Im so ready to do this!

Hi

Good and that is a very postive post which I like to see. It is a feeling that you are finally ready. It washes over you like a born again moment and feels so right.

It sort of just happens in a way when the time feels right. You will build more strength with support and encouragement.

I have a new relationship with life, with people and with money. It doesnt control me. I look at it, I enjoy it and I spend it wisely. I have some real savings since I stopped and so will you.

You mention Jars. I have a teracotta owl stuffed full of pound coins.  Ive got fifty pound notes! 🙂 Why would I ever give my money away again to the gambling dens.

Thats a key point...you were simply giving your money away on those odds

There is no room for complacency though. With strong blocks and close moral support you will get through this.

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Best wishes on your gamble free journey. I have to say the Gamstop five year ban has really helped me. I’m on day 70 gamble free and without the self exclusion I doubt I’d get this far. Be wary this will take a long time, limiting yourself to cash and money is the best thing you can do. Your supportive partner should remain in full control of finances and if you do want to start saving money be sure to put cash into someplace that’s not easy access. My downfall has often been saving up and then having a really weak day, which turns into a week or months. Before I know it all my savings are gone and I’m getting myself further into debt trying to chase the savings I’ve lost. Do not ever set foot in the bingo again, don’t kid yourself you can just indulge as a hobby as if you’re anything like me you’ve proved you’re not able to control your gambling urges. These will probably never go away so the best advice from me is avoid avoid avoid any place you could gamble. 

Really wishing you to succeed ! 

Hi all. Still not gambled, still dont want to. I put another £20 in my pot yesterday and I'm feeling so proud. Thank you for the words of advice and support. It really does help. 

I actually went out with friends last night, I've not done that in so long. I had the best night and not once thought about going home early to have a gamble. 

I feel so fresh, like I have a new life all of a sudden. I like this feeling and hope it continues. 

Good luck everyone xx

well done kell, everyday u dont gamble is a great successful day.  welcome to the forumxx

Morning all.

I'm struggling a bit this morning. I am so glad I did gamstop or I maybe writing a different post right now. 

I cant believe how much it helps just to have that in place. 

I'm off to work soon, so will forget for a while. When I get home I will get my bleach out and do a good clean of the house. 

I hated the way I felt this morning. I so want to do this. I so want to stop. When will this feeling go away? 

Take care all. Xx

Thank you so much for this post. Me being addicted to online slots for a while. I found the courage to tell my partner but was a choice of confessing or letting him walk away. I feel a light at the end of the tunnel reading this as I’ll be letting him take charge of my money. I feel so ashamed and disgusted in myself but better knowing I’m not the only one

Your really not alone! 

Well done for coming here, I have found it so helpful. 

I got over my struggle this morning. I went to work and shook it off. Not been bothered since i got home. Gamban helps so so much. Please sign up to it. 

Good luck. Xx

Good morning all. 

Day 11 for me. Still feeling good.

I took the kids shopping yesterday and bought them new trainers ? it felt so good. I mean like, expensive trainers. I've not been able to do that since they was little.

I feel happy and free. I hope to God this continues, I never want to gamble again. 

Good luck all. X

Hi

Being more honest with your self and your partner is very healthy and a difficult task.

Yet your honesty is a healthy strength.

By not having to much money on your person is very healthy.

One thing is important is filling your time with healthy interests wants and needs.

Some times boredom can cause discontentment and not feeling stimulated.

So having lists of needs wants and goals helps us stay focused on today.

The recovery program should not became an obsession yet working our recovery program helps us understand more about what is healthy or unhealthy.

By crossing off things we do as we do them helps us feel we are being accomplished in a healthy way by our actions and our words.

The recovery program is about healing and our recovery, for me it is non religious.

Sadly healing and my recovery could not occur if I was not admitting my pains and my fears to myself.

The healthy people in the recovery program would help me come out of myself, they would help me give therapies where I would expose more and more of myself. 

When pains reduce, when fears are faced, the healing process starts.

When I walked in to recovery program I did not know how unhealthy I was.

Please keep going to meetings, you will benefit from it in so many ways.

Love and peace to every one.

Dave L

AKA

Dave of Beckenham

Absolutely fuming with myself, had a little wobble. 

Dont know how it's happened? I'm signed up to gamstop, I've put in a massive complaint as I shouldnt of ever been allowed to even log in to any account! 

I didn't spend a lot, but I still did it! Im so so upset with myself. ? 

I've done so well. I've almost felt normal this last week. And now I've just f****d it all up! I dont ever want to feel like this again. 

Back to day 1 I suppose.  I will get through this! 

X

That is a shame. First and foremost, nothing is 100%, the gamstop or whatever it is a nice tool to have. If you have to blame someone you have to blame yourself because if you want to gamble, you will find a way to do it.

Learn from each slip up. Make more barriers. Why did you slip up? A momentary blip happens to us all, which is why you need physical stops too. 

Good luck and keep posting

Thank you for your replies. 

I've spoken with my husband. Hes changing his bank card and I will have no access to it at all. I just had a moment of weakness,  I was home alone, the kids slept out at grandparents, and my husband was working a night shift. It's no excuse at all. 

I dont cope well being alone. 

I'm going to do everything I can to never do this ever again. I dont want to do it. I didn't even enjoy doing it, I think it was just habit more than anything. So silly of me! 

Never again. Xxx

hi

It is a learning process in the early days.Its more to do with the sheer power of the mind control addiction. It wont let you go too easily and you have to discuss all the avenues it will use.

Bored, lonely, alone, slightly flush, even a surge of happiness can trigger a feeling of invincibility

The main blocks I recommend are no access to cash. Its not about treating you like a baby but it makes it hard if not impossible for you to gamble when an urge arises. you will need to live on an allowance which covers immediate needs and provide receipts if necessary

As long as you remain honest I see a bright future for you. many people have slip ups.

The key factor is if you build on that and improve blocks. The warning signs are when people dont build on that or get surly that they are living on an allowance.

Its about saving your quality of life. when you realise the sheer power of a dangerous addiction ,a loss of trust is a small price to pay. You will build a pride in managing your money well and showing that not a penny of it went to the gambling dens of iniquity.

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Hi all. 

Hope everyone is good? 

I'm still gf, even after 2 weeks off work and being rather bored. Netflix seems to be my new best friend Haha. Back to work on Monday and it cant come quick enough. 

Xx