22-10-2011, 11:49 AM
Hello badtimes,
Hmm, that doesn't read very well does it? Maybe I should type 'hello "badtimes"' instead.
When I stopped gambling the bad times receded. It didn't happen overnight, hence my use of the word receded - they gradually crept away. Sometimes it can seem like a bet is a good idea. Life changing amounts, stratospheric numbers of pound notes, have recently been available on the big lotteries. All the hype surrounding this can cause people to think "hmm well just one ticket can't hurt". Thankfully for me, sanity prevailed and I did not participate.
Your problem sounds to me like you are stuck in the middle of the gambling maze and cannot see the exit signs. If you was in a physical gambling environment, then they would be white writing on a green background and subject to health and safety legislation. In the virtual world it can be difficult to percieve the "log out" tab. This can be purposely small and obscure. The reason being that the site does not want you to leave - the longer you stay the more you lose. In common with most gamblers you can remember "winning". Today I realise that I never won, I merely accumulated some extra funds to subsequently lose.
Try to have a day off gambling. It will be difficult as the lure will be fresh. Well done on visiting our site and submitting your story to the forum. Please take the next opportunity (if you have not already done so) to familiarise yourself with where the nearest Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meeting is. Try to think about what you are trying to achieve by gambling - and realise what you are actually accomplishing. Consider attending a GA meeting. Find out where it is now and perhaps at some point in the future you will feel incentivised to turn up at the venue.
I hope what I have written makes sense.
Remember, for me, when I stopped gambling the bad times receded.
Yours in GA unity
'Poster' David
Hmm, that doesn't read very well does it? Maybe I should type 'hello "badtimes"' instead.
When I stopped gambling the bad times receded. It didn't happen overnight, hence my use of the word receded - they gradually crept away. Sometimes it can seem like a bet is a good idea. Life changing amounts, stratospheric numbers of pound notes, have recently been available on the big lotteries. All the hype surrounding this can cause people to think "hmm well just one ticket can't hurt". Thankfully for me, sanity prevailed and I did not participate.
Your problem sounds to me like you are stuck in the middle of the gambling maze and cannot see the exit signs. If you was in a physical gambling environment, then they would be white writing on a green background and subject to health and safety legislation. In the virtual world it can be difficult to percieve the "log out" tab. This can be purposely small and obscure. The reason being that the site does not want you to leave - the longer you stay the more you lose. In common with most gamblers you can remember "winning". Today I realise that I never won, I merely accumulated some extra funds to subsequently lose.
Try to have a day off gambling. It will be difficult as the lure will be fresh. Well done on visiting our site and submitting your story to the forum. Please take the next opportunity (if you have not already done so) to familiarise yourself with where the nearest Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meeting is. Try to think about what you are trying to achieve by gambling - and realise what you are actually accomplishing. Consider attending a GA meeting. Find out where it is now and perhaps at some point in the future you will feel incentivised to turn up at the venue.
I hope what I have written makes sense.
Remember, for me, when I stopped gambling the bad times receded.
Yours in GA unity
'Poster' David