Hi Don,
In the first week, it is hard to deal with withdrawal symptoms. but it will fade with time, after 4 weeks I normally feel much better, but then from time to time, I will have these strikes of depression that will not last long normally 1-2 days in my case. I had one in the last two days but today I am back to normal motivated and my mood is good. this is called post-acute withdrawal symptoms, it is something we need 1 to 2 years to get rid of. and this will fade with time.
so in short don’t act on your urge and it will fade with time. I found sleeping and walking help, and just distract yourself by doing anything else whether it is meaningful or meaningless just do something and your attention will go to that thing that you are doing.
I don’t have a sponsor, it will not fit my personality, try it may be it will work for you, no harm from trying.
regarding the online sites you need to install blockers, I am using coldturkey but you have to enter the websites that you are gambling on manually, so this will block your access to the gambling site, but the main part is the access to money you have to do something about it, you should find a way to keep your money protected from you if you relapsed.
start a new post and tell your story and update it, you will get a lot of support and advice from the members, we all had the same issue and we are learning from each other.
also, I find it helpful to record my success & failures and to read the old post that I wrote before and after any relapse and learn from them.
finally, it is hard addiction but it is not impossible to recover from it, many have done it and we can too.
wish you all the best in your journey toward a gambling-free life.