We're do I begin . I'm 51 gambled since I was eight,horses then bookies introduced football coupons until 35yrs of age stayed mainly betting on horses remember getting up 5.30am waiting for the paper shop to open then sit for 4hours trying to outdo the bookie sum times yes but mostly no . Then got into football betting loved the bet to last more than a few minutes. So gave horses up no more burning midnight oil on them realised bookie wins eventually . Then came Internet betting ah the bookie made my life so much easier surely I cudnt lose with technology I can predict any game and win wow we're they going to be sorry (Pmsl) mix all this with drink like so many others on here I'm skint my partner is /////// off with me she even puts herself to bed when I bet isn't she lucky to have a guy like me a selfish b*****d it's time to change that's why I'm e*e I need help simple as that. .
So as of today I've banned myself from my bookie hopefully no more Xmas present for him if I can stay off betting sites and not study football form this is step 1 . My only concern is wat do I do to fill this void in my life suggestions are welcome .
Hi
Filling the void can take years but it can be enjoyable discovering what you like. I feel gambling takes away from our choice so for the first time in your gambling life you have a choice to do what you want enjoy that. Well done on giving up it can be tough at times but so worth it.
Michael
Thanks for the support did you ever question yourself about giving up gambling ? Even tho I want to give up thers still a niggling doubt in the back of my mind but nothing ventured nothing gained so here's trying
There's a lot of help on this Forum take from it what you can and decide what's best for you.
At 51 it's a lot harder to stop than at a younger age the addiction is deep rooted within you. I gambled for over 20 years before admitting a problem then it took 6 years after that before I could say I have recovered.
I have looked for all that time for something to fill the void - for me there isn't anything. Some people find alternatives but i think that only works when you are much younger with more life opportunities.
You can learn to live without it though, re-train your brain, develop new pastimes and routines, but don't hope to replace it the gap will always be there and urges will be less frequent but you will still get them.
Expect setbacks they are part of recovery. Expect to feel shame and remorse and regret. But expect to be better off financially and to see your wife being happier because you will be a better person.
Self exclude, consider counselling, read books, spend time on here, whatever works but don't be guided by one individual or the majority. Do what is right for you. Don't swap one addiction for another. Something makes you gamble compulsively. You are filling a void and escaping from real life. Find out what it is and deal with it. Until you do, even if you stop for a while, you will go back to it if you haven't faced your demons.
Best wishes
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