Trying to avoid a relapse

Hi TAFS and welcome.

You have to do the cold turkey and that should really be forced upon you with the strongest blocks to cash and family monitoring.

This is not an issue about willpower alone so if you are attempting this with limited support you are in danger of a relapse.

Its a horrendous manipulating controlling addiction. You will think about gambling in the earlier stages with some compulsion urges...Thats natural...thats your body asking for its fix...a fix that was destroying you emotionally and financially

The point is with strong blocks you will find it very hard if not impossible to do it. The key there is no serious money should be available to you.

All I can say is focus in the extinction feeling when you wanted the world to swallow you up...Thats what gambling has in store time and time again. when you think about gambling burning your hands that is really the correct thoughts to have.

You know its not there as an income scheme. How can everybody walking in to those dens be winning? The dens would be out of business very fast.

Yes I hate Winter, particularly February but gambling isnt the answer to that...its not a comforter or a soothing blanket...its playing with fire!

I hope you have people close that you can talk it through with. You need to be talking through your feelings and preparing for scenarios you shouldnt be in....bored depressed lonely grey days are dangerpous so you need to be doing stuff getting excited about a new pasttime or hobby.

Youve got warning signs which worry me...emails that you should be blocking with a spam filter...it may be that you cant have gadgets for a while....Understand?

You were near a casino so step it up and get telliing them you are blocking self excuding or blocked

You win when you do not gamble because that twenty stays in your pocket ready for wholesome purchases.

Stay strong. I promise you dont  need it in your life...Its a drug addiction and that drug was killing you...you need to focus on the reality

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Hello @takenafirststep,

Firstly, a huge well done on those 133 days gamble free! That's a great achievement and you should be proud, you've taken significantly more than a first step now.

I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling though. Even though you've completed your treatment through Gamcare, you're still welcome to contact us on the helpline (0808 8020 133) or netline (www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/talk-to-us-now) anytime to talk about how things are going. We're here 24 hours a day to offer you support. I hope that you reach the top of the list for your grief-focused therapy soon. In the meantime, perhaps it would help to contact Cruse Bereavement Care and speak to someone there (www.cruse.org.uk) so that you have some support while you're waiting. 

You can get through this difficult time. You are not in this alone.

Kind regards,

Elizabeth
Forum Admin

Morning.

The gambling companies are doing these emails to get you emotional. Their trick is you + worked up= emotional trigger and more gambling. Expect to see lots of emails and text messages of bonuses etc because they will condition you 24/7. It does not matter if we like it or not . It is what they do.  Will power is not going to be enough you will need to get activated with other things. Clean your house or flat. Walk your dog etc. Get busy. It also makes you feel a bit better.

And by the way. Close your accounts. Make the buggers know you are stronger than them.