ex and would be ex-gamblers support thread

cantcope

Hi Jax and Regret, welcome to the thread.

I used to have gamblock but it also messed up my laptop, it was knackered by then anyway after being on 24 hours a day on bingo/poker sites so it burned out.

I now use K9, it's a free child lock and I havent had any problems with it. I got my dad to choose the password (i dont live with my parents) and he has just chosen to block all gambling sites. You can download it free here http://www1.k9webprotection.com/
but you MUST get someone who will not give you the password to do it for you. It's really easy to do and quick too, just a couple of minutes.

Regret, I'm sure you wont get sent to prison and it shouldnt matter if CCCS find out about your gambling. As long as you are offering payments against your debt i dont see why it would make any difference on what you spent the money on. No different to any other addiction be it racking up a credit card on clothes, food, holidays....

You are making steps to address your problem and for that we should ALL be proud.

KPR11

Hi all,

Sorry have not been in for a few days, still clean - taking a day at a time and I have not thought about it except for an odd moment but it has passed.

Triple, Jax, Regret and other newbies - welcome to the board. Well done on taking the first and the hardest step of recognising that there is a problem and that you need to do something about it. I have found this board quite helpful and there is a lot of valuable advice from people who have been through what we are going through and successfully given up gambling. There are also people trying to give up who will be able to provide lots of advice and support.

Regret (and possibly others) - have you done a statement of affairs (SOA) and posted it on the main DFW board so that people can help you identify ways to cut costs / increase spending so that you can be DF asap. [I appreciate that this may not be a priority at present]

Riq - I am glad to hear that you been busy spending quality time with the kids.

Hope everyone is well.

Stay strong!

KPR

GeorgeUK

Regret, what you spent the money on is not an issue for the companies - only that you will pay it back. If you go to prison, then you can't pay them back so it would not be in anybody's interest. Stop stressing about that.

You are in a DMP and making the repayments required. The creditors may sell you debt on to another DCA, but you just keep paying them as you have been. If the debt gets sold on then they can't add charges or interest to the debt so that's not a bad thing. Hopefully you will be able to save a little and offer some F&F offers in a few years. Keep strong - you won't be going to jail.

Jax, no experience of the software but i would go with Cantcope's suggestion of using K9. As it's free, you've nothing to lose by trying it.

Triple, it's often the initial break that's the hardest and i agree that you do need to keep yourself busy. Excercise will be good for you not just physically but mentally as it can deter depression. Looks like you're on the right track now - well done and long may it continue.

Hope everyone else is alright too.

regret70

Thanks all

i know it was probably over the top of me to think of prison but when your lying awake at night everything runs through your mind!

thanks

triple08

Hi guys,

Well this is something you probably wont want to here but i have to be honest, i earlier told you how i wanted to go ibiza for the summer to get away from everything and blew my final wage etc. well i did end up putting that football accy on as i really really wanted to go ibiza, the bet come in and i can now go, i have told my parents i did it, they are not happy but at the end of the day i have now booked my flight and i leave on saturday morning, hopefully being over there will help my recovery as i will go insane if i carry on as i am, i will keep you updated on my progress, thank you all for your kind words and good luck for the future.

regret70

triple08 i really think you need professional help for your gambling, running away to ibiza is running away from your problems. what about the fruit machines in the airport? and the ones in ibiza?

cantcope

Hi Triple08 I'm sorry to say i agree with Regret.
I do hope this helps you but you are running away from the problem rather than dealing with it. Ibiza will hold no secret to stop you gambling and with no parents to watch over you I fear you will only get worse. What happens next time you want something and are not prepared to save for it?


Keep us updated though and i wish you every success.

riquelme

triple - the truth is that the bookies have only loaned it to you for a short while, i guarantee that they will get it back unless you address your gambling, sorry i meant to say they will get it back + interest. you obviously haven't hit the bottom yet, i hope you dont and do something about it. best wishes and happy raving in ibeefa

riquelme

hi all.

finding time without the kids difficult and gambling has entered my mind recently, not enough to really worry me but its been there.

if 10 represented putting a bet on, the last 18 months ive been at 0, i'd say ive been at 4 or 5 recently.

all i can think of is my children and thats what is ultimately stopping me, lets hope it continues

stay strong peeps

cantcope

Hi Riq,

the fact that you are aware that its not a good thought is a great thing. Be strong and proud that you aren't giving in. 18 months is a wonderful achievement!!! One day is an achievement!

You are strong enough to brush these thoughts away xx

Someone said something a few weeks ago in a meeting that stuck with me.

Imagine you are in a room and there are 2 doors. One takes you to a wonderful, normal life with normal ups and downs,. The other takes you to a room where someone whacks you in the guts with a baseball bat.

Which one do you choose? A compulsive gambler will continuously keep going through door 2 even though they know it results in a whack in the stomach.

I choose the first door. I hope you do too x