2014 Challenge

Thanks everyone for your support I wish gambling didn't have a hold over me it makes me so down and angry and stressed I'm so sad at the moment

Phil I will give you a text Tomo if that's ok as I can't talk today my girlfriend is here and she doesn't know but I really appreciate you being there for me thank you

Mike it has a hold of all of us and the past few weeks I have had many dark days where I have nearly slipped up. The money is gone now, you need to try and put it out your mind, otherwise you could lose more trying to win it back. I'm certain that theres something better for all of us and all we need to do is take it day by day and not gamble. If we give up the fight we don't have much to look forward to. Stay strong, today is day one and lets make tomorrow day 2.

checking in day 80

short and sweet today

not gambling very tired but ok

well done fellow soldiers

keep marching

triangle

Hi guys sorry I missed check in but if it helps im still gamble free. Had a very busy week and was in London last few days for a madfew and the Ireland match last night

Morning all!!

For some reason the wireless here is always so much better early in the morning.....I struggle to get on later in the day.......but now that I have managed to, it just makes me feel great to be part of this challenge.......

Mike - so many people looking out for you mate - have a chat with Phil if you can, speak to the guys at GamCare too.......but read and reread the posts of overwhelming support your had and really take the advice. What's done is done, you can't influence it. Using valuable energy beating yourself up about it won't help.......invest the energy in building your recovery foundations.......self exclusion (not account closure, it HAS to be SE) is an absolute must.......and to be honest mate I think it's crucial to your mental wellbeing and your relationship that you tell your girlfriend - if you really love her and she really loves you then you'll make it.......it's a secret that destroys and you may actually find she knows anyway.....it'll be the "how much" she's unaware of. Really well done mate for coming back on here and talking about it - that's exactly what the challenge is about - supporting each other in recovery, as one team!!

Molehole - thanks for dropping in mate - you are an honorary member following the spotlight - always welcome and advice/support forever appreciated!!

Ringer - I knew you'd be safe and were on tour at the weekend! Great to see you checking in though and that life sounds good!!

Strange - I was confident you'd be safe and marching back to base too!! Hope all ok with you and things calm down.

I've update the front page.......but despite a lot of activity, there weren't many check ins!! Get checking in folks!!

Have a gamble free day troops!!

Mr B

Good morning everyone,

Early check in for me this week on day 62

Had a lovely Sunday with my niece in Leverkusen was the first time seeing her after over 11 years and meet her son who I have seen just once before when he was a baby 5 months youn and now he is 12 years young.

Was a really nice catch up.

Hope you are all ok

Wolfgang

Checking in on day 74. Awesome update yesterday. This week I am on the lookout to purchase a mountain bike. Looking forward to a change of exercise as I have packed in the gym to put the funds to a kick a** bike lol. Have a great week.

Steve

Check in at day 57.

Keep up the great work everyone! Xoxoxox You're all fabulous!

Hi

Just checking in day 60 I think - in Greece and been on the beer all day - very happy - thanks to all comments and the uplift that this site provides- have a safe week to all

Glass dad

Checking in on day 167. Hope everyone is having a good week, hopefully this is the week that we break 50 members for the first time. I'm going to work on my spotlight tonight for this weeks update. Stay strong soldiers!

and I'm willing to take any advice and encouragement I can to beat this mental illness before it ends up beating me. Yes I allude to the 'S' word unfortunately.

I've gambled just about every single day since I was just 13. What started out with school dinner-money quickly escalated to wages, loans and overdrafts. I dread to think how much I've lost in those 16 years since. Just since October of last year I've 'done-in' around K50... and this is from someone on a minimun wage. Jesus reading this back depresses me so I'll stop there. Besides most of you guys won't want boring with my stories.

I've been talked in to going back to the next GA but how does this place work? Do I just check-in on a weekly basis? Thanks for hearing me out, and the best of luck to the fellow strugglers. Z

Checking in on day 73...aim this week is to set up a monthly financial plan all on dd so that I don't have to constantly think about where each penny is going and I know exactly how much I have to spend on food and going out. It's not the gambling urges that annoy me anymore it's the constant thoughts of the debts. I haven't been as bad this time round but after a bit of a crazy weekend away at the weekend my mind has returned to this unhealthy obsession!xxx

checking in. last bet was last monday.

feel like ///// but im used to feeling like that

Stephen I was like you when I was trying to stop and kept on letting myself down and having days when I slipped up. The way I stopped this was to give control of my finances to my mum, and that really helped because if we don't have money we can't gamble. Having access to a months wages may be too tempting for me, so while its not ideal to let my mum control my money its the only way I stopped. I suggest you trust your partner or a close family member and explain your situation.

I live with my family but they dont speak to me anymore.

Tried that advice but my mum gives my back my back card if i want it. She knows ive a problem.

But thanks for the advice, thats the advice they give in GA too but it just wouldnt work for me.

Plus online gambling means you dont need a bank card to gamble anymore anyways