May not seem much time but 4 weeks has passed since my last gamble and i do feel like i am turning a corner. i know the temptation will always be there i just need to take charge and take each and every day as it comes. I had a work educational in Newcastle this weekend and not many people at work know i have this addiction. They booked us into the Casino for a meal and a bit of a flutter which wasn't the ideal scenario for me. My best mate who was with me said he would keep an eye on me so i gave him my free bet and sat there. I didn't feel an urge to gamble or a craving like before, Numbers on the Roulette table would come in which i would normally have bet on and been angry had i not. I wouldn't advise going to a casino with a gambling problem however i managed to overcome the daemon for another day. It will always be with me i know that but if you really want something that bad then you will get it.
I hope that my update can help people in some way, good luck everyone
Sean
Hi sean26,
Welcome to the forum, and a very big CONGRATS to you for managing without gambling on such a day out at the casino. That’s a big step forward on your side, and a great achievement too.
I agree with you that it wasn't a right environment for someone like you who is going through a recovery process for gambling addiction; at the same time, you didn’t allow your fears to stop you from joining in with your colleagues at such an event. What matters was that you went through with it, managed the situation carefully by applying the necessary strategies (by offering your best mate your free bet, and allowing him to keep an eye on you). That was also very supportive of your best mate.
It’s also important you realised that you neither felt the urge to gamble or, experience any craving to gamble. It seemed like everything was under control; good for you!
Paraphrasing your own words: “you challenged and overcame your daemon for another day”; hopefully, you’ll continue to overcome it in the times ahead by applying the rightful strategies and boundaries at the appropriate times.
Now that you’ve been able to manage such a challenging situation like this, I’m certain that would boost your confidence and encourage you to go even further with your recovery. It also seems like you’ve recognised that it is possible to overcome your gambling addiction but, one has to be prepared to take the necessary and difficult steps to achieve that.
Thanks so much for posting this message here, I hope it goes a long way to encourage others to act in similar manner, and well done once more for your post.
I wish you all the best in your efforts to overcome your gambling addiction, and please try and post as often as you can.
Kind regards,
Beatrice
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