Today is the day..

Today is also my ‘the day’ I have quit! Iv not gambled for the whole day .. I self excluded myself off everything yesterday!

I am still feeling stressed and huge amounts of guilt. My husband now knows what Iv lost and for the first time last night I actually slept the whole night as I have been awake most of this month with stress that it’s all going to blow up and he will find out. Well it happens and he has been almost totally supportive as he has also faced this demon in the past! 
Iv Been on edge all day but thanks to my wonderful teenage daughters causing trouble it actually took my mind off my addiction for a few hours …. Here is to another day tomorrow ???? a new year, a new start ????

Hi Mitch

Great news that you have installed the blocking software, because it was literally a lifesaver for me and I would not have been successful without it. There will be days when gambling will try to lure you back and will-power alone would not have got me through. Giving up gambling is a truly life-changing event and that becomes more apparent the further you progress on this journey.

You have made a good and right decision and every day moving forward you must strive to continue to make good choices and good decisions. 

I remember the days when a week of not gambling felt like forever, but it gets easier, especially if you can find new pastimes and hobbies to distract yourself.

I have been gamble free for a number of years now and it has liberated me emotionally, intellectually and, of course, financially. Unfortunately there is no one-size-fits-all solution and you will need to be the architect of your own success. Devise strategies and make plans for when things might get tough in order to navigate yourself through troubled waters.

It won't be easy, but much like learning to ride a bike, if you fall off, get back on and use your experience to be better and stronger.

Take care my friend. A richer and more fulfilling life awaits you.

Ken

Hi, 2 great positive posts to start the new year. Well done to both of you for making the first big step to being gamble free. Great that you have self excluded and installed some blockers, I would also recommend registering with Gamstop and contacting your bank to put a block on gambling transactions from your debit card. You can never have too many blockers as they will stop you when the urge surfaces.

I wss where you are now 18 months ago but with the blockers in place, some counselling from Gamcare and the support of my wife and close family am now 18 months gamble free

You can do this!

All the best and good luck