After so close to a year GF. I recently received by news about my health and thought I would just have a wee bet on the euros to keep my mind off things. How stupid was I. Back to my old habits constantly betting and that’s all that mattered. Not lost much but the old me, was slipping back and it scared me so much I could even see it. I was a much better and happier person the year off gambling. The lesson that has taught me is that I will always be a compulsive gambler. Someone who dose not know when to stop. I am here for good, my focus is on my health now and not letting anything affect it more than it needs to. I am so gutted I started again rather than the money I lost.
Hello, I can totally relate. I started gambling again because my father was having health tests. I told myself gambling would take my mind off it. If Dad was ok, I could stop gambling. Turns out Dad wasn’t ok, so I just continued on the spiral. I lost 6 months salary in 2 months. But, although gambling took my mind off the situation whilst I was playing. As soon as my balance was zero, I had to then address my dads illness and the worry. Gambling blocked it temporarily and every time I lost i was back to thinking about dad. He’s had a major op and God willing he’s going to pull through. Gambling doesn’t help, merely hinders. Good luck and i wish you all the best with your health.
T xx
Hello @aliwonton1 and welcome to the forum.
You have taken some really positive steps today by reaching out.
It sounds like over the last year you have managed to gain control and stop gambling, and although you have experienced a lapse, it is really important to acknowledge the last year of abstinence, a fantastic achievement that can be achieved again with some additional focus. Lapses are often part of the recovery journey and can be used in a healthy way going forward to highlight triggers that led to the lapse.
The Forum is a welcoming and supportive space which allows you to talk to others who may also be experiencing similar issues to yourself.
Should you be in need of any further support with your recovery, please feel free to contact the helpline on 0808 8020 133 or via our live chat available from the website https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/talk-to-us-now/ both of which are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day and where one of our advisers will be able to talk, for as long as you need, and look at all the support available to you.
Wishing you all the very best,
Regards
Dan
Forum Admin
Hi thanks for posting ive found the euros hard and tempting too
Sorry to hear of your and your dads health and the stresses its so understandable why you found the escape side helpful..guess it helps at the time but after
Hope you find the support you need
Lou x
Hi guys thanks for your response. The past 11 days have been GF and found the that better person again. Instead of being trapped in the gambling world, I have been positive and thinking how I am going to fight this. Life is to short to be chasing our life’s away. I am going to blog every day to beat this horrible Illness. I know I shouldn’t have started again. I was so gutted I had as I had stopped for the year. The positive thing is I knew straight away where it was heading and stopped. Before I would have been in destruct mode and blown everything. The past year I paid so much debt off and realised closely how much I was losing. Here is to another GF day. Stay strong folks.
On day 12 GF. Felling a lot more positive as it’s nearly 2 weeks since my relapse. It’s crazy how a day not gambling can be a relaxed day. Not rushing around everywhere constantly thinking about betting. If it wins what’s my next bet. If it loses what’s my next bet to win my money back. When stuck in that trap it’s scary. The only time you get off is when you have nothing let. Time to be that person against the person I can be.
Day 13 GF. Planning to keep busy and focused on my health. Gambling dose not keep your mind of things when your in the gambling zone. It just gets your brain and makes you chase your life away. One thing I have learned. The happiest I have been in 22 years was the year I was gamble free. Less stress and not chasing my life away. I am a compulsive gambler and don’t know when to stop. When in the zone it’s sad that gambling seems to be all that matters. Not now, I can’t put myself through that any longer. It’s effecting my health that much. Never truer word said. Health is your wealth.
Day 24 GF. life is tough at the minute. Constantly going over how stupid I have been. Went a year GF. First wee sign of bad news and fell back in the trap. Once a compulsive gambler always a compulsive gambler. I thought a wee coupon for the euros to keep my mind off things. BOOM back as bad as ever 1 week in betting on horses. This time I need to stop for good or my health is going to get worse. Defo not worth it. The aim is to keep busy today and focus on my health and keep paying my debt back like the year I did when I was GF.
Day 31 GF. A couple of urges with the football starting. Learnt in the past the best way to deal with urges is talk about them rather than trying to deal with it on your own. Look through all the diaries and make you realise your not on your own. Even if it’s not yourself it can be someone round about you. Compulsive gambling only get worse if you don’t give up. Stay strong folks and keep busy.
Day 33 GF. Another beautiful day. Heading to work. Staying strong and gambling is the last thing on my mind. I have my driving theory test this week. Time for achieving things in life, instead of chasing my life away. Gambling is a demon and we fight our demons every day. Every day We must remember ourselves. We are compulsive and cannot gamble in anyway.
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