Hi badperson10.

Welcome to the forum, and well done on taking a positive step by making this journal and looking for help.

As Dunc mentioned, there are new member groups on Monday and Thursday. I found these really helpful when I first joined, and you can pick up some great advice and guidance on steps you can take. These groups also tend to be on the smaller side, meaning that Charles can help even more by providing more personalised advice/steps based on your specific situation and background.

Reading your first post, it sounds like one of your most critical items to address is putting blockers in place to make it more difficult for you to bet. Charles will likely address this in the new members groups, but some examples of items you can do are

• Add blocking software to your laptop and mobile
• Closing all current betting accounts you have
• Reduce or remove your direct access to money, and make yourself more accountable for spending any funds you do have access to. For example, have a family member or trusted friend manage your funds for the moment. Note: With this, you still control your funds, and get to decide how it is spent, but any spending must go through this trusted person. Alternatively (or in addition to), add accountability by allowing the trusted person to have full visibility of your spending dor example by giving them view access to bank statements, keeping a detailed record of all spend with receipts.

  I hope you keep journaling, and look forward to following your progress.

I agree with G Rec – in the one final thing they say – you need to first hand over ALL of your finances to someone else. Until you get your head sorted (with professional therapy), you cannot trust yourself with your own money.

Following that, whomever you nominate to take care of your money, can also be the person who handles your bills for therapy.

Think of it this way – what’s better…placing £50 quid on a football match, or using that money for a therapy session that will help explore why you have the desire/hunger/thirst to bet in the first place?

I can guarantee you that paying for therapy will be a hell of a lot cheaper and cost effective than wasting your money with bookies.