admitted it was a problem and she wsd struggling to stop and wanted too. So we sat down and signed her up for 5 years exclusion and I'm honestly ecstatic because I know this will save completely save her from gambling. I myself haven't gambled since Sunday and honestly have a spring in my step. I've also had confirmation that I have been excluded from the casino, bingo Hall, services and bookies in my area and I'm thrilled.

I really think this could be it this time. 

Posted by: spendspendspend

This sounds so similar to me I've gambled for years but secretly as no one noes but the guilt I feel is awful it's early days for me 18 days lots of debts to sort out but I gambled £1000 a month if I won I was buzzing for 10 mins then all winnings would go then I would feel sick tortured myself over it but hey ho new start good luck on your journey 

I wish you all the best. 

YOU can do this! We all can with the right blocks in place, attitude, willpower and positivity. 

7 days today GF woop woop