Hi guys
unfortunately after a successful near year I gambled again a month ago. Since then I have progressively been increasing the bet size thinking I can handle the odd bet. I was wrong last night I worked out I had spent 2k in the last 4-6 weeks. Starting to go into betting shops had become normal again. Driving past them I felt I no longer had the power to pass them. I need to accept the 2k loss and stop chasing it.
hopefully today will be the start of being gamble free again.
Not gambling is something I will always have to manage, that’s what I have learnt here
Hi Mike,
Sorry to hear you're gambling again but you've come back to the right place and yo make it to nearly a year is a massive achievement!
You've had the determination to do it once and you know how good life feels to be gamble free! I have no doubt you'll get there again!
Keep going and good luck!
Matt
Sorry to hear of your relapse, but of course you are not alone.
Think about why you've started to gamble again.
Has something bad or even good happened in your life and you feel either in a fun relaxed mood to gamble or the other way round and you're stressed and gambling is a way to forget about it for a short while.
Or it's just you felt you could control it and realised you can't.
Whatever the reason, you need to go back to the basics.
Restrict monies available to gamble, either by leaving cash/cards at home or with a trusted person. Or put into an account with no ATM card, such as savings and even savings that can't be immediately got at without notice.
When you get paid put monies out of harms way and if that 2k has meant credit card bills or overdrafts, pay as much as you can towards them and leave little spare fun money.
If you had blocks in place like self exclusion put them back on. If you use your card for gambling ask the bank to block gambling transactions.
If you have more spare time work out why and how you could fill it. Such as Gym, other hobbies.
You've managed so well it's just a temporary blip and whilst the money is gone, every pound not gambled and saved from now on, will repair any damage.
Thanks matt I hope so
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