Good Afternoon,
6 month today i placed my last bet. My Life has changed so much for the better. Im starting to enjoy my life a lot more than i have ever done. I have a better relationship with my partner and my daughter. I have a better relationship with money. I dont feel like if i have money i need to get rid off through gambling. I've been to some bad places through gambling and places i hope to GOD i will never return. For anyone who is stopping gambling for the first time and feels like utter s**t about what you have put yourself and family through due to you gambling then ill tell you its not easy but it CAN be done. The only person who can do it is you. Early on in my recovery i wasnt sleeping, i was snappy, dreaming about gambling everynight and having problems with my job.
First thing i done was told my partner. she wasnt happy and hated me for a few weeks but now im a honest person and if im struggling i will let her know so we can both help each other. Then i self excluded my self from everything i used to gambling on. Casinos, online casinos, bookies. ive self excluded myself for the longest time they offer. I gave all control of my finances to my partner. and gave myself a weekly allowance for my self. i had contacted GAMCARE and they organised a personal Councillor to help me though. for anyone who hasn't done that. please do it because it helps you , not just for gambling for a wide range of issues.
I've started new hobbies, starting to read more and concentrated on family time.
The biggest thing what helped me, is that i limited my self on technology. i was only on my phone for 30 minutes a day and wasnt watching alot of live TV. For alot of recovering gambling addicts out there. when you give up gambling you realise the amount of gambling adverts out there. so limit the time you have to watch things what might trigger a lapse.
Last of all take it day by day. Dont set yourself unreasonable targets what will be hard to achieve. I take it day by day and slowly they will turn into weeks and then months and then you will be gamble free for 6 months. Thats the position im in now.
I wish you all the best and please if anyone is struggling with gambling please reach out because i know how lonely and bad it can be for you.
Joe
Keep it up ?. I'm 3 months gamble free. I will never give a f****g penny again to these online casino mafia ever again
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