Time to quit for good

Hi CM3003 and welcome to the forum!

Many on this site can relate to the situation you’re in, me included, so you’re not alone mate.

It’s a great idea to order yourself a new bank card and to scratch off the numbers on the back.

It’s good that you’re girlfriend is with you every step of the way too. That’ll prove a massive help!

Good luck buddy and stay in touch.

There’s several challenges you can sign up to on the ‘Overcoming problems’ section of the forum.

Moorey

Hi , thanks

Been with my girlfriend almost 3 years and this last week has been my second blip whilst with her, lost £600 in two weeks after going 3 weeks without a bet, rather then lose every week i seem to lose between £200-£600 every 3 or 4 weeks and it always starts with me depositing only a tenner and chasing, i remember feeling annoyed being £40 down, oh how i wish i stopped then.

Just cant wait for my new bank card to arrive then i physically cannot bet and that should help me a lot to get used to life without gambling.

Will keep this updated to help me stick with it.

Hi CM3

Your story has many similarities to my own. Seems like we both gamble for the escapism element yet when we are done we are left with nothing but regret and empty bank accounts. Why we constantly repeat these actions seems ridiculous but it’s because we are addicted to the process of gambling. I thought I had it under control but lost £150 over the course of this weekend after 22 days GF. Was up down up down on darts, the ashes, NBA. Seems like you also obsess over money like myself. We need to let this feeling go and enjoy life, our finances will build up naturally away from gambling. We deserve more than this, lets move on. Maybe take a read of my diary you never know there may be bits which help your recovery, I know yours has aided my fresh start today. I can say from the bottom of my heart that I don’t want to make this a cycle. This time I’ll be stronger, it’s simply not worth it. We must ask ourselves what gambling has provided to our life’s? Misery.

Hi cm

It seems to me all you want to do is stop losing. You mentioned it was only your second blip in 3 years but your various diaries suggests other wise.

Tracking how much money you are saving isn’t going to bring about any form of recovery. You need to put some actual effort in for that like ga, counselling anything really. Something is better than doing nothing.

You say you gamble because you are bored, or are you intentionally making yourself bored as an excuse to gamble?

It’s not uncommon for most compulsive gamblers to become depressed , it’s most likely because you keep doing all your money every month and have no money to do anything else.

If you put the same effort in as you do researching your bets then this should be a walk in the park.

re read your various threads this is getting worse and worse there is plenty of help from other members in those threads.

Hiya cm I feel your pain pal its an awfull addiction people dont really understand it and I was in same boat being bored or thinking I was bored and gambling the little guy on my shoulder use to tell me to gamble have some fun but really I didnt need to bet I had loads of things to do rather than bet but because its all my brain knows its what I did .I have now been trying to change the way I think bu using g a and changing a lot of things in my life I have been rekindling my relationship with mrs spending time and money on my kids going football seeing friends never use to do it because to busy gambling hope you can make right changes and become gamble free good luck jft

It has just really taken over me last few years, mainly this year.

Will now be able to focus on other things and put my attention elsewhere.

Lost of football coming up this month so will feel like wanting a bet but having this new card and not being able to deposit will help a lot.

Day 2 - £15.00

So far so good, no more thinking of gambling every hour of the day.

Had a chat with my girlfriend yesterday and she said the last month i have been distant with her and at the time i didnt see it but now i have stopped i can see how it takes over me and i stop wanting to do things with her or make any effort.

Now that i have stopped i have a lot more time on my hands to do more things with her and others.

Day 3: £22.50

First day the football had been on since i quit. Usually i would spend all night glued to phone.

Didnt have the urge like i thought i would, just kept busy doing other things.

Day 4 : £30.00

Getting used to not checking my phone everyday looking what to bet on, watched a game of football last night and was first time in a while didnt have urge to bet

Day 5 - £37.50

Still going well, having less thoughts about gambling each day

Day 6 - £45.00

I follow a similar tactic to you, whereby I also include how much money I WOULD have spent had I been gambling. Mine was around £20 a day.

You’re doing well buddy, keep going. Almost a week now!

Thanks, it might not work for everyone but it definately motivates me more not to give in.

£2,500 a year isnt much compared to what some others have lost but its a lot to me when my salary is 23k.

I have been spending that £2,500 each year for the past 6 years on gambling when i could have been making more effort going out more with friends and family and that is what i plan to do more of from now on.

I thought i gambled because i was depressed but its the other way round i have suffered depression in the past because of all the gambling i have done during the last 6 years and really want to put a stop to it, its not worth it.

First Saturday since I started this, will be first time that i dont bet on the football in months.

Think i would give in if i hadnt ordered a new bank card but having that and knowing i cannot deposit helps a lot.

Day 7 : £52.50

Well done CM3003, days and money saved are stacking up, stay GF this weekend.

Muststop123