Finally told someone!!

Hi Mustard

Well done on taking such a big step. It can be really scary telling your partner, I know it was for me when I told my wife a few weeks ago.Hopefully your girlfriend can help support you as you try and beat this terrible addiction. Perhaps you could look at asking her to take over your finances so you don't have access to money to gamble?

You will probably hear a lot on the forum about the gambling triangle: Time, Money and Location. If you take one of these away you can't gamble.

Once again congrats on the start of your recovery.

All the best Silver

Hi Mustard and welcome to the forum :)).

Well done on coming clean and telling your partner of your problem with Gambling , it was also one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but in my opinion it's the only way you can move forward and start dealing with life once again .

I think like myself you will "Always have a problem with gambling " as Most Compulsive Gamblers recognize after a while that they could never safely have another bet without it leading to a full blown binge , that said you Can learn to accept it and move forward learning to control and live alongside it .

I came here 13 months ago and thought after acouple of months I'd be fine and would soon be back in control and although I haven't had a bet since I know realise this will be with me for life but again that's fine as I've accepted it and it's managable :)).

If you need any advice then just post and ask , keep this place close to you so youyv'e somewhere to come and chart your progress or on bad day's just to have a whinge and moan ( it really helps ) , if your planninmg on sticking around you could also think about starting a diary in the recovery diarys section , just go to that section scroll to the bottom of the page and click on new topic , where you can start a diary and watch your day count grow :)).

We;ll done on coming here and speaking out , it's never easy but so well worth it :))

Best wishes for now and I'll catch up with you soon .

Alan

Thanks guys! It makes a massive difference hearing from people that are/have going through the same problems and able to share the same experiences good and bad. I'll also take a look at the diary section.

Thanks Again

I have made it to day 365 without gambling! There were some difficult times over the past year but I made it......I made it a year without gambling. As some of you know going a few days without gambling felt impossible but it is possible to have a normal life again. Telling my girlfriend was the hardest thing I have ever had to do but it has turned out to be the best decision I've ever made. Without telling someone close I feel it would of been impossible to stop gambling on my own. So if anyone is reading this who is where I was 1 year ago then I urge you to open up to someone and start to have a happier and healthier life.

Well done on reaching the year...great acheivement. .
If only we could bottle the feeling for others starting there gamble free journey....
Enjoy you're special day....You've earnt it x

Well done on reaching 365 days GF a great achievement and something I am aiming for myself as I am coming upto nearly 300 days GF ! I know what you mean when u say telling some you love so much is the hardest thing you have done but also the best, I feel the more people that know about my addiction the better and the more people I can talk to if I need to !! Congrats once again and good luck on reaching 2 years GF !!

All the Best

Darren

Thank you, I really appreciate it. It is great sharing how you feel towards gambling especially with others who are/have gone through exactly the same things that you have.

Well done Mustard, keep on clocking those days. add another 365 one day at a time. I am in early days recovery and this is what spurs me on to continue even as the urges creep in. All the best to the rest of us who have admitted defeat to this terrible contorlling illness. We will get better and life will become more enjoyable as we have decided to do something about this.

11 Days GF taking it one day at a time. see ya.

Thank you Geo and well done on 11 days. Those first few days are definitely the hardest I promise. You are right, life is so much better and all the little things I missed out on with my family and children when I was preoccupied with wanting/having to gamble I'm now able to enjoy. Keep sharing how you feel with loved ones, friends or on these forums because it definitely helps when the urges come.

Hi M

Parent of a gambler speaking. I know for a fact it takes a lot of hard work and self discipline to get where you are now so good for you. It is important for you to give the downside of the problem and more important this positive feedback on here because it shows that with a bit of hard work and self discipline you can have a better life, especially with your family. You will have helped more people than you think. Wish you a happy and gfree life and your story will be important to others on here. Good luck.