[Lisaann]

I have finally admitted to myself that i have a problem. like many on here it is with online gambling. i also have anxiety about my addiction so i am battling two demons.

Today i woke up very anxious about my addiction as i had gambled away my money to get to and from work this week, and then the anxiety kicked in. i knew i had a problem but had been

kidding myself that i could control it. obviously this is not the case. i came by this site last night when i was looking for help and spent hours and hours reading all your experiences. it

has given me the courage i needed to start my own journey to recovery. i have self excluded from everything and am also going to put a blocker on all devices so i can’t make any new accounts.

i know i have a long road ahead but this has to stop, its no life like this. Any other tips you all may have will be gratefully recieved. 

[velvet]

Hello Lisaann 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!

[Lisaann]

Hi Sara j, thanks for replying. I finally feel like I have clear thoughts about my addiction. I was in denial for a long time over it. I was kidding myself thinking it was still fun. My anxiety has been getting worse and I knew I need to get help before it consumed me. I’m very fortunate to have a supportive family who all want to help me beat this. I know it’s an on going process but I’m just taking it one gamble free day at a time. This is my second day gamble free so far. It’s good to know I’m not alone on this journey.

[maverick.]

Lisa Ann welcome and very well done on sharing and posting on here, it really does help to express how you are feeling and the thing being we totally understand you as are in the same boat so to speak, keep sharing and reading, I really wish you well and great work on 2 days gamble free, take care.

Maverick

[i-did-it]

Hi lisann – well done on recognising hat you have a problem with gambling and on joining this site .
I find he link between gambling and anxiety somewhat confusing – I gambled to escape my anxiety and then had anxiety about the consequences of my gambling. I look forward to reading more from you.
Xx

[Lisaann]

Thank you for the welcome maverick. It really does help knowing you’re not alone. My life before I realised I had an addiction was pretty normal I work a lot I have a family but I think part of why gambling has become an addiction is because I don’t take time for myself. I don’t have a lot of friends and it in a way what made me happy.

Thanks for your reply i-did-it. I have the same experience with my anxiety. Today has been a struggle for me. I have had huge urges to gamble and then anxiety about the urges. So far I have managed to resist the urge and I’m proud of my resilience so far. What I’ve realised on my short journey so far is that I am enough, and I just need to take time for myself sometimes. I don’t need to do and be everything for everyone. It’s ok to falter as long as you keep working on being the best version of yourself. I look forward to getting to know you all x

[finding_laura]

I am in chat now 🙂

[i-did-it]

Hi Lisaann
It was nice to meet you in chat.
Keep resisting those urges and watch how good your life can be .
You deserve freedom from this addiction and deserve to spend your money on nice things for you !
Keep strong xx

[finding_laura]

It was very nice meeting you in chat! You have made great progress in a short time. Keep your funds tied up so you can’t use them to gamble and keep working on treating yourself to me time. Take care, Laura

[Lisaann]

It was very nice meeting you too IDI and Laura. It was good to see things from another perspective. Thanks for all your advice I really appreciate it xx

[Lisaann]

Today was the day id been dreading… payday. Usually I’d pay all my bills and then gamble the rest. All my wages would be gone by 10am. But so far I’ve managed to resist any urges. I know it’s still early in the day but I’m proud of myself.

[velvet]

Hi Lisaann
Maybe this is a good day to pop back at regular intervals and update – it’s good to know that you can share the pride in yourself and know that someone is listening and applauding.
Just for today
Velvet

[Lisaann]

Hi velvet

Thanks for replying. I couldn’t gamble even if I wanted to. I’ve put a blocker on all my devices. I’m feeling really positive today. Lots of positive thoughts very little anxiety. Today is a good day.

[velvet]

Hi Lisaanne
I think it is great to take a bad experience and use it to make life better.
You have turned a day that you dreaded into a good day, you have poked the addiction in the eye with a sharp stick.
Well done
Velvet

[i-did-it]

Way to go Lisaanne!

[Lisaann]

Thank you velvet and IDI. I’m still going strong. I’ve had a quite a few thoughts and urges to gamble because that’s what I normally do. But I’ve managed to distract myself, i went for a walk to clear my mind I’ve been reading stories on here.

One day at a time.

