hi

Hi Maggie and WELL DONE for posting. We are all pretty much in the same boat and looking for ways to get this addiction out of our lives. I am only just over 3 weeks into a gamble free life, but I can't begin to tell you how great it feels already.

The most important thing for you to do right now is to face the fact that you won't win the money back. Draw a line under your losses and move on. Of course, the urges don't stop, but come on here instead and get your life back on track.

Please try and post on someone else's thread who is at exactly the same stage as you. I buddied up with a guy called mr brightside on this forum and we are keeping each other motivated. There really is strength in numbers.

Try not to beat yourself up too much, just promise yourself to move on. This is a great place to start and you have been brave enough to take the first step.

Read a pile of recovery diaries on the forum and please know that you're not alone.

KEEP STRONG.X.

Louise

Hi, I m new here myself, so maybe my advice isn't the best, but one thing I would say is that it's great that you are able to admit you have a problem. I m sure some of the others here will be able to offer more advice than me, but try and take it a day at a time. I think that over time it will be easier to accept the problem you have.

thankyou for that ill look on the other forum i feel alone and hopefully on hear i can speak with someone that knows what im going threw as i have to hide this from my family x

Hi Maggie,

I to am new to this site. One thing I would like to say is that for me telling the people closest to me was no where near as bad as I thought it was. Once it was done a hugh weight was lifted.

Hi Maggie

Well done for recognising and admitting that you feel your gambling is problematic. Saying you feel ashamed after spending every last penny is something I can very much relate to. It has to be the worst feeling of all I think when you have worked hard all month and then spend all of your salary in a matter of hours!!

Being free from gambling is so much better for the mind, body and soul, I can vouch for that. I have been gamble free for one year on 18th Jan (apart from a "moment of madness" in August when I gambled for a few hours) and yes you guessed it, I lost all of my salary!!

In a way, that lapse was actually good for me, if you know what I mean - it really did help me to recognise and manage my high risk situations, which for me were pay day and feeling financially pressured/stressed. I now realise that if I do feel the pressure financially any time, I need to just accept it and remind myself that gambling will only make things a hundred times worse.

I wish you all the very best to stay strong and focused on giving up gambling.

Take care.

Feb.

Hi Maggie

Please do not feel you are alone, there are lots of people including myself on here to offer you as much support as we can. My worst time is when I am alone or down at the evenings so I can relate to that. I had some great advice from Sandra who gave me some suggestions during these times.

The people on here provide very good advice and reading the diaries on here have helped me a lot. Keep posting and reading as this site as it will help you get ideas on what to do if the urges occur and how to identify triggers so you can prevent yourself gambling. I have now not gambled for a week and look forward to saying it is two weeks next Monday. All this is due to the advice and support I have gotten from the lovely people here.

I wish you all the best and keep your chin up, you are not alone and we are all here to help the best way we can.

Amanda