2014 Challenge

Well done Darren (hope you're ok me calling you Darren? Doesn't feel right calling you 'idiot'!!!) don't underestimate what you've achieved today.......one day at a time. Is there no way that you can self exclude from the various places you used to go? It's really important to build as many barriers as you can that aide your recovery and give you a reason to think really hard about what you're going to do rather than allowing impulses to take over.

You're officially in the team now and will be added formally this Sunday! All the best and remember your commitments!!

Hope Monday hasn't been to taxing for everyone.....I'll be happy when the check ins start to flow - it's great to see activity on the thread this week - there's a positive energy! I'm not sure those of you who have posted have checked in though!!!

Take care team,

Mr Brightside checking in on 141 days!

its fine to call me Darren,I made my account after heavy losses and wasnt thinking straight,Thanks for the support and im checking the forums everday to remind myself im not on my own....even it feels like it when im fighting myself not to go into the arcade,I have tried self excluding but i end up going into pubs to gamble and end up losing more and they wont ban me from the machines so its the lesser of 2 evils not self excluding from arcades.

Evening all welcome to all new challengers. Checking in day 86 and 92 on Sunday. Just done 12.5 shift on call till 8 then next 12.5 hr shift . So just a quick one from me no cards blocks in place and no time. Project this week to finish painting one bedroom each week I have a project it's a distraction and long overdue jobs which take time so never have a gambling head on not complacent but this is working for me. Staying strong hitthefanx

Hey guys back for another week 🙂 checking in on day 46 (I think) and looking forward to reaching my 1st big milestone as part of this group

Have kept myself busy all the way during this challenge and it has helped me greatly. Travelled to Dublin over the weekend to meet people from the charity I'm fundraising for and that helped motivate me even more. Was great to have necessary funds to enjoy a weekend in Dublin after meeting with them, was able to have a good night on Saturday and go support my county in croke park yesterday and not have to worry about not having money for rest of the week. Was able to catch up with few people who have offered me support on the sports forum I'm a member off which was great to just have few pints with them and just enjoy the company where as before I would not of been able to drink in this particular pub without going to the bookies next door

That's the one single bit of advice I would give to any newcomers on here. Find something that will keep you active (called it a distraction if you want) for me it's been organising a charity event for others it's doing the odd jobs around the house the need doing. This way your mind is on something else and not on getting 24/7 as it is hard to avoid all the adverts etc for gambling but if your mind is on something else you won't have time to go have that bet they are talking about

hey all

so i just got back from a long drive from the north west of ireland to the south east of england!... with 2 very bored children in the back! i thought i was gonna go mad lol! anyway ,cut a long story short, I spend over 2 weeks in the middle of nowhere with hardly any access to any form of gambling and I found (to my astonishment) that I didnt even miss it! It seems that taking away the opportunity to gamble is what lessons my urges and having something to occupy myself is also important. I really didnt care if the person sitting next to me was gambling( happened a lot when I visited some cousins who really dont do anything but bet on horses! Even my 6 year cousin is at it - his mam said she had slips belonging to my little cousin to take over to the bookies! shocking but I guess they dont see it as a problem so I couldnt start preaching about how it could affect him in years to come! Could I?

So, it feels like Ive been gone for months but when I did get home a few hours ago, my family had my house decorated from top to bottom! I really couldnt believe the effort they put in and they never even gave anything away! We were so surprised and overwhelmed by what they did that I still am in shock! They said they did it because they wanted me to feel better and that is exactly what I feel now, Better.

I want to say sorry for not being there for some of you guys over the last few weeks and welcome to the new members. WOWSERS at the numbers Mr B- I am so proud to still be part of it! 20 weeks for me in an hour and to be honest I have stopped counting a little- not from complacency but mainly due to my life music being to loud to notice anything else.

I hope everyone stays strong in this challenge and I will update my diary and check in on others as soon as I can.

