AVFCDAN Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 I’ve definitely been drinking a lot more recently, something that got introduced over the proper lockdown when there was simply nothing else to do. I’m maybe having a drink 3 times a week now instead of just a binge on the weekend, I’m still fairly comfortable with it but such a tightrope to walk when it could so easily become 4-5 times a week and more than a couple of cans or a bottle of wine, much like my gambling I’m just about keeping the right side of acceptable with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 1 hour ago, AVFCDAN said: I’ve definitely been drinking a lot more recently, something that got introduced over the proper lockdown when there was simply nothing else to do. I’m maybe having a drink 3 times a week now instead of just a binge on the weekend, I’m still fairly comfortable with it but such a tightrope to walk when it could so easily become 4-5 times a week and more than a couple of cans or a bottle of wine, much like my gambling I’m just about keeping the right side of acceptable with it. Best way to test yourself is to give one or both up for a week. No excuses, can you do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCDAN Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 10 hours ago, Genie said: Best way to test yourself is to give one or both up for a week. No excuses, can you do it? Gambling not a problem, im a compulsive gambler at heart so i can go 2-3 weeks without even thinking about it but in one night i can lose my head easily. Used to be the same with Alcohol really, wouldn't drink in the week but would binge over the weekend, that has changed to less binging at weekend but more frequent days of drinking. Honesty i wouldn't want to stop for a week because its my way of chilling out after a few days of work or enjoying myself at the weekend. I think i just need to be aware its a fine line and very easy to fall the wrong side of. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A'Villan Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 On 20/10/2020 at 19:13, AVFCDAN said: Gambling not a problem, im a compulsive gambler at heart so i can go 2-3 weeks without even thinking about it but in one night i can lose my head easily. Used to be the same with Alcohol really, wouldn't drink in the week but would binge over the weekend, that has changed to less binging at weekend but more frequent days of drinking. Honesty i wouldn't want to stop for a week because its my way of chilling out after a few days of work or enjoying myself at the weekend. I think i just need to be aware its a fine line and very easy to fall the wrong side of. Heavy binge drinking is more dangerous and harmful than consuming one serve of alcohol daily. My recommendation would be to get educated beyond the stigma and dogma by looking into the vast sources of educational material on the subject. Then listen to your own body, heart and mind and decide what's good for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PussEKatt Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Drinking and gambling.Both of those hobbies cost $$.Be very carefull as you could end up homeless and on the streets It would only take a little bit of bad luck ?! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A'Villan Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 On 20/10/2020 at 19:13, AVFCDAN said: Gambling not a problem, im a compulsive gambler at heart so i can go 2-3 weeks without even thinking about it but in one night i can lose my head easily. Used to be the same with Alcohol really, wouldn't drink in the week but would binge over the weekend, that has changed to less binging at weekend but more frequent days of drinking. Honesty i wouldn't want to stop for a week because its my way of chilling out after a few days of work or enjoying myself at the weekend. I think i just need to be aware its a fine line and very easy to fall the wrong side of. Please excuse me chiming in again AVFCDAN, I just wanted to add that from the very little insight I have into your life and mind surrounding gambling and alcohol, that it seems you are aware that both can become problematic should one not take care and responsibility. That's great. Really. That awareness could easily be the difference between you enjoying both as pastimes that are affordable and relatively harmless, and both slipping into habits that are costly and detrimental to your wellbeing. I'm sure you know, and I'm not trying to mother you, but having other pastimes you can look to for a rush or a sensation outside of grog and gambling is really what will allow you the balance in your life to continue to be safe and healthy, as you will be able to keep things in moderation without relying on either. Hope that chin's held high and you're not beating yourself up about any of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 9 hours ago, PussEKatt said: Drinking and gambling.Both of those hobbies cost $$.Be very carefull as you could end up homeless and on the streets It would only take a little bit of bad luck ?! I'm of firm belief that online gambling needs to be banned. Its ruined so many peoples lives whilst making betting companies super rich. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheltenham_villa Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 19 hours ago, PaulC said: I'm of firm belief that online gambling needs to be banned. Its ruined so many peoples lives whilst making betting companies super rich. I feel the opposite, I'd ban all other kinds but force the online companies to share data and properly support customers. Through online you have no excuses, you can track and share information in real time about any customer, it's just not in the betting companies interest to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 I've been leaning on alcohol lately more than I care to admit. 3 drinks every night, sometimes 4 or 5. Almost always beer or wine. I like to tell myself that because I rarely drink liquor, I'm not a problem drinker. I also eat one cannabis edible at night. The combined effect is pleasing, but ultimately stupefying and it makes me lazy. I only read news websites and not books. I don't practice the guitar which I told myself I'd do during this period. I stay up way too late and sleep late. I'm going to try to get a handle on all of it after the election, but I worry about what might happen here post-election and maybe i'll want to keep drinking and getting high. I'm finding it hard to have any hope about anything. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Follyfoot Posted October 29, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted October 29, 2020 41 minutes ago, maqroll said: I've been leaning on alcohol lately more than I care to admit. 