New here, just lost my family

The acid test is what would happen to the "winnings" (otherwise known as getting a bit of your money back). Would you be able to take it and enjoy it or would you end up spending it all on lottery tickets and regretting it afterwards? And worse still, would it lead you to try out your luck elsewhere?

The lottery is financial speculation a random outcome, as is sports bets, fruit machines, spread betting...is it really something you want to be doing? Your call.

CW

Your excellent points noted, CW. Having read some of your posts, I know you are engrained with an honest realism about gambling; I never underestimate the levity you bring.

As you say: "Your call". And that of course, is the point. It's an individual thing - whatever works.

Fair points it's up to each individual but I can't guarantee I will never buy a lottery ticket or even a raffle ticket for charity but I just never want to go to the nasty machines ever again so fingers crossed only time will tell and no one can predict the future but be mindful keep up the good work everyone

A Premium Bond investment returns your stake for the asking. It's nothing like the lottery which incidentally was made over three times harder to win without a corresponding reduction in ticket price earlier this year. That tells you all you need to know about it and its operators.

There's a reaon GA won't endorse leaving even a narrow doorway back into gambling. Your workmates are unlikely to either notice or care if you leave the syndicate and if it's not lighting your gambling fire what's in it for you?

Lethe,

Point taken and I fully understand the long-established proven methods of the GA ethos.

Another reason I want to remain in the syndicate is because I don't want to be the only one left in the office if it comes up! How gutted I would be! So I look at it as an insurance policy. I never buy a ticket for myself and couldn't give a monkeys about checking the numbers. In short, it's not on my gambling radar at all.

I'm happy to explain my personal view, that appertains to my particular situation, in the spirit of openness we have here.

We are all different and for me, I assert I haven't gambled for 10 days, 11 tomorrow.

I respect all views, non-judgementally.

My view is results driven. Whatever it takes.

Hi KP, haven't forgotten about you mate; keep strong! Your thread has hosted quite an interesting debate actually.

Hope you've had a good day.

Hi all.
I've been in hospital since 11.30am.

Home now though all good.
At least I didn't gamble!

We CAN and we WILL

Hi KP,

I sincerely hope all is as well as it can be KP - sounds like you've had quite a day, no understatement eh.

Life is going to throw these slings and arrows and we are going to deal with them all without ever needing to run to our old destructive comfort blanket; gambling simply makes things worse in the short and long run.

You are keeping strong and we are all in this together. katiecoo, Change, Rhoda - all united in supporting each other. Unconditionally and resolute.

Meanwhile you are eating up the days and are choosing life. WCAWW.

Here's a thought, Do you like me writing messages to you like "Day 11 well done" and "Day 23 yay" because we've arrived at our destination and are staying there. Or do you like counting up the days? Interested in your thoughts. Katiecoo, Rhoda, Change, what do you think...?

I like to hear the day. What about you Mixer? Interesting post 're turning to gambling as a comfort blanket. I had a situation last night where I would have told myself to go online and cheer myself up, but I didn't , so I have easily saved myself 200 quid !

Hi KP82

Yes as others have said you will need to write letters and have frank discussions with your family about exactly what you are doing to combat the addiction you had. It takes some real work soul searching and reaching out with a new openness and self awareness

They will want to hear specifically what you are doing which is backed up with monitoring blocks and living on an allowance

This is what is so dangerous about a gambling addiction and other addictions. It shreds relationships as if they were nothing. Its not that you are a bad person but you were in the grip of an addiction where the mind just was ill with the addiction

There are different triggers but I always feel that the early days on a recovery forum is not the time for others to be talking about the lottery or anything else. I understand what they are saying...for example I never sports bet or went online. I did the lottery about four times a year because the odds are clearly understandable and depressing to my mind.

However its too early for a recovering gambler as they have all their work cut out just building some basis for any trust....make no mistake it is work and there is stress in the early days. It takes reaching out and saying I cant cope so here is my card and my gadgets so you can monitor everything. There is no room for any half measures or false confidence.

It literally is a desperate stage of realising that family and relationships are more important. That life is more important!! Lets be frank that sometimes it may be too late to save relationships but the gambling must stop as its got deep new lows in store. In most cases family and loves ones are a massive help and will be understanding once the initial shock has passed. They can ensure that you are not fighting this with willpower alone

Its really about that phoenix moment because we are rising from the ashes. Its about abstention, a crystal clear view about what gambling really is and the misery it actually causes.

Best wishes to everyone on the forum

Hi all.

Day 9 for me today!
Feel alot better today apart from my left arm where the doc dug around like a demented mole trying to take blood.

Basically I had a pull in work due to stress.

But that won't beat me.

I hope everyone is ok, just don't feel like writing alot at the mo.

We CAN and we WILL.

Hi Mixer

It's not unknown for the addiction to switch formats especially once other options have been restricted meaning an area which hasn't been a problem in the past can become one. Fear of 'losing out' in the event of that highly unlikely big win is the addiction talking. Leave a loophole and an addict will tend to exploit it but as you say it's entirely your choice.

Absolutely JoyDiver there can be no half measures and you cant take things for granted but in time if you genuinely work at it these feelings will diminish and its up to your close ones how they want to deal with it but in my situation they could have thrown me to the wolves but they didnt so there is always a glimmer and with the gambling too we can beat it.Letting any situation constantly pray on your mind is detrimental to your well being and emotional state and we have seen the problems it can cause.Remember there is no magic formula for addictions.

Fantastic posts on here; Joydivider, Lethe, absolutely bang on. KP, Katiecoo, we are all hitting our first 'wall' as we hit our stride in this marathon. We are thinking clearer, have a bit of cash spare for the first time and can easily find a reason to buckle.

But we are not going to buckle. Katiecoo, yours is the post of the day. You could have buckled but you didn't. Top drawer!

KP, I'm really sorry you've had a setback with your arm, of all the things and at this time of year! But you didn't buckle and you can almost taste Day 10.

Despite everything that is being thrown at us - and this is just the start - we are resolute and strong.

We CAN, and we WILL. We are choosing life over misery.

Most important to realise your own self worth and that we are not bad people or monsters.Gambling can be linked to low self esteem and we want to be seen to be in control and prove something trust me it does not work gambling.Time to take control