O/T Gamblers quest to quit gambling

[thegentlegiant]

Hi All, hope you don't mind me posting this, this tells you alot about myself and my life, beware its heart felt and an emotional ride.

I hope though by showing this to all and you young lads that might have a gambling problem that this is not the way and my blog might even help you to quit. If you have any questions pm or add your comments on the blog, hope the mods don't mind me posting this but I feel the more people that know the more help I get.

http://questtoquitgambling.blogspot.com/

Cheers

Sam

[morecambe mick]

Respect for trying Sam.
Good luck, and if I catch you in the bookies I'll kick your arse


Depression is a very serious illness, one that too many people dismiss flippantly.
:hug:

[Plain Peter]

Brave posting Sam.
Let's not let it slip down the board.
I'm not a gambler; couldn't afford to drink then
The only times I notice the machines is when someone is 'playing' them.
It then becomes socially interesting, and I do wonder what is in the mind of the 'players'.
They can't win, so why do they think they can?
How do they survive?

If I wanted to pack a gambling addiction in without turning into a social recluse I think I'd do the following:

Only go out with as much dosh as I needed to have a few jars (and a take-away, or taxi), say £20.
Leave my credit card at home.
Leave my debit card at home.
Get my bank to put a limit on how much I can withdraw at any one time.
Encourage my mates to do likewise.
Stand back and watch others 'play'.
See how much they 'win'.

If you aren't in the position to feed these beasts then isn't that half the battle?
Is there really much more to it?

Good luck

[Keith]

hope the mods don't mind me posting this but I feel the more people that know the more help I get.

No problem as far as I'm concerned, good luck with your quest.

If you aren't in the position to feed these beasts then isn't that half the battle?
Is there really much more to it?

Good luck

Sadly Peter, it is much more complex than that...

[bigreddog]

Thank you Sam for being so open and honest. All addictions, gambling included, are tough to deal with but as your blog says it is possible to fight and win against an addiction.

Good luck to you. Believe and you will.

[Christies Child]

Total respect Sam for posting your problems.

Makes my problem of being out of work at 59 with little or no prospect of earning a comfortable wage again pale into insignificance.

I don't know you other than from SVs but we are a family on here and I'm sure I speak for many when I say if there is anytime you want any help of need a chat, then the SV family is here to help.

[Sammy h]

Brave posting Sam.
Let's not let it slip down the board.
I'm not a gambler; couldn't afford to drink then
The only times I notice the machines is when someone is 'playing' them.
It then becomes socially interesting, and I do wonder what is in the mind of the 'players'.
They can't win, so why do they think they can?
How do they survive?

If I wanted to pack a gambling addiction in without turning into a social recluse I think I'd do the following:

Only go out with as much dosh as I needed to have a few jars (and a take-away, or taxi), say £20.
Leave my credit card at home.
Leave my debit card at home.
Get my bank to put a limit on how much I can withdraw at any one time.
Encourage my mates to do likewise.
Stand back and watch others 'play'.
See how much they 'win'.

If you aren't in the position to feed these beasts then isn't that half the battle?
Is there really much more to it?

Good luck

This cannot be done. £350 a day it is unfortunately.

Your right about the debit card thing though, leave it at home, when your out of money that's when it's time to go home.

Respect to Sam for the post though.

[thegentlegiant]

Cheers lads, does really mean alot and hopefully you can all be part of my journey and as you say is it just as easy to stop, nope its not and through my blog I will try to explain why not and what I can do to try and stop what I see as the worst habit you can have because there are massive consequences to gambling problems.

[shrimpnsave]

hi sam,when i was younger ,10 to 16 years which is a long time ago i had a gambling problem but it was only focused on slot machines in the arcades,thankfully i seemed to grow out of it,dont know why but did,i have never gone on a slot machine since, when i see someone using them now i shake my head in disbelief and think what is the point.
everybodys addiction varies according to the individual and it can be extreme but hopefully you can get through this with the help of your friends and svs...

[durhamshrimp]

hope the mods don't mind me posting this but I feel the more people that know the more help I get.

No problem as far as I'm concerned, good luck with your quest.

If you aren't in the position to feed these beasts then isn't that half the battle?
Is there really much more to it?

Good luck

Sadly Peter, it is much more complex than that...

Exactly the same sort of empathy Mail readers tend to afford people such as anorexics, alcoholics, drug addicts. It's always so simple. Sadly real life is a bit more complex. Good luck with cracking it mate.

