Today, i will not gamble.

HI Chalky,

Welcome to the forum you will get lots of support, inspiration and advice here.

Betfilter is about 40 quid for the year i think but its worth every penny if it helps you to quit gambling, the blocks that you put in place can be important in times when the urges come and if you gambled on line then its worth doing.

Stay close to your diary, i have posted everyday for the last 31 days and it has helped me stay gamble free and i can see the progress im making, i found reading lots of other peoples diarys gives you inspiration and also keeps you focused on how bad things could get if you dont stop.

I wish you strength in your recovery chalky.

Remember just take it one day at a time

Score so far Blondie =31, gambling demons a big fat ZERO .

Hi

Well done on getting here stay with it. One day at a time things will get better. Follow the advice you get on here.

Michael

Hi Chalky

You ask if internet blocking software is expensive? What I can tell you is not getting it is even more expensive! Sorry to sound flippant, it's not meant to be. I just hope you get it on your computer sooner rather than later. Leave no doors open in your quest to beat this.

Take care

Hi Chalky,

Great to see you here and I hope you can find the strength to beat this addiction! It's not easy but it can be done I have managed to win for the last 46 days and by win I mean not lose a penny and remained bet free! Prior to this I gambled every day of my life for 5 years! To answer your question about blocking software if online betting was your thing then get it I know that's easier said than done but i asked is it expensive and the response was not compared to how much it will potentially save you! That is double edged because stopping gambling will have a far wider positive impact other than just financial!

I hope your journey is successful!

Flagg

If you have told anyone else.. then you could use K9... it is free.

BUT... you must get somebody else to install it.. and use an email address you do not know... and a password you do not know. I got my daughter to do it for me... and it has helped when the urges came... but you can't do it yourself.

If in any doubt... use Gamblock or Betfilter... it is worth it, and essential.

Other than that... welcome to the diary room. You will get lots of support here. Be honest, as we all understand. Try to post each day.. and read diaries... you are not alone in this.

Best wishes

Jon

Everyone,

Thankyou all for your help and support, im feeling overwhelmed by it! Yesterday i did not gamble and am feeling good, today is pay day and im feeling good at the prospect of not giving it all away.

This is a daft question really but do people think its ok to play the lottery? £6 a week i currently have been spending.

Hi Chalky

Welcome to the forum, I have decided that each day I will read at least 3 diaries and respond where possible, so first of all good luck in your journey, it is yours and only you can make the decisions, but you will get lots of advice and encouragement, have you sorted out the online filters?

With the Lottery I played on Wednesday, but I am looking at stopping completely, my reasons being it still puts you in the fantasy world of all your problems could be solved with one win (for us, not going to happen) but the truth is, our issues will only be solved by a lot of hard work and sacrifice, there is really no other way out, so I am choosing not to play, but you need to get to that decision yourself. Hope that helps and have a great day,

John

John

Many thanks for your support, you're right about it being one big fantasy, however its a fantasy i still wish to pursue. Iv now realised im never gonna get rich playing fobts and online slots but for now will ask my wife to continue with lottery.

I havent added the software yet, im going to try with will power alone first.

Have a great weekend

So, im 5 days in, saturday i was on a stag do and i had a relapse, i know for a fact that i put £2 in a fruit machine, im happy that was all though and am feeling strong and comfortable about it. My better half has been talking about holidays this eve so thatl be something to look forward to and iv told her im saving for a new car, im looking forward to putting my wages to better use. i still dont have the betfilter and have resisted playing online, im feeling good. Today i havent gambled,

Hi all, since my last blog iv gambled and lost £500, feeling bloody awful, affecting my work id say bordering on depression. tomorrow is another day, another fresh start. I feel ashamed, embarrassed and guilt. This money could have been used so differntly and well. im forever chasing losses, im praying for the day i can beat this and live a 'normal' life without having the urge to go into a bookies and loose all my wages!

Tomorrow is day one, again.

Hi Chalky

So good to see you back here, takes a lot of courage to do that, sorry to hear about your losses, but it justs shows how difficult this problem will be to deal with. I remember a few weeks back when we were talking about the merits of the lottery, the problem is as long as you are still gambling in any shape or form, you are feeding the demons within you and they will not respect the fact that you only want to bet £6 a week, they will always find a way to take much more than you are willing to give. Please find a way of abstaining completely and following the advice, that you will no doubt get from others on here, wishing you luck again,

John

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your relapse. A lot of us have been there, and it's not pleasant, but even worse would be not to try to beat it again.

How can you learn from it, and how might you avoid a relapse in future?

Best wishes,

Rose

Thanks for your replies.

How can i learn from this? good question. I need to start listening like john says above, thatl be a start, i then need to stop putting myself in these positions where im so loose with money. Maybe a new hobby or pastime, I guess if we all knew the answers we wouldnt be here writing. Does anyone know if hypnopheripy works?

Hi Chalky,

Sorry to hear about your slip your human and we get it wrong sometimes, but you do need to learn something from it they say the first sign of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

What i would say is Blocks blocks blocks, self excluded from the bookies, make it difficult for yourself to gamble whilst you at a weak point untill you can get your head clear, and you will only do that if you dont gamble.

I dont think there is no magic cure for this illness, i havent had hypnotherapy but ive had councelling and i attend G.A each week i want to fix me as well as remain gamble free.

Keep going chalky, the benefits of taking off the gambling goggles can be amazing.

Blondie day 45