It's been a while since my last post; and I'm happy to say I've found some success (so far at least!). I haven't gambled since my last post back in July, which makes it about 4 months since I last gambled. The three things we should initially look at when we want to stop ourselves gambling are: 1) time; 2) access; and 3) money I've been trying to keep myself particularly busy recently, essentially by working a second job, which is the reason I get less time than I'd like talking to people like you and posting on this blog. The second job means that I don't have an awful lot of spare time. It's not that I used to sit indoors and do nothing before: I already had a demanding job, I play for two football teams, I run, play sports, and so on. However, there were times where I'd have some time in the evening, and rather than doing one of the many 'admin jobs' there was to do, I instead found myself checking football or tennis scores. And before I knew it, I was trying to sign up to whatever brand new gambling sites had set up in the last month I could register with that I wasn't blocked/self excluded from, and I think we all know where it ends (even if we tell ourselves if we get a win we'd do something differently this time around!) There'a also a new tool to use with GAMSTOP, which uses your e-mail address to automatically self-exclude you from a wide range of online betting sites. More importantly, it's FREE! I've always been told I could/should use some of the paid gambling blocking software, but money was so tight, that I can't really afford to be spending money on these things. Friends, colleagues, counsellors had always said "think how much you could lose if you gamble again, you should spend this money on the software to help you". However when you have overdue debts coming out of your ears, can't make minimum payments, getting payment demands through, can't afford the food shop that week, it's incredibly hard to just say "yeah sure, why don't I invest in that now as it'll help me in the future". It's just not that easy. Don't get me wrong, the paid for software can be particularly helpful for some people and it certainly helps to address part 2) above, in limiting your access to gambling sites. I just always feel there's a work around given how often we upgrade our phones, have access to iPads, PCs, laptops, and so forth. This free software allows you to block your e-mail addresses, so no matter what device you use you can't sign into any main betting sites with those e-mail addresses. Sure, there's a workaround, but you need to be thinking about entering all of your sign in information, and also need to go through the personal identification checks at the new sites / new sign ups, and thus there's lots more to do before you can get that gambling fix. Hopefully that time allows for some reflection, where that immediate urge or need we get to gamble sometimes can dissipate. By making it that bit harder to gamble, and especially to gamble when we get the urge, hopefully it allows us to regain some rationality, before we start rationalising the irrational thoughts that come over us all, such as 'this time will be the time' or 'this time I'll win a bit and take i out'. History has certainly told me that no matter how much I win right now, I will undoubtedly end the day, week or month wit nothing. Please do reflect on your own experiences; think back to when you've gambled before, and think what's driven it. Whilst we all have our own triggers, be that chasing losses, escaping personal loss or other personal problems, there needs to be all three components explained above to allow our gambling addictions to overcome us. How can you limit your access to gambling sites, to money, or to time, and which one is likely to be most effective for you? Please do use the contact me button for anyone who wishes to get in contact - I will be checking more regularly as this blog is something that really helps me, and I hope it helps at least someone else out there too. All the best, AGJ Leave a Reply. |
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