Taking my first step today

58gambling wrote:You have to be a lot stronger and more resolute in your determination not to continue sports betting. It's just too easy to relapse; especially if you sit there every day, looking at games you don't bet on, and thinking you could've won if you bet.

You're definitely right. Today is my 6th day, and I did thought of a "what if". I quickly focus and think of something else before I get consumed in it again.

Still fighting~

take my advice, exclude from everything, this is a disease that is very very difficult to crack

you CAN do it but i'm proof that this is for life once its in you believe me.

good luck

10th day GF today. Finding purpose and more meaning in other prospects of life right now~

Hi hidden3,

what I'm about to say is based on 10+ years of online sports betting painful experience: either you exclude right now either you are doomed.
You stand no chance as long as you have constant easy access to betting. You're chances are better (not great!) if you exclude, although there are thousands of new sites where you can gamble.
Sorry to say, but you don't sound determined to give up on the dope.
Maybe I'm wrong, so I would like to hear why you don't exclude?
As 58 said: casinos are far better than online gambling which is the sneakiest and the most difficult gambling habit to get rid of.

Well done on 10 days Hidden3 !

That is an awesome achievement - Stay on your guard and keep looking for ways to distract yourself when the urges hit you .

As G_B mentioned , self exclusion is a very effective roadblock , but if that task seems overwhelming ( given the endless number of online gambling sites around ) , then I definitely recommend that you look into an app like GamBlock for all of your internet-capable devices .

Keep fighting ! You're doing great ...

Thank you for the YouTube link G_B.
Thank you for the encouraging words NewSunRising.
I live in Singapore, and here in Singapore, most online sites are blocked. I've just excluded myself from the local betting site. (Thank you for making me do so)
Most of the time, if I have to bet online, I will have to look for a bookmaker to get an account "illegally". That's the reason why I didn't exclude myself from other betting sites.

Like the video said, addiction starts because of the environment we're in, or due to the lack of connection.

Yes I agree that excluding myself will help in many ways, but I guess things work both ways?

If one really wants to gamble/bet, I believe there are many different ways one can do so, and if one is determined enough, nothing can be stopped.

When I was younger, I've ran to place a bet physically in store because I wouldn't be able to place a bet if the soccer game has kicked off.

I don't know if I make sense here, but I'm trying to change my mindset about gambling, change my way of thinking and mindset, connect with other meaningful things in life. So that even when I'm right in front of a betting shop, I will choose not to go in. Not because it may trigger an addiction, but I've realized there is no meaning in doing so.

*Im glad I joined this forum to share my thoughts and feelings. And also to hear from those who had experience the same, or worse. Thank you

That is great news! Congratulations on your decision to exclude and take back your life. I can guess you felt a relieve when you closed the account.
This is a great step in the right direction because you can't fight the addiction in the early days just with the determination of your will. It's like drug addict trying to stop while having the dope constantly in his pocket. It's impossible to resist after a week or two because the dope it's always there and your power of will is not. The evenings when we are tired, stressed or lonely are not an easy moment to overcome.
And trust me you are still going to have to use that power of determination. Otherwise you'll end up like me - opening, loosing and than closing accounts on various gambling sites. I have closed 20+ accounts over the years, before deciding to stop for good.
So don't be afraid, but don't underestimate the difficulty of the task and I'm sure you'll do better than me.

Stay strong and have a wonderful GF day

Thank you for the encouraging words once again G_B.

Today is my 15th day.

Tho I've caught the UEFA Champions League, and also NBA finals' highlights.
I find myself watching the sports as it is, nothing is triggered.

I've also find a huge motivation to work harder, finding doors of opportunities opened up for me.

Staying strong, fighting on!

Congrats on 15 days Hidden3 !

I'm glad you're not getting triggered by watching sports . Stay on your guard though . It's early days and this addiction doesn't give up with out a fight .

Keep going !

22nd day today