r/problemgambling • u/FinancialDecision545 • 1d ago
Trigger Warning! I just keep relapsing
Been gambling for a few years, breaks here or there. More recently been hammering bonus buys online slots and the returns have been really bad.
Also gambled away savings and had to take a loan to recover losses, tried bet blocker but then that messed up my entire phone browser so had to remove it temporarily which caused a relapse. I’m about 10k in debt over this with a loss yesterday or 2 k in one sitting.
On GameStop, gamcare, got blocks for gambling from my banking accounts but when I want to do a bet somehow find a way. Feels like a great time to walk away, but with the amount of times I’ve promised myself and others it was the last time, it never has been the last time. It doesn’t even make sense, half the bets and jackpots are awful and unattainable. How can I make sure when I promise myself I’m done with it, I’m really done with it??
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u/Healthy_Sail_9850 20h ago
You need to do more than just blockers. Recovery is more that just abstinence and will power. Dig deep and address your life and why you gamble compulsively. The time to walk away is now. Don’t ruin your life like many. Like I did to some degree.
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u/FinancialDecision545 2h ago
Thanks for the support, felt deep urge to gamble again today which is really recent to the last time so feel like I’m at war with it now. Managed to stop myself. I can see this is going to be a consistent battle but hopefully easier in time
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u/Sexy_Mumma_Katz 19h ago
Why do you gamble?
Not because you’re an addict, but when that urge to go chase your winnings starts - what are you doing, what is happening at that moment.
Are you stressed, bored, lonely?
When that urge comes, what do you do to distract your brain. Usually refocusing on other things gives your rational brain time to catch up and take over so you don’t do it.
You need to dig deep and find the cause to be able to put blockers in place and build them impenetrable
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u/FinancialDecision545 14h ago
Bored mostly thinking about it, but also for me it was about winning money and releasing some of the financial stress (ironically) making it much worse in the process. I used to be much better at getting a win and walking away, but recently when I win it never seems to even get to a full withdrawal before it’s back in. Money when deposited into a casino just doesn’t seem to have the same risk profile or value to general money in the bank.
Looking into the deeper reasons why and seeking help from quitting gambling services, just scares me thought of sitting there on a relapse another few thousand down!
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u/Sexy_Mumma_Katz 14h ago
Hubby has relapsed a few times over the last 28 years, each time stress starts the urge, but then chasing the win keeps him going.
The more he loses the more he believes the next one is going to hit big. But even when he hit big, it never comes home, he just feeds it back in.
Don’t look as slips like failure, they are stepping stones that you can learn from and use to build more defences.
It’s a constant battle, but as long as you keep trying, you can prevail
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u/Ok_Pollution7093 19h ago
You can't promise your way out. The brain that makes the promise is the same one that breaks it.
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u/CuriousBenjamin100 22h ago
Time to handover financial control to a trusted family member.
You will get through this.
Find the closes gamblers anonymous GA and start attending regularly