[whydoigoback]

I’ve relapsed again and lost a considerable amount of money that I couldn’t afford to lose. I’m devastated as I thought I had largely gotten control of my gambling problem.

My main problem now is that I’ve been gambling via Bitcoin, I’m banned at all other poker sites, but not Bitcoin sites and they refuse to IP ban me.

I’m thinking about getting rid of my laptop, however that would suck, but it might be my only option at this point.

Relapse is has been my issue over the last couple years, I’ve been able to put together a few months without gambling but then for whatever reason I let myself return.

The closest casino is about an hour away, I have better self control at avoiding there then I do online, but I also need to consider a self-ban from the casino as well. I’ve only gone to the casino two times this year, but online gambling ive logged into probably a 100 times.

How do you all avoid relapsing?

[Anonymous]

Different people have different strategies to avoid relapsing, there are no hard and fast rules unfortunately.

What I think may be a viable option for yourself is to self exclude from each poker site individually.

Bitcoin as I understand it to be is a virtual wallet and as such isn’t bound by any code of conduct concerning gambling. However I’m fairly certain that all gambling websites must have some kind of responsible gambling policy and must offer their users the option of self exclusion.

Send an email to them stating that you are a compulsive gambler and you wish to exercise your right to self exclude for the maximum period.

Self excluding however will not stop you being a compulsive gambler. Unfortunately nothing will. It is very hard to accept the fact that you are a compulsive gambler and you must be honest with yourself first and foremost to establish this fact.

You ask “Why do I go back” I think that perhaps the answer to this question is you go back because you are a compulsive gambler.

To me recovery has a lot to do with acceptance and once you can accept that you are a compulsive gambler, then in my opinion, you have taken the first step towards recovery. It isn’t an easy journey but recovery is priceless and worth the struggle.

For your own sake and for the sake of those close to you do those self exclusions now.

Take care, I wish you well.

Geordie.

[Dunc]

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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.

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!

[whydoigoback]

Thank you for the all the advice!

Unfortunately the bitcoin poker site will not ban me (self-exclude) me even though I requested it via their customer service. I guess its kind of the wild west with bitcoin and they really just don’t care about problem gamblers. I don’t blame them, I’m the one with the problem.

Thankfully a couple years ago I did accept the fact that I’m a compulsive gambler, things have been much better for me since then. I’ve had relapses but then I have managed to get back on track. This was a particularly bad relapse so I’ve gotten worried. My last serious relapse was during Oct 2013.

I just need to get back on track and put my mistakes behind me, they are over and there is nothing I can do about them now. Just need to move forward!

Chasing losses will only lead to getting even further in the hole.

I think I need to focus on hobbies ect., when I’m busy I don’t have a problem avoiding gambling. Its when I have too much downtime that I tend to slide back into it, as its something to “do”.

[Dunc]

Hi

I think the question lies in your username “whydoigoback”, you seem to have identified that boredom and you have come up with a solution… hobbies.

But then there is another part of me that thinks that there may be another issue, the majority of people may not have heard of “Bitcoins” but to me “Bitcoins & Bitcoin Mining” etc is in its own right a form of gambling, just as doing the stocks & shares or even buying and selling on Auction sites … are you allowing you addiction to feed by using bitcoins?

It’s not about the money, it’s about how you feel when you gain or lose on a bitcoin exchange, how close are those feeling to when your gambling in the true sense?

Your gambling online, have you considered a blocking filter?

Take Care

[peacegirl]

I am very depressed and upset with myself today too! It was just a little over 2 months ago that I had gambled, I banned myself from 14 casinos nearby, but one of them had a harder ban process almost like a joke like they didn’t know how to ban, so I didn’t ban there and in my mind I didn’t like that casino and thought I wouldn’t go there to gamble ever anyway! Well, I did- this past weekend after 2 months of playing catch up and working my butt off to try to get ahead from all the previous binges and mess up, for no apparent reason I went there, then I lost a lot, then I went back trying to chase and lost more, then I returned for a third time and lost way way more! Now my saving is gone, and I am sick inside! I have tried to quit on so many occassions and I am hoping to get help with counseling this week, but I understand how you feel. Fortunately for me, I do not like online gambling.. But my thing is the lights the glitz, the escape of the casino and I just can’t seem to overcome it yet! Please know that there are others out there in your same situation, which is why I came here, I am desperate to just talk to others and try to make some kind of sense of this whole mess! Let’s start over together! We can do this! We can quit!!!

[Author]

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