3 drinks every night, sometimes 4 or 5. Almost always beer or wine. I like to tell myself that because I rarely drink liquor, I'm not a problem drinker. I also eat one cannabis edible at night. The combined effect is pleasing, but ultimately stupefying and it makes me lazy. I only read news websites and not books. I don't practice the guitar which I told myself I'd do during this period. I stay up way too late and sleep late. I'm going to try to get a handle on all of it after the election, but I worry about what might happen here post-election and maybe i'll want to keep drinking and getting high. I'm finding it hard to have any hope about anything. I’ve been there and also with what you would call hard liquor. Effects are exactly as you state but try getting audible on your phone, downloading a decent audio book Go for a walk for an hour early evening every night then having a red hot shower and turn on cold three times. Which was recommended to me and worked. Hope this helps 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 1 hour ago, cheltenham_villa said: I feel the opposite, I'd ban all other kinds but force the online companies to share data and properly support customers. Through online you have no excuses, you can track and share information in real time about any customer, it's just not in the betting companies interest to do so. Online is worse than at bookies, far far worse. If restrictions were forced on peoples accounts straight away then it might be ok, but its easy to blow your lifes savings in the space of a few hours. its not just betting, its slots, poker and everything. i know someone close to me who lost 25k in two hours. You start losing you think your luck will change but you blow everything in the space of a few hours. Its evil and should be banned. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheltenham_villa Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 1 hour ago, PaulC said: Online is worse than at bookies, far far worse. If restrictions were forced on peoples accounts straight away then it might be ok, but its easy to blow your lifes savings in the space of a few hours. its not just betting, its slots, poker and everything. i know someone close to me who lost 25k in two hours. You start losing you think your luck will change but you blow everything in the space of a few hours. Its evil and should be banned. I completely agree that in its current form, it's just too much temptation. I believe though that it would be very easy to implement the rather level of controls to really help people. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, PaulC said: Online is worse than at bookies, far far worse. If restrictions were forced on peoples accounts straight away then it might be ok, but its easy to blow your lifes savings in the space of a few hours. its not just betting, its slots, poker and everything. i know someone close to me who lost 25k in two hours. You start losing you think your luck will change but you blow everything in the space of a few hours. Its evil and should be banned. I remember reading a story about a guy who was a pretty good poker player and had made over £100k in about 18 months. One night he was losing and just lost his head, kept betting bigger and bigger to recover the loss and ended up blowing the £100k in a few hours. I saw another one about a guy who lost £100k in a week on online slots and then committed suicide. I bed there’s dozens of these stories. I think the message is that you can be a regular / casual gambler and then one night, especially if alcohol is involved just lose your mind and blow a fortune. Edited October 29, 2020 by Genie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villakram Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 2 hours ago, maqroll said: I've been leaning on alcohol lately more than I care to admit. 3 drinks every night, sometimes 4 or 5. Almost always beer or wine. I like to tell myself that because I rarely drink liquor, I'm not a problem drinker. I also eat one cannabis edible at night. The combined effect is pleasing, but ultimately stupefying and it makes me lazy. I only read news websites and not books. I don't practice the guitar which I told myself I'd do during this period. I stay up way too late and sleep late. I'm going to try to get a handle on all of it after the election, but I worry about what might happen here post-election and maybe i'll want to keep drinking and getting high. I'm finding it hard to have any hope about anything. Hang in there. The atmosphere is poison right now, with too many sure things and absolutes everywhere. Life will go on, regardless of the crap the clickbait merchants try ram in our faces. I'm doing ok, but I'm cold enough that way. However, plenty of the people I work with/know are openly talking about how hard they are finding this. You are far from alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 23 minutes ago, cheltenham_villa said: I completely agree that in its current form, it's just too much temptation. I believe though that it would be very easy to implement the rather level of controls to really help people. Yes its totally inadequate at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 1 minute ago, PaulC said: Yes its totally inadequate at the moment. There are hundreds and hundreds of online bookmakers and casinos so even if there were controls on 1 outlet to reduce losses hardened gamblers will move from site to site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 19 minutes ago, Genie said: I remember reading a story about a guy who was a pretty good poker player and had made over £100k in about 18 months. One night he was losing and just lost his head, kept betting bigger and bigger to recover the loss and ended up blowing the £100k in a few hours. I saw another one about a guy who lost £100k in a week on online slots and then committed suicide. I bed there’s dozens of these stories. I think the message is that you can be a regular / casual gambler and then one night, especially if alcohol is involved just lose your mind and blow a fortune. Yes when you are up you are in control but when you are losing hes hard to stop. I think slots are the worst. Very addictive and often as not you will get a good bonus when you start playing to trap you . I have never had a problem directly but Ive seen people strat off with £1 spins and start losing and then start doing £200 spins which can loose you a fortune in minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 6 minutes ago, Genie said: There are hundreds and hundreds of online bookmakers and casinos so even if there were controls on 1 outlet to reduce losses hardened gamblers will move from site to site. They do. I bet people have lost fortunes during this covid 19 pandemic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Just now, PaulC said: They do. I bet people have lost fortunes during this covid 19 pandemic. Yeah, all the ingredients are there. If anyone here is concerned about gambling they should take a break with GamStop. They’ll freeze all your accounts in 1 go for a period you decide (1-12 months I think). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Just now, Genie said: Yeah, all the ingredients are there. If anyone here is concerned about gambling they should take a break with GamStop. They’ll freeze all your accounts in 1 go for a period you decide (1-12 months I think). yes ive seen that. Good advice. I know with my bank theres a tool to stop all deposits into gambling sites. Its irreversible as well. But unfortunately theres ways around it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts