ex and would be ex-gamblers support thread

cantcope

Thats a great idea big loser.

Other things that might help. go out for a walk (gets you out of the house and away from the computer). run a long bath and read a magazine while you're in it. Learn a new skill (mine was baking cakes which ended up with me getting a little bit plump) However, i'd lost so much weight through worry it did me a favour.
Keeping a diary of your feelings is great. I used this forum for that and my GA meetings. I also opened up to friends who were really supportive and would come and take me out if i felt the urge to gamble or bring a dvd round.

bigloser

Thanks for the support cantcope, much appreciated. Well, that's another day succefully done. I'm struggling a bit at the moment as it's Thursday morning and for months I have done the Gaming Club 25% bonus every Thursday morning. Well, I can't today as I closed my account with them on Saturday. I'm pretty sure that if I'd just uninstalled the software I would have re-downloaded it and gone ahead! Soooooo, I'm going to distract myself with a walk in the fresh air as recommended by cantcope. Idle hands and all that......!

glenpud

Well done bigloser for closing that account. I found that through doing something strenuous it would take my mind off gambling. I would even have a pretty big bet riding, and when i went off to do something (mine would be kickboxing) i would completly forget that i had money on an outcome, and by time i got back i was too tired to get a rush out of waiting for the result. Eventually, by sticking at keeping busy it helped, but then by stopping i would soon have a bored mind.

I am still gamble free, coming upto a week now and feeling postive. i still have the urge but know i cant afford to. Just being strong and keeping busy.

cantcope

Keep going everyone. A week off gambling is a MASSIVE achievement! When i first stopped i was chuffed to get through a day!

BigLoser, can you try and find a club to join on a thursday morning? an exercise class? book club? I'm sure there will be something going on in your area that would give you something to do on a thursday morning if thats a weak time for you

Keep strong everyone x

bigloser

And....... I've managed it! A whole week today! Go me! Glenpud, you stopped about the same time as me so I hope you've managed the full week too. Your last post was very positive so I'm sure you have.

Whenever I feel tempted (which to be honest is several times per day still) I just get busy on something else - organising my finances is actually taking up hours and hours, so that's a double blessing. Not only does it stop me gambling but it saves me money too.

I'm finding myself quite 'smiley' too, but I can't tell anyone (except you lot) why I'm so pleased with myself as no-one knows about my problem. I just say I can feel spring in the air!

notriskfree

Well done big looser that is great, unfortunately I have not done as well but still its an improvement. I have played bingo twice £12 each time on line and that's it for a week not great but not as bad as it would usually have been. Oh I forgot I also used a slot machine in 3 bookies as I was doing a mystery shop in there. Stupid and I shall not sign up for them again. Managed to break even on those but again really bad and I still aim to stop completely.

Getting the £50 back from the company I had won £240 with but they wont pay anymore as they are associated with an account I had closed. (I played that site about 2 weeks ago so not recent). Still £50 is better than I had hoped for.

I too have been tempted but kept busy and now the weather is so nice I shall go in the garden and get the veg patch ready plus plant up my potato bags.

Just had a lovely day out with the inlaws plus BIL. Played golf on a simulator (£8 with Groupon coupon) and 25% off at the lunch at Slug and Lettuce. There really is a lot more to life than wasting it away in front of slots machines online.

Keep posting hopefully I will have better news next week.

glenpud

Hello

Well done bigloser on your week off...unfortunately i did gamble this weekend...i won a bit though, but still disappointed in myself. Withdrew the winnings and went and got drunk instead of playing it again...but still have about £100 of bets riding through until midweek, so unfortantely i have been a bad guy but well done. generally though i am still feeling better and not wanting to gamble as much...but i guess thats because i won, had i not i am sure i would be in a lot worse mood. On the plus side i was feeling the effects of the alcohol yesterday so couldnt be bothered to gamble haha.

cantcope

Not a good week then guys...
you can do this!! Glenpud, i'm assuming from your post you didnt bother with the block on your pc. Do you REALLY want to stop?
this goes for everyone. If you REALLY want to stop you will do everything in your power to put as many blocks in place to stop you doing it.
If you dont then i'm sorry but you are kidding yourselves.

Hope you're still doing ok Bigloser x

samorgo

Hi everyone,

I'm so pleased to have found this thread...

This week I have finally realised that I have a problem and that I really want to do something about it. Like someone else mentioned on here (sorry I can't remember who it was) my problems have occurred since I won... I managed to win £35000 online in November and since then I have been spending like crazy initially trying to win that bit more to finish paying off our debts (after all I now knew that I could win a significant sum) and then trying to recoup my losses - it's now all gone, the debts are back and I'm deeply ashamed.

Luckily I am still able to afford my (which is in fact 'ours' - my husband and I's combined) debt although with the financial downturn and the poor use of my accounts means I will not be able to get cheaper credit for some time. I honestly used to think that I didn't have a problem - that I was in control and that by gambling 'sensibly' (I can't believe I ever thought you could gamble sensibly!!!) I would be able to pay off my debt in no time. It's not that I am adverse to working hard to pay off my debts it's just that this seemed so easy... However after an absolute frenzy of gambling at the weekend in the hope of winning back at least some of what I have lost over the few months I've ended up £1800 over my credit limit on my credit card - I can't believe it I have never been over my limit before and I am so ashamed and embarressed that I just lost control - I am a gambler and I recognise it now that I lost so much control thinking just put some more on so you can win some of your losses back until the final transaction was declined - aaaaah... I agree with you that online gambling is hideous - you play without the realism of cash - I would never have withdrawn over £3000 and gone into a casino to blow it...

Today I have decided to rework my budget and have formulated a plan to pay back my debts over three years without the need for gambling. With some hard work, the blocking software and support on here I think I can recognise what I have done and do everything in my power to repay my mistakes and to prevent it ever happening again. I recognise that I am addicted - I think about the game I adore all the time but I aim never to play it again because of the financial mess it has got me in.

I just want to thank you all again - your strength to voice your problems on here has given me strength to face my problem and to work through the solutions. Good luck to you all along your paths to a gambling and debt free future x

cantcope

Great post Samorgo.

I can recommend k9. its free, just get hubby to set the password and choose one you cant guess. 3 years isnt that long to pay off your debt at all!
You will also come to realise that losing control isnt just about the money. It's about losing your peace of mind, losing sleep, losing self respect. These things will all return once you stop. Nothing is fixed overnight but things will get better x