Looking for guidance on how to shake this habit that's been controlling my life for the past 10 years, 6 months on from my last post, and back to gambling. I have gamstop in place that stops me from gambling online, but I find myself at the bookmakers, losing thousands of pounds on the fobt, and I can't help but feel I'm actually worse off than if I did it online. If I ban myself from my local bookmaker, I will just find another one. I go through patches where I don't gamble, but I always seem to return. I will financially recover, then start gambling again, forgetting about the low points, until it gets to the point of no return. I then turn to this forum in desperation for hope. It feels like I'm alone. I look around in the bookmakers, and nobody else seems to be in the same situation. People just seem to look at me in disappointment.
Hi Dom,
That's some statement, when you look around in the bookmakers & no-one seems to be in the same situation. Bookmakers have a common theme, they're full of desperados. Some may hide it better than you do, but don't be fooled. 6 months since your last post but gambling has controlled your life for 10 years ?. It's become more powerful than your will power. Acknowledge you need help & admit the addiction is the master. We can't win because we can't stop. Step 1 seek help through GA, attend a meeting, maybe you'll recognize some of them from the bookmakers shops & find they're in the same situation, if not I suspect your paths will cross eventually. Ask yourself honestly ARE YOU SICK OF GAMBLING or sick of loosing ?.
Best Wishes
AL
"Take note of the journey so far"
"Better relief away from the gambling bar"
"The further are minds walk away from that door"
"We heal with new life and purpose away from war"
"We fight for ourselves and to help others"
"We are recovering compulsive gamblers"
"The road can get rocky and hard some times"
"Just keep in check with loved ones so kind"
"We have all been to hell and back"
"We are here to support you to get back on track"
"You are not alone and people care"
"Just for today I will not gamble affair"
Keep coming back to the forum and if you can get to meetings physical or digital. It can be hard going back but the main thing is coming back for help and guidance is better than the hell hole of gambling.
Hope to see you post soon! dave101
Hi Dom
I thought that I would be the last person on this planet to stop my gambling addiction.
I kept going to meetings for my family then found out it only works if you do it for your self.
It sounds strange that by gambling it only made thinsg worse.
Yet because of the high levels of fear in me that I thought the buzz was the most exciting thing in my life.
So living in fear to going to gambling fear was even hgher.
The more I lied the bigger the fears.
A nights sleep then the thinking is get more money will undo all the harm I have done to my self and others.
It is a very painful panick filled life consuming unhealthy habit.
It was very hard to hand over all of my finances and only have enough each day for some snacks.
I use to view as a control issue.
I then found a strong meeting where there was only honest therapies and very little talk about money lost or being in action.
By sharing our vulnerabilities we get to talk about pains in our life and how we cope with them.
Today I can trust my self with money.
Today I can be honest to my self and then honest to others.
Finding a very healthy nurturing and encouraging sponsor having two way street talk with no fears is very helpful.
No matter when you last bet was keep going to meetings.
In time you will find a much healthier life.
In time you will find a healthy healing process with out fears in your life one day at a time.
Love and peace.
Dave L
AKA Dave of Beckenham
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