[yoyo]

Hi all,

Fortunately, I did not get to that stage where I can say I am in debt or something similar- I am close to my 40s.

In the last few years I have had some bets, some won, some lost, casino and sport bets. At least in the least year, it looks like I am break even :)) In the last years I am afraid to do the maths but, the most important thing, nothing bad to trigger credits, credit cards or somethings similar, to have any problems with the expenses of the family, etc.

However, I do not like the sensations that were caused after I lost compared to the exaltation caused after I have won something, a good hand, a good 91 min win.

So, I hope that by writing on this, I will have a better control on not gambling in any way, any amount.

All the sites are self excluded, except 2, with 20 $ limit on the month. I hope to block those too.

So, from 13.09.2022, let us see how long should it take.

#day3

[Dunc]

Hello and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

As well as the forums New Members are invited to join Charles in the New Members Practical Advice Group On Mondays at 21:00 (UK) and Thursday at 19:00(UK)

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you ??
Take care
The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

[yoyo]

#Day7. Nothing special so far, all went good. I am watching some influencers betting so much money and wandering if those accounts are for real or what is happening.

I was wondering from time to time if this is an addictions or what the heck is happening.

Just curios what will be, first time i do this on the forum, with the counting.

[charles]

Hi Yoyo. If you are wondering if it is an addiction check this link out….. https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/20-questions

Those 20 questions are as good a way of determining whether it is an addiction whever ir not you ever go to GA.

I recommend not watching those influences – better to fill time and thoughts completely away from gambling.

Same with those small $20 sites – if you decide that it is an addiction then from experience I can tell you that it is better to starve it completely rather than keeping it ticking over.

Keep posting, let us know how many “Yeses” you score on those questions and hopefully how you are filling your time away from gambling.

[yoyo]

12 Yes means that the result is not very good.

Yes, I should and will stop watching those folks.

Yes, I blocked everything I could remember, except one for which I cannot for the moment as the email is not answer the KYC is not done yet.

Yes, yesterday I was about to gamble- I had a limit anyway on the site, mbut on site no limits… but I did not make anu bets on sports or anything else.

When you think just like that, it seems a minor problem- at least for me, who, fortunately, was not so much affected by the losses ( altough some use for the money I could have had…)

#Day10. I am expecting day #1000. ??

[yoyo]

#Day16. Still all good. Probably still craving from a small/smallest bet or smth. Still watching youtube on some influencers but nothing happened and hope will not in the future.

Spending time with the family and all the time from work is more than enough so that I will not have any spare time to think about crap.

[yoyo]

#day17. Yesterday I was very close to going to a casino since I had almost an hour to spare. I kept on circling but in the end I decided not to go and ressisted the temptations.

I was just thinking… some bets, maybe I will win big, eventually the jackpot.

I think this is a very good step forward as I will have a big push to go/look forward.

Thank you!

[yoyo]

#Day20 without any sports or casino bet.

#Day1 from my diet as the weight is starting to go up…

We can do it all.

[yoyo]

#day21 since no bet..
#day2 from the diet.

Yesterday I was playing some soccer. Hope today will do some jogging.

Hopefully I can keep on.

It feels kind of weird to stop after some wins… but it feeeeels gooooood. ??

[yoyo]

@day23 and doing better and better.

Yesterday had a busy day so the diet was on pause.

Today I have resumed it so all good, hopefully.

[Don14765]

Hi- yes- the more sobriety you get
Gives us all hope that we can
Get sobriety as well….
I know that each time
I choose to gamble-
There is 0 control..
I told myself I will only spend this amount or that amount, but I always end up going over what I can afford to spend ??so that tells me that I have no control over this disease…

So my only option to succeed is to
Stop
Gambling….

[yoyo]

Yeah, relapsed, again on 15.11.2022.

Hope this is the last day.

Keep telling me that I won, I keep on winning, but in the end, all we do is loose ourselves in the dark.

Starting the diet, the advent time untill Christimas. 1st time I really try this.

it is hard…. hard hard

[yoyo]

Still ok today, 27.11.2022, after 15.11.2022.

Hope to have the motivation to enter the new year with new wish.

[yoyo]

Relapsed last time on 19.12.2022. Fortunately, it was a combo of a big win which allowed to be on plus for last several years. I hope this could be the last time I use this drugs…

I do not need it. All is good for me, no more adrenaline needed in my life.

[yoyo]

Yeap. 5th of January last bet. Keep on going back and forward.

Last money cashed in, hope will not be the case for any other surprise from myself.

[charles]

Hi Yoyo,
Sounds like you have a site you can access? How about asking them to exclude you? How about getting a blocker for your devices?

How can you limit the instant access to gambling funds so that you can’t instantly act on an urge? Who could help you with financial accoutability?

Keep posting and maybe I will see you in a group here soon as well.

[yoyo]

Sites you can find very easy… from whatever, home, work, pc, laptop…. I am exclude from all of them, after I either loose or win.

About the funds, I try to keep them away, this is why I did not have so much disaster, I do not loose more than I could afford, at least this was a good thing which I stuck with.

[yoyo]

Day 6. Again.

[Don14765]

Yoyo: yes- you are right ;we should never lose more than we can afford to lose, I am having the same issues you ..very difficult to let go and give this addiction up….

[yoyo]

Fortunately, I am within his margins but I am very dissapointed in myself for wasting so much money…

Last week had an new buy…

This year lost around 2K.

