[londonlife25]

1 WEEK IN :

hi im ciaran im from london im 25years old 

so yeah this is the first time ive ever posted on a forum so go easy on me,(espesially with the spelling) 

 i just need tips and ideas from real people, ive been gambling over 7 years and just had enough, i say this everytime i loose but this time its real 

ive lost so much money to this problem and have nothing to show for it ,

ive never told family or friends due to the absolute embarrestment i have for myself, im not willing to tell them either , i dont believe they would really see this being a problem 

on average i would say i loose around £300-£400 per week to the FOBT machines in the bookmaker

im already banned online thanks to gamcare and ive just used a company called the multi operator self exclusion scheme where they ban you from using the bookies in your area. 

but i still find it hard when i have money my first thought is i want more, total greed. so all i would like to know is 

-how do you spend your free time (when you used to spend it on gambling) 

-how have you overcome urges to gamble 

i would love to hear from people and thier experiences with quiting, 

i would like to apolagise for all the spelling mistakes haha 

[Steev]

There are lots of ways of using up free time. This morning I spent about an hour deleting unwanted emails and putting those I did want to keep into the right folders. I expect I could expand that to all my free time if I worked at it. But I guess that isn’t what you mean.

You are wanting to do something inspiring, something sensational …. I can’t tell you what that is. A wiser man than me once said “the one who has a why to live can put up with any how.” In other words if you can find your own reason for being on this planet, you will put up with any hardship just to make a go of your life. So what will it be … What were you wanting to do with your life before you got sidetracked into gambling. Is this something you can pick up.

I got down and depressed for a while after I stopped gambling because my finances never got any better. Then I realised that being poor does not mean that my life has to stop – I just need to see not having money as a challenge and find ways around things. Of course the other thing you can do with your time (not gambling) is to earn more. Take on more work or find another part-time job – or buy and sell something that you know about. Be careful not to burn out though.

I think I have prattled on enough. For me – finding support in the early days of not gambling would be my priority. I hear you want to go it alone – I am just not sure that is possible. I wish you well.

[Meghna83]

 brilliant advice RG. I totally agree that at 25 you really can achieve anything. Cut your losses and invest your time and money in other things. Study, travel, start a project 

[londonlife25]

hi thank you so much for your reply, even just reading what youve put has given me more confidence to stop, i appriciate all the points youve made to me and will take them on board, the hardest thing i find is that ive lost pretty much all my friendship group through gambling, as i always would spend my money in the bookies and not on nights out, epecially over the last few years, so that i dont have many opportunities to actually go out and do things, i work, i go home *repeat*

i would like to say it was pure bordem and lonliness that i found to be the reason why ive gambled alot more in the past 2 years or so, 

its my fault and now i have to start from scratch and work my way up. and the worrd of encouragement from yourself and others im hoping will help me along the way 

all the best 

ciaran

[londonlife25]

hi steve thanks so much for your reply, 

your words of encouragement are fantastic and i hope to be replying on this thread about the milestones in witch im making, as this is the first time ive actually wanted to stop for good my mindset is all good at the moment so reading the replys to my thread has helpt alot 

i actually went through all my emails after i posted this yesterday, coinsidence ?? 

as for finding something before i got sidetracked i couldnt even tell you because its been so long, im sure something will pass my way and ill jump at the oppotunity, 

with have a addicting personality get stuck in well, just have to find a habbitt less exoensive 

i work already 65-70 hours a week (one was to fund my habbit) (another was to keep me away from the bookies) 

you have prattled on well and i cant thank you enough 

all the best 

ciaran 

[rtppoes]

Awaiting moderation

[Author]

Posts