[i-did-it]

Hi lisaanne – hope u didn’t feel excluded in chat – I guess it is difficult when u don’t know people but it gets easier .
You have done really well today – payday is hard

Keep strong – catch u in chat soon
Xx

[Lisaann]

Hi IDI No I didn’t feel excluded don’t worry. Yesterday was hard but i managed to get through it. It’s day 5 today. We’re going to go and get some treats to have a film day. Hope you also have a good day. Speak soon xx

[Lisaann]

today has been a day full of stress arguments and tears. im currently sat in my bathroom so i can get just one minute of peace. ive been thinking a lot today about how my life is and who i am as a person. ive got a lot of areas of my life to work on. but im determined to carry on my recovery and to make my life better. ive already started to make more effort in my personal life, also with my friends so im not so isolated. today is just a stumbling block that i need to get passed to continue on my journey.

[Monica1]

Nice to meet you yesterday and also I hope you didn’t feel excluded in chat too. I hadn’t spoken to idi for a bit…
Recovery is just the start of us looking at all aspects of our lives and some if it involves looking at our relationships, and our emotions in relation to those, which often act as triggers. Upset and anger is a big trigger but gambling is never the answer. Not to anything we feel, however bad it may feel. You are doing well.

[Lisaann]

hi monica,
no i didnt feel excluded in chat, it was nice to meet you. i hope youre doing ok?

i can finally say ive been a week gamble free. its been a hard week. theres been lots of ups and down. my emotions have been all over the place. ive feel i have learned a lot about myself this week some of it i dont like. ive got a lot of work to do on myself aswell as my addicition. im a work in process. but im still pushing towards being the best version of myself.

[Monica1]

Hi there,
Yes, our emotions are all over the place for a while when we stop and enter into what I would see as early recovery, rather like the highs and lows,of gambling, although let’s face it,it is mostly appalling lows with gambling and even when we win, it is flat and getting ready to put it all back. I also didn’t like some of what I saw either but we can turn it around. It really is one day at a time here, no magic wands, but recovery is worth it.

[Lisaann]

one day at a time is how im thinking about it. the hardest part is trying to retrain my brain to think about things other than gambling. its getting easier to distract myself when i feel the urge so all the help and advice ive had from here must be working, and i thank you all for that. i feel like im in a good place at the moment.

[Monica1]

The urges will come and go. What we need to accept in our being is that we cannot gamble, it is not for us and it becomes a progressively destructive force in our lives taking us to insanity, for me destitution and suicide. That is the end destination. The likeness to having a deadly peanut allergy here, which many have mentioned is a good one, we just can’t do it, and I like to think of it like that. I don’t want gambling in my life and I pray that we all can turn it round and lead happy and fulfilled lives. Groups here and posting help a lot.

[i-did-it]

Lisaan u
What has helped me is a supplement called NAC- I am
Currently taking Wellwoman max and ithas NAC- I found it hard to take in other forms . It does really stop those urges in their tracks !

Just something that helped me and felt I should pass it on.

Onwards n upwards xx

[Monica1]

How’s it going?

[finding_laura]

Hey LisaAnn, just checking in as well to see how things are going. Hope to hear from your real soon. You can do this.

Laura

[Lisaann]

hi guys

im doing ok. still gamble free. life has been really busy. work has been manic with all the new gdpr regulations. im also training someone new. refraining from gambling is getting easier. im also trying to have a bit of a life. im putting myself out there a bit more.
hope to hear from you all soon xx

[finding_laura]

Wonderful to see you update and that you are still gamble free. Glad to hear that refraining is getting easier. That must mean urges have been manageable? Sometimes rogue urges will still come out of no where but they should get fewer and further in between. It’s important to fill our time with healthier things and having a bit of a life is a positives step! Please don’t be a stranger 🙂 Gives me courage to know that you are doing ok. Onward and upwards Lisa Ann! Keep at it. Winning is not gambling.
Laura

[Lisaann]

hi all, its been a long time since ive been here. life has been very hard. i wont bore you all with the details. i went through a very dark period but im back and ready to work on a better me again. hope you are all doing well.

[Steev]

If you need to – speak. Don’t worry about boring anyone, put your own recovery first. Good that you have come back here and I hope to hear more!

[Author]

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