Day 252
Not put a diary entry for quite a while . Everything good in my life now . Not thought about gambling at all. On my first entry it mentions starting gambling in Weymouth at the age of 6. Just been there for a week with my wife and children who are aged 7 and 9. We went in the arcades the same places that started me all those years ago . They were only allowed to play arcade games no gambling and they understood . We only spent 60p in one and my kids had £1 each to spend in the next one . We walked past a homeless person and they chose to give him their money instead of the arcade . It proves that they were not desperate to go like I always was and it showed their caring side . So we never went in to the second one and I got them a rock dummy each ! Small things but I don’t want them on the same path that I took . Other than that looking to move to a bigger house , had mine on the market for 2 weeks with 3 viewings . Credit score perfect been paying more balance off our holiday next August . To anyone reading this it can be done . You can achieve peace in yourself and a different attitude to money
Hi Bryan
It's so good to read successes like this, it inspires me to keep going so thankyou!
Dx
Day 285
About time for an update . Had issues trying to log onto here so haven’t been on much recently.
For anyone following my story before I’m still not gambling . Had a bit of a test last week in Mallorca I went to see a friend and it didn’t pan out very well as he had to work all night as a DJ and I thought I had a room to stay in and it was just a sofa . I paid extra to go in a hotel for 2 days and also for an earlier flight home . It’s good to have the money now to do it rather than being stuck . Whilst I was on my own all that time there were slot machines in mini casinos and also in bars , however I didn’t do it , thought it through and knew it wasn’t worth it .
Had one of those emails from an old online casino so with my wife we tried to log in to make sure my gambloc was working and pleased to say it was . We tried to join up another casino and got the same rejection . It wasn’t so that I could play it was to extinguish any doubt I may have had to want to gamble . Next test is Blackpool at the end of October when most of my friends will be in the casino . One of my friends has said today he won’t go and will play pool with me instead . I said I would only go to the casino if I stand at the door and self exclude myself . So gambling wise all good . Financially no pressure on me like there was before . Not much more to say really , it does get easier over time and having gambloc working means that my mind can’t wander
Brilliant progress mate. Thanks for sharing.
Good to hear from you Bryan. Life goes on, huh? Its simple but its what we all came here to hope we could say in the future.
You know you don't wanna go back to that life in anyway. Keep it rolling steady like you have been.
Enjoy Blackpool, just be careful!
All the best.
Day 300
Didn’t think I would reach this point dare I say it without incident
It was a mental battle at the start . Every rational thought was that I had to stop gambling . However the way I had programmed myself to self destruct and gambling was the devil on my shoulder . After a while it was much easier as I had broken that cycle and habit , money was flowing in my life as I wasn’t gambling so therefore the financial need to win back money I had lost had gone . So I’m in a good place , not complacent but very much aware I am on the road to beating this completely
300 days, great achievement Bryan, good to see you're still going strong. A lot of people have relapsed or disappeared off the site since I joined in late December. Be proud for sticking it out as it is not easy to quit when it has been a big part of your life for so long.
Thanks Greenflash hope you are doing well too. I noticed as soon as I give advice people never come back again , so I try not to now !!
Bryan you are indeed a noble man with high ideals.
Congratulations on 300 gamble free days. A great achievement by a true gamcare warrior.
Wishing you success, contentment and happiness as you continue on your gamble free adventure....stephen
I know what you mean Bryan. I think the people who never come back after receiving good advice, were not truly ready to quit but just angry at their latest loss. I'm grateful for the advice I received and turned my life around, After being on the site nearly a year, I don't think there are that many stories of people who have successfully quit.
As I previously explained, I look for your diary and R Smith as you joined the site around the same time, glad you're still going as R Smith has gone too.
R Smith is doing well he hasn’t been on the forum but I have been in contact away from it . It works for some people it doesn’t for others . I appreciate any input and advice and it’s one thing reading it , it’s another actually doing it !!
Well done on 300 days mate. How quick has that gone?!
Brilliant to see 300 days and it's obvious your advice and wisdom has helped many. Enjoy the GF road S 🙂
Another massive congrats for me Bryan 🙂
FWIW, just as many people disappear that I do post to as when I don’t so please don’t let this deter you...Even if the original poster doesn’t take anything from your words, someone might x
Day 308
So my annual trip with my friends to Blackpool has just finished . It involves all day drinking and usually was casinos , football bets and me worrying about how I will pay my bills after losing hundreds of pounds . I was apprehensive about going but my friends know the situation but don’t treat me like they are my carer . First pub shall we put £10 each in a football bet . I didn’t . They did and I’m glad they won £160 each . Later on more drinks and we went into coral Island which is a casino that has a bar . I stayed in the bar . Went across to see my friend playing the machine for a bit and then back to the bar . I was not tempted to gamble at all throughout the day . So that for me was a big deal . I know you shouldn’t test yourself BUT you can’t avoid situations for ever and it’s better to be mentally equipped as well as most people block and bar themselves from most places . I told my friends that it feels good and although I was happy they won, for me when I don’t gamble , I win
Also was good telling the wife when I got back that I didn’t gamble as I’m sure she was worried and I’m happy updating this diary as Day 308 and not Day 1
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