ex and would be ex-gamblers support thread

cantcope

How's everyone doing?

cantcope

Hope everyone is doing ok. It's Christmas soon, don't gamble the present money away xx

cantcope

advice for people wanting to stop

HAND OVER your finances so you have to ASK for money rather than it just being monitored. Monitoring is of no help while you're in the bookies. having no money in the bookies is though

TELL EVERYONE within reason. the more people that know the harder it is for you to lie and gamble. people can only support you if you tell them.

you will ALWAYS be a compulsive gambler. it doesnt go away. the fact you have no control means you have no control. i've seen people gamble after ten years of abstinence, sooner or later the addiction comes back and you'll lose everything. if not the first time, the second or third.

block all avenues where you can gamble. so blocks on your laptops, tablets, mobiles ban yourself from the bookies and casinos. Find something to fill the void.
a hobby, study, sport, baking, anything to fill the gap.

i wish everyone success in stopping gambling. its tough. it gets easier. if you drum it into yourself you can NEVER gamble again it gets even easier. i know i have no control and that it wouldnt take me long to lose everything i've built up over the last 9 years.
i dont want that. we had a new member at GA last night. just looking at him and listening gave me a sharp reminder of where i dont want to be and where i would end up if i gambled.

have a great gamble free week everyone

MrCrimeFiction

Cantcope - 9 years is fantastic. I'm on day 5!!!!!!

Hoping to get to day 10 without any issues. I'm in serious debt from gambling but chipping away paying those loans back. This year alone i've probably gambled away in the area of £20-£25k....:mad:

It is hard, even harder to tell people. I opened up 18 months ago about it and it was very difficult for my other half. She doesn't know about this year and i'm now working very hard for her not to find out as it would destroy the trust we had built. I know its maybe easy to say for everyone to open up, but what happens if you know you will loose family / girlfriends because of it. It's a catch 22, but the best thing is to actually realize what it is doing to your life.

I remember once having heart palpitations when I had a bet on. I actually thought I was having a heart attack because of the stress I put myself under trying to chase back the losses.

I'll be on this thread a bit more now i'm (hopefully) on the road to recovery.

All the best everyone, its certainly not worth it and if anyone has an urge, just pop on here and read the stories. I'm sure it will put you off :rotfl:

MrCF

cantcope

i think if these people love you they will forgive and support you regardless. If they don't, then why would you want them in your life?
You will forever be living a lie and eventually it will eat away at you and risk you gambling again.
i've seen it happen time and time again and am yet to meet anyone who its worked for without being honest.
You already destroyed the trust when you did it again regardless of whether you tell them or not. They are now trusting you which is a dangerous place for you as its easier for you to continue.

i wish you well on your recovery and will look forward to you proving me wrong x
the amoutn youve gambled isnt relevant. if it was more than you can afford it doesnt matter if its £20 or £200,000.

i got the same feeling losing £20 a spin to i did at £1000 a spin. and vice versa, i won over 40k on one game, same thrill as winning £10... was only more fuel to feed my addiction. I had loads of money in the bank before i started gambling. Enough that i now wouldn't have a mortgage and over 4 x what you've spent. but it soon went over a year and then i started on loans and credit cards.

I hope this is day 9 in your recovery

cantcope

How's everyone doing on the run up to Christmas? Always extra pressure at this time of year. Dont be tempted to try and win money for gifts... our friends and loved ones would not want us in debt just to buy them a gift. x

keep strong. Just for today i will not gamble!

MrCrimeFiction

Day 13 - Good luck to everyone over xmas. Keep it going and think of the benefit it has to stay gambling free.

cantcope

What day are you on now?
Happy new year everyone x

cantcope

Hows everyone doing??

[Deleted User]

I'm on Day 81. One of the best things I have done is to put my spare money into a 30 day notice savings account. It's scary how soon you start to forget how bad things were and begin to get tempted again.

I hope everyone else is doing okay.