Day 9 - Had a little wobble this morning and for a split second thought about trying to join a new site and play some slots. I took a deep breath and deleted the email that they sent to try and lure me in. One thing that really bugs me is that whenever I signed up to one of these sites I always ticked the box to say that I did not want any promotional emails,letters etc. However some of these a*******s have clearly sold my details on (As if they haven't made enough out of me already!) because I keep getting letters through the post and emails advertising new sites. Why can't they just leave me alone. It doesn't matter anyway though as it is just one more thing that will make me determined not to give in to them.
Day 9 completed and still gamble free. In to double figures tomorrow!
Fantastic, 9 days! Hopefully I will be saying the same in 9 days, gives me inspiration reading posts like these and knowing I am not alone with this awful addiction. Looking forward to reading about tomorrow
Turns out I can't count. According to the count on my profile today is day 9. I think I counted day 1 as the day that I decided to stop. Oh well, if I can get through today then tomorrow will be double figures.
Today I am finally in to double figures. Still taking it a day at a time but my next target is to make it through until Christmas Day. Christmas Day will put me at 71 days and will mean that I am on course to reach 100 days early in the new year.
I read an interesting article yesterday from an industry insider who talks about the way these slots are programmed with music and flashing lights to make you feel happy. This along with all the bells and whistles when you "win" 50p of a £2.00 spin does leave a bitter taste in the mouth. Who believes in karma? There is about to be a lawsuit in Australia against the makers of these games. I can't say that I'd be sad to see the same happen in the UK.
Well done Brum on double figures.
Yep still can't quite believe what that was all about wagering between 2 to 5 quid per spin, and and winning 10 bloody pence back, with all the lights and noise going off on the screen, like I had won the jackpot 0))) utter madness.
Keep strong
Suzanne xxx
Day 11 today. I've surprised myself in the last couple of days that I have been able to switch my brain to concentrate on something else when the urge to gamble occurs. In the past I would have given in straight away and joined a new site but this time I seen to be stronger than that. I only hope that this continues until the urges eventually disappear.
Today is day 12 and another day gamble free. It is a lot easier to take my mind off it when my wife or daughter are here. Soon she will be on maternity leave so I'm sure that will help me a lot. Looking forward to hitting the 2 week mark.
Day 13 today, looking forward to being able to say I have been gamble free for 2 weeks tomorrow. Best thing I did was cut up the credit cards because it is no longer easy to just setup a new account and start gambling. I only wish I had done that sooner. Anyway, no point thinking of what might have been. I'm gamble free now and for the first time in a long time my debts are coming down and not shooting up.
Today I am 2 weeks without those pointless slot machines. Do I miss them? No! Not even slightly. I crave them every now and again but that is not the same as missing them. I am thinking I might buy a jar and every time I think about trying to gamble I might put £10 in the jar. £10 is a hell of a lot less than I would end up gambling away but it will either build up in to a nice little amount which could pay for something nice or it will help me to stop thinking about gambling.
Has anyone else done something similar?
Day 16 today and still gamble free. I should hopefully get paid in a few days (self-employed so never a set date) and will look forward to paying off another chunk of my debt. I can't wait to be able to start putting some money in a savings account instead of wasting it. The future is bright.
Day 18 - I had to stay strong last night as I did consider for a moment trying to log on and find a new site to play. I had football training last night and picked up an injury which will probably keep me out for a couple of weeks. This was very frustrating - probably the realisation that I'm not as young as I used to be and these injuries are becoming more common. The frustration is one of my triggers. Thankfully I stayed strong and went to bed instead. It's safe to say I'm not cured yet but still taking one day at a time.
2 well dones Brum, :))
18 days of actually winning
Recognising one of your triggers and making that right choice, the addiction will have hated that.
Suzanne xxx
Debt update. Just paid another little chunk off my debt which now stands at £4857.39. Good to have got it below £5000 but still s good way to go. The pleasing thing though is that it is coming down and not going up. I have now cleared the credit card that I once maxed to £4600. The card is gone so no chance of running it back up again. I plan to try and pay some more off in a week or 2 when I have worked out my finances.
Hi everyone,
I am a little shaken at the moment as I just came closer to gambling than I have done at any other point in the last 18 days. My finger was hovering over the deposit button and it took all my strength to close the app and self exclude from it. I don't know what I was thinking and I am sitting here with that breathless feeling that I used to get after gambling a large sum.
I am still here and still gamble free but it scares me how close I came to doing something stupid. Time for bed I think.
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