Good evening comrades. The gambling monster is incredibly resilient and will strike at any opportunity. At work today and as always on a Saturday the talk is always fixed odds betting and horses. After listening to half an hour of predicted sports betting, but keeping my own council, the gambling monster had me thinking down the line of...If I place a £100 bet that will pay for my day out tomorrow, easy, free day out!! Then the urges start, the thought won't leave my head, it starts to hurt, it's quiet everywhere but it's like a train running through my head and then my old friend reality comes to my aid! He tells me...place that bet and you will be back where you do not want to be, win and you still lose, lose and there is no day out tomorrow, don't gamble and you will win! I came to my senses and I beat the gambling monster for another Saturday! 23 days undefeated.
Carpe diem.
Good stuff. I PROMISE you the urges get easier to manage as you put more days behind you. They become just more of a fleeting thought than urges. Easier to manage but NEVER underestimate them even if they are just thoughts per say.
There is no such thing as a 'free day out' in today's world ;o) Everything comes with a price - if you hand over money for a bet you'll be handing over your self-worth and integrity along with it - how much are those attributes worth? Hang on I'll do a price check for you... Turns out I couldn't find a price for those anywhere on the internet :o)
Probably not worth the price of a bet then... :o)
Keep going!
Good evening friends. Good day today. Pleasant day out. Sitting watching the American football and actually enjoying it. Makes a big difference concentrating on the two teams rather than just one team needing a score.
Signalman, your wise words are correct as usual...not worth the price of a bet!! I think complacency is going to be my biggest enemy. One day at a time!
Carpe diem.
Well if this is the case then like me you'll always have to be on your guard for feelings, thoughts and actions that could potentially turn into triggers unless arrested at their inception.
Don't worry - having the self-awareness to identify complacency as a potential pitfall for you is the antithesis of the concept so this puts you in good stead. Always be mindful of gambling creeping up on you and get as far away from it as possible when you feel its presence.
Good evening friends. A busy day. No gambling urges. Had to listen to the hard luck stories of my colleagues gambling losses. I did have a sigh of relief that I never had any gambling exploits to tell them of. Changed days indeed.
Carpe diem.
Good evening friends. Uneventful day. No urges or even gambling thoughts. Take one of these days e everyday. Looking at the gf day counter going up and lovin it!
Carpe diem.
Good evening friends. Happy to report no gambling urges today. 27 days gf! Tomorrow will be 4 weeks since I came to my senses. I am still very positive and proud of myself that I am heading in the right direction. I know some people are really struggling with their recovery and please know, you are all in my thoughts as we fight this together and we fight it in our own way.
Carpe diem.
Good evening friends. 4 weeks gf today. 28 days without a bet! I have no doybt that posting on here and reading other people's stories, along with the support, has helped me this far. My mind is finally clear and I remain focused. I can see gambling for what it is. I cannot win because I cannot stop... I have won because I have stopped.
Carpe diem.
Good evening friends. Payday today. Weekly pay was always a god send when I gambled. I would only have to wait a week once I had lost the lot! Now my mindset has changed. I am planning for the future not planning my next bet. The last 4 weeks have been a massive learning curve for me. I have embraced the new found freedom I have from gambling. I do not feel restricted anymore. I am sitting watching an f.a. cup game and enjoying it as a neutral. Last year I would have had a fortune on it and still be betting in play! This year my freedom is my fortune.
Carpe diem.
Good evening friends. No gambling today and no urges. Had a great time with my daughter, to busy to think about the fixtures. Long may it continue.
Carpe diem.
Hey buddy
You're on a very promising path now. Keep racking up those days. Youve lumped your destiny into your own hands now because you finally believe in yourself...
Can you believe we used to lump our destinies into the probability of 22 men kicking a ball about or a spinning machine that randomly generates numbers...
I can sense from your words that you are starting to feel the light come back in your life now. Enjoy it, be proud and NEVER EVER shut the curtain on it mate.
Hey Marcella. I love reading your thread. It keeps me positive. Well done for being so strong. Send some strength my way please.
You are doing brilliant, keep it up
Good evening friends. Thanks for your support, it means much more than you will ever know. My journey has took me out of the darkness and into the light, saved me from sadness and shown me happiness, gave me a future while remembering the past, gave me the courage to face my demon and finally say 'I am better than this!' Something inside so strong...!
Carpe diem.
Marcella wrote: Good evening friends. Thanks for your support, it means much more than you will ever know. My journey has took me out of the darkness and into the light, saved me from sadness and shown me happiness, gave me a future while remembering the past, gave me the courage to face my demon and finally say 'I am better than this!' Something inside so strong...!
Carpe diem.
Beautiful mate
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