So I went to join gamcare and realised I already did, 11 years ago at the age of 22. How ridiculous I have let this go on so long. I have a problem with online gambling, mainly bingo and slots. It hasn't caused any problems with paying bills or anything just yet but I'm getting myself out of it before it does. I have just spent this morning, 2 deposits, the timer in the corner didn't even get past 3 minutes on each deposit. just P****d away in less that 5 minutes. I have a husband and son who deserve so much more than this. I am really anxious and I am under treatment for high blood pressure. I am absolutely convinced it's because of gambling. This is reading like a ramble but basically I have to stop before this problem gets completely out of control. Cold turkey it is. I do need to find something else that can distract me when the feeling to gamble starts, I have a rowing machine gathering dust perhaps it's time that got some use....
Dear @sevenstar
Thank you for posting on the Forum. This is a safe place for you to share your experiences.
You are not alone on this journey. Along with the Forum, we have Advisers available 24/7 to help you through this. You can contact an Adviser by calling our Helpline on 0800 8020 133 or using our LiveChat option.
I wish you all the best with your Recovery from problem gambling.
Fay
Forum Admin
Thank you admin ? I have been and had a few hours fresh air and feeling really positive about quitting now, I do realise I will have a long road ahead and it won't be easy but it's something I can definitely do.
I would recommend going to a physical GA meeting to potentially get more help if you think it’s required. I remember when I started small and it progressively got worse over he years as my compulsion to gamble was more important than eating.
I hope you find help here on the website and elsewhere, going cold turkey is hard without distractions and help from loved ones and fellow like minded people who understand your situation.
take care.
dave101
Hi
For me the recovery program was a life saver.
Thinking that being sonsumed by my unhealthy habits was fun I was lying to myself, I was on an adrenaline rush, that is not fun or hapiness.
Abstaining takes time to gain a healthy way of life.
All the time I was involved was a kind of self abuse.
The recovery program was going to help me heal my hurt inner child.
Every pain in my life caused fears in me that I did not understand.
The healthy people in the recovery program was going to help me heal my pains, face and reduce my fears, was going to help me share in therapies and be aware of how emotionally vulnerable I was.
A healthy life is about healthy interactions with every one.
A unhealthy life was living in high levels of fears, panic and stress were every day feelings, living in fear of being honest to myself, being frusutrated, and isolating myself from emotional intimacy.
Do I want to waste the rest of my life being unhealthy.
How much time and effort am I willing to put in to m recovery.
How much do I want to value myself today.
For me quitting was a healthy start.
It may be a long road to healing but well worth it.
I am a non religious person if I can do it any one can.
Yes it won’t be easy but it is some thing very preciosu and worth while.
The sooner you get in to recovery the onner you can live your life being healthy and healed.
Love and peace to every one
Dave L
AKA Dave of Beckenham UK
Hi
I was very scared to attend physical GA meeting, yet once I was ready to talk it was very helpful.
In the UK I have known of people who went to meetings and were not redy to talk.
Some will take up to six months before they share.
Over coming our fear is very important to our recovery.
Often people will talk about money being in action rather than expose how vulnerable they are.
Hence meetings after meetings can be very powerful.
Ofetn meetings will raise more questions that answers, that is very understandable.
To admit you need help is very powerful and shows inner strength.
For me going cold turkey was very hard, that was only abstaining and not doing work in our recovery.
The recovery program is about healing our pains and becoming healthy and at peace with our self and our past.
Recovery program is very much like mountain climbing, being connected for ur safety, being given advise being shown by healthy examples, with healthy like minded people who understand them self and us.
The healthy connection in recovery is very helpful adn speeds up our recovery.
Make sure you pick a healthy sponsor who demonstrates spirtual values in his recovery.
Love and peace to every one
Dave L
AKA Dave of Beckenham UK
Hi same as you what was a bit of fun turned into something more..
I'd deposit lose and then try and get my money back as the guilt of spending and losing it and this was my cycle however the last few weeks got worse I was putting more and more money on until I'd blown my.moths wages..
But the next day I thought I can't do thus anymore 9 days gf today and I'm not half as stressed and starting to enjoy life a lot more good luck in ur journey if u need to talk do it we are all here for each other x
Hi
Living in the guilt of going back to the unhealthy habit serves no good help fo you in your recovery.
Do you understand your alst emotional trigger.
Was it pain fear frustration loneliness or boredom.
Once you understand each emotional triggers it helps you process situatons in a much healthier way in the furture.
I use to focus on the money lost like one months wages worked out that I Had worked a full month for no wages what so ever.
The money was in effect wasted time, my time.
Clean time can not be lost.
It was not healthy for me to beat myself up time and time again.
Learn from your emotional triggers.
Love and peace to every one
Dave L
AKA Dave of Beckenham
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