Take care all

Linda xxxxxxx

i also meant to say- checking in on day 140! I think!

linda

Great post hard times that's what like to hear when come on here 🙂 hope yo don't mind me asking but where in the north west where you.

That's where I'm from myself and can say there is a betting culture around here and the majority of people don't see it as a problem. I should know I used to be the same. The small local bookie isn't worried if the person putting the bet on in over 18 like the law states. This has a serious effect on people especially young males as a lot of places around here wouldn't have much else happening so people have a social aspect attached to the bookies and gambling. Will also find that a lot of pubs in rural Ireland will have a phone account with bookies so people can gamble when in having a drink

Hello Darren,

Don't get me wrong but I'm not calling you what you are certainly not.

Great job so far mate the beginning is the hardest as we all know but it will get easier to ignor the arcades and the bookies be strong mate you can do this.

Maybe it's not possible to get official band from gambling on the pub, but I'm sure that if you tell your landlord and your friends that you have a real problem with gambling they will tell you off the first time they see you on the slot machine. I've done it this way myself and it worked pretty good for me.

And I'm sure your friends will respect you even more and support you in the right way.

Keep it going and stay strong mate

Wolfgang

Hi Mr Brightside

Thanks for posting on my diary and giving me the courage to rejoin your challenge. I think when I lapsed before I was too ashamed to keep posting. I'm in a more positive place now and have actually taken the difficult step of closing online accounts rather than self exclusion for set time. I feel released with doing this and will not open any more accounts. My posts at time will be short as I have a disability that makes typing difficult but I will try to post on a regular basis even a short post. Mr Brightside you have given me encouragement and hope for that I thank you.

I have not gambled since 21st April (small relapse of 20, had made 1 month prior to that)

9 days gamble free.

Mo

Hi Team

This is my 3rd day on the forum and my third day on this team gamble free. I'm clocking in early, because to be honest I don't feel that great today. Tomorrow is payday for me and normally it would be a joyous occasion, but because of my gambling debt this month I'm dreading it, as I will see all my hard earned disappear onto my debts. I know I shouldn't whine about it, but there we go. Anyway, determined not to let you folks down or indeed myself, so into battle once more. Cheers. Granite

hi ringerbell- it was donegal we stayed for over 2 weeks and we had glorious weather as normally when we go back it is raining every day! It is accepted as the norm to have a bet every day and seems to be part of the culture but like anything it is fine for those who can stop and see it as a hobby or a passtime but it could never be that for me! I dont even mind anymore because the lows I had were way worse than missing being able to join in with them gambling!

Mo- good for you having the courage to come back and continue your gamble free journey. I think it takes a lot of guts to fess up and admit a lapse and steer yourself down the right path again so good for you and I hope it gets easier!

linda

Checking in on day 23 for me x

I can relate to that Granite x But chin up 🙂 You'll soon have made a massive dint in those debts and be proud of yourself. I'm in a similar situation, and I'm trying to focus on the positive and free things in life x

I wish you all the best 🙂

Angela x

Checking in on day 39. The winning streak continues!

Have a great week all.

Steve

Hi mo welcome back to the challenge. Know when you relapse you feel terrible but over time they make you even more determined to beat this

I'm from donegal hardtimes so delighted to hear you had a good visit here. The weather has been great recently and it's got better this week 🙂 there is a culture around here that accepts gambling as an everyday thing and to some people that's ok as they know how to stop but unfortunately I didn't. I've removed myself from certain groups as betting was a large part of them and didn't trust myself to not have a bet

So its day 3 and if i'm totally honest i feel utterly rubbish!

Okay so i have a million and 1 other not so great things going on in my life and i dont no which problems to start with first. I'm so stressed!

I'm very worried about my financial future, but i am with out a phone to be able to contact anyone, i've sent out emails to citizens advice and others but don't seem to get any response. Any ideas?

Do debt management or charities help those with gambling problems?

Trying to keep it together

Laura