[G Rec]

Days Since Last Betting: 28

I attended the topic group on here on Monday and had a constructive discussion. The topic was on limiting the likelihood of betting through ATM

• Access – Limit access/ability to bet through means such as permanently closing accounts, using blocking software, getting self-excluded from live bettng venus etc
• Time – Manage the time that you have to keep idle time when you might be tempted to bet to a minimum. This can be helped through things like planning days off from work, making sure you are accountable for your time, and finding replacement activities for the time that used to be spent gambling.
• Money – Reduce direct access to money where possible, and where you do have access to money, ensure that it is accountable i.e. if you use it for gambling, someone else would automatically be aware

[G Rec]

Hi, darkenergy,

You mentioned that you are fighting this addiction alone, but that doesn’t need to be the case. Even if you do not feel ready to speak to someone you know about everything, there are plenty of support options and groups including the groups on here, Gamblers Anaonymous, or a group that I have found extremely useful – SMART (focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy for any addictions).

If you haven’t done so already, I would recommend at least trying out one or more of those meetings, they all take place online, are free and if you don’t feel like speaking, you can just listen.

Regarding the online therapist, I have heard others say positive things about one on one therapy, but I personally have not had any sessions so I cannot directly speak to that.

[G Rec]

Days Since Last Betting: 26

I attended a meeting last night with some useful tools discussed. The first was to do with managing urges, and what to do when they occur. As is often the case, there was overlap with similar discussions in the topic groups on here. An acronym was used to describe some of the options available to try and limit the urge.

This week is also pay week, and I instantly transferred/paid everything according to my budget while making any remaining funds accountable by putting them into a shared account with full visibility.

[G Rec]

Hi darkenergy01,

If handing over financial control to someone else is not available, you may find it helpful to increase your accountability by giving someone else full visibility over your finances while you retain access to them.

You will need someone you have trust in for this such as a family member or close friend that you have also shared details of your gambling problem with, but geographic location should not really be an issue.

Some examples of ways in which you could do this. 1) Provide the trusted person with logon details for your online bank where they can regularly check to ensure no gambling transactions have taken place. 2) Send a bank statement periodically to the person 3) Open a shared vault in Revolut for your funds (you can give the other person funding only rights if you wish so they cannot withdraw), the other person will then get a notification anytime you withdraw from that vault.

As a complement to the above, you could also keep a shared budget sheet where you document all of your transactions and what any outgoing expenses have been for.

The above won’t prevent you from gambling, but adding as much accountability that you can may be added motivation to be gamble free.

[G Rec]

Days Since Last Betting: 24

The weekend has gone well so far, went for a long walk yesterday while also enjoying some time to relax, doing a few hours work today and then will take tomorrow as a day off, and close off the weekend with a meeting Sunday evening/night

[G Rec]

Привет, Дэн! Рад слышать, что у тебя 11 дней без азартных игр, хорошая работа. Также рад слышать, что вы будете принимать участие в консультационных группах, я надеюсь и надеюсь, что вы найдете это очень полезным.

[G Rec]

Hi Dan,

Glad to hear you are on 11 days with no gambling, nice work. Also glad to hear that you will be taking part in the advice groups, I hope and expect you will find then very useful.

[G Rec]

Days Since Last Betting: 21

I had planned to attend my 4th SMART intro meeting today, but it doesn’t look like the meeting is going ahead. Instead, I will still spend the time on GT-related items catching up on the forum, and exploring some tools myself.

[G Rec]

Days Since Last Betting: 20

Yesterday, I attended the topic group on here. The topic this week was Can a compulsive gambler ever become a controlled gambler. We had a great discussion and not surprisingly the general consensus coming out from the meeting was that they can’t. This conclusion was mostly from the fact that none of us knew of anyone who had successfully done so in the past , but knew of plenty who had tried but not been successful, ourselves included.

Another element that came out from the meeting was that even though we have concluded that you can not become a controlled gamble when you are a compulsive gambler, that does not stop the addiction trying to use this excuse to get you back gambling, with dangerous thoughts such as “What if I just have the one bet? or “what if I set myself a specific budget for gambling”

[G Rec]

Hi Wally,

Sorry to hear that you gambled at the weekend, but good to see you back here continuing to address your recovery, and that there were some things learned in the process, I can associate with both of the points you mentioned very much, especially 2).

It sounds like most or maybe all of your gambling is done at a casino that is near you. Is canceling your membership there, and asking the Casino to exclude you so as to remove one of your main gambling spots something you have considered?

[G Rec]

Thanks wally

Days Since Last Betting: 19

Last night I attended a general meeting with various discussions and suggestions for tools that can be used to help recovery. The one that resonated the most with me was a simple tool called the Hula Hoop which has many similarities with the serenity prayer/affirmation ” “I seek the serenity to accept what I cannot change; the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”. (I used a modified version that is not religious focused as I am not religious)

The idea behind the hula hoop is to identify items that are within your Hula Hoop that you have the power to control/change, and those that fall outside your Hula Hoop that you cannot control/change.

Things that fall within your Hula Hoop are – Your thoughts, your actions, your opinions, your values, your dreams, your wishes. while those falling outside of the Hula Hoop is everything else “other peple’ thoughts, other peoples reactions, external events, the weather etc etc etc.

[G Rec]

Je nám líto, že jste včera přemýšleli o sázení, ale je skvělé, že jste se rozhodli sem přispět, když jste dostali to nutkání. Doufám, že se vám podařilo odolat.

[G Rec]

Sorry to hear that you had thoughts of betting yesterday, but great to see that you decided to post on here when you got that urge. I hope you managed to resist.

[G Rec]

Съжалявам, че вчера сте имали мисли за залагане, но е хубаво да видите, че сте решили да публикувате тук, когато получите това желание. Надявам се, че сте успели да устоите.

[G Rec]

Ne pare rău să aflu că ieri ai avut gânduri de a paria, dar mă bucur să vezi că ai decis să postezi aici când ai primit dorința asta. Sper că ai reușit să rezisti.

[Author]

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