Upset on myself.

#day1- 18.01.2023.

Hopefully today starting diet (98,3 kg) & sport.

Setting target to loose 18 kilos and have a healthier life.

Hopefully.

This week I have also scheduled a trip abroad- things are ok but do not understand how/why I have this compulsive need to gamble…

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by yoyo.

[yoyo]

#Day1 was fuc*ed up a lot of times so now I am there again.

My weight loss was also fuc*ed up…

It was a weird time/period. With losses, of course, a lot of mixed feeling, compulsive addictions to gamble and all the other simptoms that a gambler has… lost nights, smoking a lot..

What is strange is that I managed somehow not to go into debt… I do not borrow money or somehting, I pay what I have to pay and then gamnble the rest… sometimes untill the last penny…

——–
So. #Day1- Starting at 98 kilos again, hoping to have a jogginh tonight. Maybe some fasting today and drink only water…

I do not understand what is happening with my brain as I consider myself a decent, smart guy to any other things…except this…

[Don14765]

Yoyo: I hear you …
I also consider myself a smart /on the ball
Guy…but..
I also seem to have this need to gamble?
I sometimes wonder how I won a bet last year
Worth $1,200
Now..
That doesn’t sound like a lot …
But I don’t make a lot of money..
I live on my own and
Pay for rent, car and insurance…
So $1,000
Is quite a bit to me
I try and budget to gamble as well..
I go over my limit I allow myself
Quite frequently….
These sites I gamble on have money and time limitations….
But I still get out of line
When I am lonely or depressed…
A lot
Of these people on this site have some good sobriety….
They always recommend
Staying away from any type of gambling…
Maybe that’s the ticket to success?

[yoyo]

For sure, the succes should be stop any kind of gambling… I was lucky enough not to step into any debt… However the money lost could have been a lot If I will add them, but I will not do that.
#day5. No money, no gamble. peaceful, all good for now.

Hope to go over the summes good.

[yoyo]

#day1 again, not much, 150 EUR gambled… but enough. Must do something to really cut acces to money.

This is the only way.

[Callmecrazy]

Hi yoyo,
Hope you’re doing good. I noticed you seem to relapse after a month goes by. How about waking up those days and being very vigiliant?
Tell yourself “my problem days are coming, there is a trap set for me every day that will trigger me to gamble. I will lay in wait and be cautious of the trap.”

[yoyo]

It s a fucking disease… keep trying and hopefully will finally do it.

Let me see how this time will go.

Will try to cut the money in the best possible way.

#day7 GF. I am stronger than this.

[charles]

Hi Yoyo,
To quote:

“… but enough. Must do something to really cut acces to money. This is the only way.”

What thngs have you been able to put in place?

[yoyo]

Hi Charles,

Honestly, close to nothing.

I was just wiring all the money to parents or later to wife, of course, not telling them why or how- I have done that before, this is how I managed not to have damages of be in high debt…

For the moment I am thinking of a strategy such as making a loan, wiring all the money to parents/wife and then paying the loan directly from my wage.

Have no other clues for the moment…

I am just refusing to accept that gambling is stronger… hope not to have another lesson.

Few months ago, when I was around 50-60 days with any bets, I entered a casino just to go to the toilet and did not gamble a single penny… I was so proud ??

We will see…

#day10 GF.

[charles]

“I am just refusing to accept that gambling is stronger…… Sadly it’s likely to be a case of accepting it now…. or later when deeper in the $hit! The addiction tends to be progressive if we carry on gambling.

Maybe look at it like this…. Get in the ring with a boxing champion he would beat the hell out of you or me. Now if we were stupid enough to get in the ring again or stand up he’d do it again… and again…. and again….

Stop getting in the ring and he can’t hurtus again and we can get on with everythign else life has to offer. ??

[CraigMac6]

Yoyo,

I have to admit until your words of “Hope this could be the last time” turn into “this WILL be the last time” you (most likely) will continue to relapse. I’m not saying I have it all figured out because I don’t but “hope” allows for a landing pad when you fail, “will” doesn’t. Don’t give yourself that out of gambling because you only “hope” to get better. Either you are going to stop gambling or you are not; and that is not done through “hope” it’s done through “doing” or this “will” be my last bet. I believe a change in mindset would help tremendously. You are at the right place, hope to hear from you soon.

Be well.

Craig

[yoyo]

Hi Craig,

I must admit I am not into big words, this why I am/was using that kind or wording.

Fortunately, since last vist here I have managed to do something.

First I have started a new diet so I have lost around 9 kilos, not that I was BIG BIG need, but for my health, I will keep doing this untill I will be fully fit- as I consider. This helps me a lot.

Second, I started doing something with my money. Did a credit, put it into a deposit with my mom and me and all my money now go into returning the loan and paying the invoices. Fortunately, nothing to repay any debt from ganbling or betting.

Now I am without any bets since 17.06.2023 so I am doing better. I am confident will keep it up.

Best regards to all!

[CraigMac6]

Great job, yoyo! Keep taking things one day at a time!

[yoyo]

This is what is am doing. I am confident this time I have what I need to go through.

[yoyo]

So, on 17.07.2023 1 month since last gamble and -10 kg down.

I am doing good. ??

[yoyo]

All god so far. Just that I am not progressing with my diet. Except that all is good, keeping up with my plan.

Hope to find you all with good news.

[Author]

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