Urges

GGGG, it will take some time for what has been an addiction you have spent 9 years in.

You will in time lose those urges. Please read duncan macs diary or others who have

come further on. It gives me hope and I hope it will do the same for you

hi mate it just does not seem to be getting any easier i am still depressed fed up low mood awake all night sleep all day and its making me want to gamble i was like 2017 is my year things are going to change and nothing has yes i have done 27 days without a bet but the thinking bad is still there and the urges are strong as ever i am trying my best but i dont no how long i can keep this up for

bordom was my biggest hurdle to overcome as Gambling took up a large chunk of my day when I stopped I was very difficult. I started other activities to fill the void which over time made it easier. I used to Gamble 6-8 hrs a day then over 8 months reduced it to nil. it wasnt easy but i used to use the money I gambled with on small luxury rewards for myself and I put money in a jar, in 8 months I now have £4500 in that Jar money i would have LOST gambling. stick with it and when you get the urge walk down the local shop and buy a newspaper or start an activity you have never done before or would not normally do to refocus the mind. I did Baking which I would never normally do and I had to really focus to get it right and something I can do alone as that way I can do it whenever I get the gambling feeling without bothering other people.

Everyone will have their own therapy this worked for me

Don't beat yourself up.....I remember all those feelings youve described. ....and totally understand how your feeling....your addiction has chained you up for 9 years...it's not going to let you go without a fight.......keep busy....change routines....read on here. ..anything to distract you.....it does get easier.....

Try and change your sleep pattern...get busy during the day...you can continue to. Overcome the urges.

Read the Diaries, some of the stories are heartbreaking...They are also a sharp reminder of the regret I know will come if I succumb to the 'urge' , I read read and read some more, it's really helping me, might be worth a wee try? Distraction is the main thing I think you need, as others have said...Do anything, have a shower...Go for a walk, read a book, call a mate for a chat anything.... the urge will pass 🙂

M x

Come on GGGG, you can do this! You have to fight so hard and I promise you it becomes easier. You have to keep busy though, do you read, watch films, play sport? I am nearly 6 months clean and can happily say that my brain has reset itself. It is an amazing feeling which you can enjoy too, please keep going xx

wow really appreciate the support guys were all in this together i got through the urges last night and i am 28 days now this is the longest i have done i would like to keep in touch with all you on this i have read everything u guys have said thanks

Hi GGGG.

Now you have the time, keep learning about the addiction and work it through in your mind. you will have thoughts but dont worry about it...let them pass and in time you will feel more calm about it.

A bet.... what for? So you can lose again, lose control and experience all those horrible feelings youve had before. The feelings will die away but you counter them with the reality that you would just be wasting your money and its a mugs game. Its all going to come right tomorrow is it??...there are no life changing odds on manchester united vs the grannies 11. Concentrate on what gambling actually did to you. Write the losses down and try and rationalise it to a family member. Its an addiction which is a compulsive illness.

You need an interest and the realisation that there is far more to life than gambling. If thats all you had you need to question why you had nothing better to do and build your emotions on. There is actually no excuse to get bored in life.

Being gamble free is a wonderful feeling of freedom and self respect.

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

So glad you are still going gggg, thought we'd lost you for a minute xx

thanks for the posts i think my urges trigger when am feeling depressed low or stressed out i have felt okay today not wanted to gamble yesterday though i had a very powerfull urge inside. got through it and am on day 29 gamble free the longest i have ever went i am proud to say that but theres a long road ahead one day at a time as they say would kill me if i went back old ways

Keep going mate

thanks mate i am trying my best the hiding gambling give me in 2016 i just cant go through that again i was going to bed not wanting to wake up was so depressed i went to see my doctor about it and he sent me the crisis team was that low from what gambling done to me nearly a decade of misery and pain really appreciate the support of every single person who has commented on this means alot i hope everyone can arrest this one day at a time will be our greatest acheivement