[USA Shrimp]

All the best to you, Sam. I'm sure everyone on here is pulling for you.

[Burnley Shrimp]

pm awaiting.

[durianmuncher]

Best of luck with this.

I know from personal experience that gambling is a buzz but can get completely out of control. When I was in my teens and early twenties I used to spend loads on the machines on the prom and away at arcades when I was at uni. It led to overdrafts with the bank but I was always convinced I would find the formula to beat the machines.

I think I got into it originally in the mid eighties as a way to raise 50p from about 20p to get into the ground on Saturdays and Tuesday evenings and I always managed to do it at that time.

My solution came by chance really as in 1993 I took a job in Slovakia, got out of the rut I was in in the UK, and made a new set of friends and found it much more fun to drink Slovak beer, watch Tatran Presov and Chemlon Hummene, and socialise with heaps of very attractive young East European ladies.

When I was back in Morecambe I still had that pulling feeling when I walked past an arcade but time had taught me that there is only ever one winner in any of those places. Personally, I think they should all be closed down and healthier entertainment outlets be built. Karaoke, Videoke, snow world, bierkellers, paintball...., heck even a Morecambe version of Soi Cowboy would be an improvement.

[thegentlegiant]

Blog updated.

http://questtoquitgambling.blogspot.com/2010/01/few-weeks-into-2010.html

[Blackburn shrimp]

Good luck Sam. I don't know you personally but wish you all the best in your quest to overcome your addiction. Like all addictions the first step is to realise that you have a problem and then seek help, there will be blips along the way but i feel sure with the help of family and friends you will beat your demons. Im sure that all fellow sv members are right behind you and hope that this gives you some hope and strength

[thegentlegiant]

Updated

http://questtoquitgambling.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-few-weeks-passed-great-progress.html

[Christies Child]

Updated

http://questtoquitgambling.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-few-weeks-passed-great-progress.html

What you are doing takes 'guts'.....

There may be times when you are tempted.....just remember the SV family are behind you all the way.

Brilliant!

[thegentlegiant]

Cheers pal, does mean alot to have everyones support

[Nerso (CTFC)]

Well done, Sam....take it day-by-day.

Good-luck.

[thegentlegiant]

Well done, Sam....take it day-by-day.

Good-luck.

Cheers Nerso, and good luck for Sat

[thegentlegiant]

PART 1 - New Years Resolution - Learn to Drive

Well as those who have read on my blog driving is one of my new years resolutions and tomorrow at 11.11am is my test, nervous yes but also looking forward to it, straight after that we drive down to Bournemouth for what should be a cracking weekend!!!

Ill let you all know if I passed just before I set off for bournemouth!!

[morecambe mick]

I'll be thinking of you Sam - I won't wish you luck some people are superstitious that way.

I'll see ya before the game tomorrow and I'll let you buy me a drink in celebration

[thegentlegiant]

FAILED, because of some c#'k in a white van, i was safe to emerge at roundabout he must have been speeding caught upto me at the exit and he had to brake therefore I got a serious for that, only 3 minors but because white van man decided to be a di#k I fail!!!!

[Mark S]

Sam

No doubt you are gutted. Dont be.

All the best drivers pass on the second attempt, trust me!

Bloody Van drivers!


*sits and waits

[shrimper]

FAILED, because of some c#'k in a white van, i was safe to emerge at roundabout he must have been speeding caught upto me at the exit and he had to brake therefore I got a serious for that, only 3 minors but because white van man decided to be a di#k I fail!!!!

Unlucky mate - don't give up hope, you now have the experience of having taken a test and that's always good. Just bang your application in again straight away and keep practising meanwhile.


I had a mate who failed for stopping so abruptly that his examiner hit his head on the windscreen.

And knew another who was taking her test when it started raining. She had never used the windscreen wiper before so did nothing, then the examiner asked her to put the wipers on, she indicated left, then right, then found the right one but put it on intermittent. He asked her to put it on full as it was now raining quite heavily, she indicated left again and then shouted 'oh it's fine, I can see' before collapsing in a fit of tears and refusing to move any further.

I was lucky enough to get it first time but had a few shaky moments, not least of which when I was distracted during my three point turn because the examiner had chosen to do it at the rear of Heysham High when all the fifth form girls were just leaving, having just finished a netball tournament.