2014 Challenge

Hi everyone, thanks to all of you that have quite honestly made me cry with the nice things you have said about me. I'm in a bit of a rut at the moment and I felt that I was gearing myself up for a big fall. After sleeping on it I realised that I may have decided to have a bet on Sat to see if giving in to the urges would make me feel a bit better. It didn't, but it has made me realise bow important you guys all are to me and this challenge. Thanks so much for being there for me in what was my lowest point in the 4 months (almost) since stopping. I would like to post more but I'm afraid of this crashing so will leave it there.

I will not give up.

Linda

Morning Linda, I am really pleased to have woken up and read that. You did the right thing by posting your thoughts last night. We are a strong group and at the low times we are here for each other as last night proved. This is a special place and you are a big part of it, so stay strong and get through the next couple of days.

Thanks Phil, I will stay strong and I do know that gambling will not help no matter what is going on in my life! I really thought by saying out loud about having a bet it would take the pressure away but it really didn't so it made me realise that gambling or lack of it is not what is making me feel this way. This is a good and bad thing because now I need to figure out what I need to do to pull myself out of this rut I'm in.

Thanks to you guys here I won't be making things any worse for myself that's for sure!

Linda checking in on day 115 x

Phew! - went to bed early last night so missed Linda's first post - Linda, I am so glad that you are feeling a bit better today and that the wonderful people on this site have sustained you during a very low point. You mentioned feeling that the past 34 years had been worthless - but just think about what you have achieved with your children - they love you and you love them - so many people would give their right arm to have that blessing in their lives. Gambling, like any other 'binge' activity can never make us feel better in the long run, and the chances are that the good feeling of not having succumbed to the urge will be far stronger than the fleeting euphoria of a win (which you would probably lose again!). Thinking of you this weekend...

A message for Davey - sorry you had a blip but as you will see from this site, it happens to us all and well done for sticking with the challenge - hope you are the stronger for it.

Joanna

Personally Linda I kind of get where you are coming from. Life for me at times does feel very dull and empty. But this is a situation that I created for myself following years of heavy gambling. I would love to have a busy life, lots of friends, fulfilling career, own place and fancy car etc.....Sadly none of this is possible over night. I have made such a mess of my life and fixing it takes time. Had I never gambled I would have everything I could dream of, I only have myself to blame.

You may feel stuck in a rut, but gambling will only make the rut deeper. Day by day without a bet things get slowly better, but it is only slow progress for us. A couple of times this week I have missed the buzz I got out of gambling. But I counter that by thinking about how gambling made me feel at the really low points. Tomorrow will be incredibly hard for me but I'm going to get through it.

Try and keep yourself busy tomorrow. Plan your day, try and be with people so your mind doesn't wander. Keep as many barriers up as possible and I look forward to reading tomorrow night that you have done us all proud and not had a bet!

i've never had any long term benefit by gambling.

always been negative

Today i won't place my first bet

well done everyone else for working hard at not gambling

Its not easy sometimes

WELL DONE

Checking In - now on my 28th day - so far so good....financially a bit stuffed in terms of credit rating but only to be expected...still, got to be a long and winding road which I am aware of...

Back again after yet another relapse. Not going to say a lot. I need time to think. About what a fkn idiot I am and continue to be.

Checking in day 6,all good,barriers are certainly working,couldnt gamble even if i wanted to!

Cold turkey the way to go,its been a struggle at times,but each little urge beaten gives me a boost.

Im ignoring that race tomorrow,taking the kids out.

Have a good gamble free wkd everyone.

Yes I agree with all of you that life can get dreary but I know that my kids are my life and I really do appreciate that I have them. I guess sometimes the routine gets me down because there is no variation. Since I stopped gambling I forfeited my alone time and never replaced it with anything so I see now that I should have kept busy and made sure I did something once a week to get out of the house. I will do that from now.

Phil , I have decided to organise a party for my niece at my house so i will be flat out all day. I wouldn't give in now anyway. Talking to all you guys has seriously helped me see the wood for the trees.

I will also be heading off on the postponed Ireland trip next week so that will also help. When I get back I will sort a laptop out and busy myself with ******* and this forum.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart as the weekend now seems less daunting x

Hey folks

Thought today was a significant day to check in I have hit 50 days gamble free ! I feel great and have rejoined the gym and have been going about five times a week ! Plenty to keep me from gambling !

All the best

Batman

50 days today :P

Checking in on day 13...no urges but have been here before many times n know they're only around the corner. Determined to stay strong I can not continue in this repetitive cycle of binge gambling for the next 50 years or until it kills me...can I?! God I hope not.

Evening everyone!!

Firstly.....Linda, so so so pleased that you are still with us. It made my week seeing your post earlier and knowing that while you're not in a great place, you've chosen not to make it potentially worse by giving in on this amazing journey to freedom. We need you with us and I'm determined to beat you drinking a pint of Guinness next February!!

I've updated the front page and there's a couple of messages for our new team members and asks for additional posts - would be great for you to join us in our collective battle!

I am Mr Brightside.......I have been free from gambling for 117 days........I am about to sink my first pint in a night out that I can really see far enough.......but apologise if later on tonight I turn into Mrs Burstride or something like that and start randomly posting things!!

Stay strong team and remember the new check in time!!

Del checking in 235 days clean as of 7pm. Batman congrats on 50 pow!!

Sorry to all I have been quite distant the past few weeks, we have had a few unexpected deaths in our family so time has not been on my side. With that said you are all still in my thoughts and im glad we are all striving towards a better life.

Del 🙂

Hi everyone,

Just checking in, still gamble free 🙂 have gone away for a weekend in the country, no internet, no bookies.

This weekend will be tough for many with the grand national, stay strong everyone and remember we are all in this together. - we cannot win because we cannot stop!

Adam x