Andy's road to recovery...

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(@former-user)
Posts: 144
Topic starter
 

Dear All,

Please help me in stopping gambling for good starting on this day, 21st October 2008.

I sit here writing this, half an hour after i have just lost ВЈ80 on the roulette machine in my local bookies. Firstly losing ВЈ20, going back home for another ВЈ30 and then once again going back home to get another ВЈ30. On my last visit, i had ВЈ96 in credit however instead of walking away with this, ended up losing the whole of that also. This money i could not afford to lose. I have already lost the £70 i got given to me by my parents for my 19th birthday and have covered that up with a lie that i paid it in to the bank.

I have turned to this website in order to curb my addiction so my life does not crumble infront of me at the age of 19, because at the moment it is happening. The lies are becoming worse and the amounts i am losing are becoming bigger. Every weekend i am making excuses to my friends and family as to why i am not going out. My whole life is being affected by these machines in the bookmakers.

Please could you all help me in overcoming this problem before it spirals out of control and i will do my all to help you also.

Thanks for your time...

Andy

 
Posted : 21st October 2008 2:26 pm
(@Anonymous)
Posts: 0
 

Good to talk to you in the chat room. One thing I didn't mention is to self exclude from all bookies in your area. I excluded from a few arcades and then discovered others!!! You are young Andy, don't waste your life. You should be spending your money on going out and having fun at your age!

 
Posted : 21st October 2008 3:02 pm
(@Anonymous)
Posts: 0
 

hi hun and welcome too the forum... its good that you have chosen too stop gambeling now rather than a few more years down the line as im sure us oldies. would give anything for a second chance too stop at that early age before it did indeed get much worse.. like sillyfool said exclude your self from the bookies put up those barriers...one thing you will learn is too stop chasing your losses you wont get it back,, this woukld just lead too more lies, debt , misery...if you feel the need too gamble come on here and write down your thoughts... do you have anybody you can talk to regarding this a close friend prehaps who can help you stop? take care and i wish you all the best in stopping shell x

 
Posted : 21st October 2008 3:51 pm
(@Anonymous)
Posts: 0
 

I agree

most importantly SELF EXCLUDE....i did, and then start a diary, i did that to and it has helped me beyond belief - well over 100 days now.

You're 80 in the bookies today made me shiver, i have done exactly the same, it was even 80 quid !!! I went on to lose 1500 on that occasion .........read my diary ...

Good luck keep posting

Paul

 
Posted : 21st October 2008 4:56 pm
(@former-user)
Posts: 144
Topic starter
 

Thanks everyone for your posts so far.

Will update tomorrow even though i have no money to enable me to gamble. At the moment i am just wondering why i am not thinking about gambling because i have no money. If i had money, i think it would be playing on my mind.

Thanks again

Andy

 
Posted : 21st October 2008 5:00 pm
(@former-user)
Posts: 144
Topic starter
 

Just to let you all know that i have just excluded myself from the two bookies i used to go in at lunchtime at work. Now just for the one around the corner from where i live, which i will be excluding myself from tonight.

Feel so much better having done this. And my 1st day to recovery is going well! No bets or thoughts!

Thanks

Andy

 
Posted : 22nd October 2008 1:07 pm
(@Anonymous)
Posts: 0
 

Hi Andy

You mentioned in your 1st post you will do all you can to help others. Trust me yo have made a big contribution to my recovery. I read your post and just like Timetochange's posting it really made me stop and think. It sent a shiver down my spine too. I know that feeling of chasing so well and the desperate feeling when it's all gone. Please keep posting and stop it now. I have been gambling since the age of 13 and really went out of control. You are in one of the best places possible to recover. Do not look back, look forward.

Thanks for your posting

Regards

Steve E

 
Posted : 22nd October 2008 3:30 pm
(@former-user)
Posts: 144
Topic starter
 

Thanks Stevey. Have just excluded myself from my local bookies. Things are looking up. Roll on payday so i can do something for myself instead for the bookies!

Andy

 
Posted : 22nd October 2008 7:02 pm
(@Anonymous)
Posts: 0
 

Well done Andy - am really proud of you. When I excluded I had a huge sense of relief that it was over. Am sure you are feeling that too.

Well done too for seeking help so early - keep us updated on your progress!!

 
Posted : 22nd October 2008 8:09 pm
(@Anonymous)
Posts: 0
 

This is great news Andy, very positive jumps in such a short space of time.

Glad you took all that advice from those longer in recovery that were in the chat-room the other night. I'll be trying hard to do the same myself and reading another person going through the exact same thing with such a good attitude is a massive help.

Good luck fella 🙂

 
Posted : 22nd October 2008 8:34 pm
(@Anonymous)
Posts: 0
 

Well done for Self Excluding......isn't it a great feeling walking out of the shop once you have completed the forms......i work in the city centre and now i spend my lunch time browsing the shops looking for bargains before SE in June i would be out of the office for an hour on some days (i only get half hour) and on some days i would be in and out all day - i don't know how i got away with it.

well done again - enjoy your new freedom !

 
Posted : 23rd October 2008 6:29 am
S.A
 S.A
(@s-687)
Posts: 4883
 

Hi Andy,

Well done on self-excluding from your local bookies.. there is nothing like practical barriers to stop yourself gambling.

All the best to you and your on-going recovery.. S.A 🙂

 
Posted : 23rd October 2008 10:32 am
(@former-user)
Posts: 144
Topic starter
 

Thanks everyone for your kind words. Everyday now its not about how i'm going to next play on those machines, its about logging on to here, reading how other people are getting on and getting positive replys to my own diary.

Thanks again to everybody. Will try to post more on other peoples, however struggle during the day as the internet is blocked during work hours.

Andy

 
Posted : 23rd October 2008 12:58 pm
(@former-user)
Posts: 144
Topic starter
 

Hi All,

Just a quick update, no bet since Tuesday!

Weekends here and i have some money to enjoy myself and going down the pub this afternoon and watch the scores come in. No urge for an accumalator either!

Andy

 
Posted : 25th October 2008 11:33 am
(@former-user)
Posts: 144
Topic starter
 

Hello all,

Just a quick update. No bet since i started this diary. Really going well. Even went to dog racing on saturday night as that was where my mates were going and didnt have a single bet. So pleased with myself. Hope everythings going ok for you guys and i will read some peoples later on today and make some comments.

Thanks, Andy

 
Posted : 27th October 2008 8:15 am
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