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.

As well as the forums New Members are invited to join Charles in the New Members Practical Advice Group On Mondays at 21:00 (UK) and Thursday at 19:00(UK)

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!

Hi Lynda, well done on looking for help and thanks to Geordie for pointing you in the right direction.

As you have been reading the other stories here you will already have seen many things that you will relate to. You will also have seen the success stories – what are they doing that you can apply to your own situation?

What barriers can you put in place? Self exclusion from where ever it is you normally gamble? Blockers for your PC/phone if you gamble on line? How can you limit your access to funds with which to gamble? Try and put things in place before your next annuity.

There is a lot of support available to us these days, here and other sites, places like gamblers Anonymous, counselling and more.

Keep posting and let us know the positive steps that you are starting to take.

Hi Lynda,

welcome to the forum and well done on posting your story. Now you have a place to come and put your thoughts relating to gambling, as well as a place to learn from others We support each other through this process of stopping the madness and then staying stopped. I think one of the hardest things is getting it into our heads that we can never gamble responsibly again. No matter what we will lose control eventually and hurt ourselves once again. Charles has some really good advice on stopping. Like perhaps you can self exclude at the casino if that is where you gamble? Or perhaps restricting your access to cash somehow? I too am working on putting some of these barriers in place. Now that I have stopped I want to stay stopped. Keep posting. Never give up trying.
Laura

Hi Lynda, I can really relate to those bible verses you have chosen to share . I wonder what makes us return to play again and again with the serpent which bites us ?

I have put a gambling blocker on my phone and on my internet devices and that helps a lot . Perhaps you could do the same? The one for my phone costs around £10 per month and saves me hundreds every month .

I really hope the support you get on here helps – you should also try the support groups if you haven’t already .

Hi Lynda, I can really relate to those bible verses you have chosen to share . I wonder what makes us return to play again and again with the serpent which bites us ?

I have put a gambling blocker on my phone and on my internet devices and that helps a lot . Perhaps you could do the same? The one for my phone costs around £10 per month and saves me hundreds every month .

I really hope the support you get on here helps – you should also try the support groups if you haven’t already .

Hi Lynda, i often talk to God too when I am gambling. Oh please God just let me win enough to make up for what i lost. I’ll do the responsible things with the money. I deserve it. Then when I lose, because even when i win, i will lose. I don’t deserve this God, what have i done to deserve this? Please take this addiction away. But really the slots i play are a man made machine that is designed to entice and thrill and hook. They are designed to make the venues money. The only guarantee is that the more you play the more you will end up losing. It is not God who is responsible for whether I win or lose. God gave us free will in this life. I need to use mine to say no to gambling. I need to put in place the things that will help me get through the bad times. Keep working on your issues Lynda and prepare for when you have money again. Because the desire will really start pumping through your veins as soon as your money arrives. Well done on your progress! Stay strong, Laura

Bringing you back to the top!
How are you?
Did you manage to look into that blocker?
We need as many barriers as we can get….everything helps.
Hope to hear from you!
Love K x