11 check ins missing and cloud is added to the front page and checked in. I hope that 11 becomes a much smaller number by midnight.
As to the fantasy football, it was something that was started by Mr B on the 2014 challenge, For me its harmless fun and if anybody wants to start a league in August then I wouldn't have a problem. Its not something I would set up myself but this challenge belongs to all the soldiers.
Checking in at 8 days 🙂
Tri sorry if have upset anyone. Just a few people have mentioned ff and how they use it as a distraction. There is no gambling involved and no money involved in setting up a league and 99% of people playing it are playing for fun and pitting their wits against fellow managers. If it is not appropriate for here then there will be no further mention from myself.
Marching forward. 63 days clean.
Let's keep up our gambling fast for Lent and beyond.
Checking in on 58 days gamble free. Had a few thoughts about gambling as money been a bit tight and in the past id have used my last £20 to try to double my money. Thought about going to bingo to try my luck but instead stayed home and listed a few items on eBay.
Well done to all soldiers checking in this week.
Boxingday1
Checking in on day 339.
Have a great day.
Steve
Hello probably too late now but if possible would like to check in, gamble free for 7 weeks!
Hi everyone.i would like to join this challenge.i was a member of the 2014 challenge which was fantastic but unfortunatly i fell by the wayside after about 70 days.i went on a binge after this and ended up in september maxed out on everything and totally broke.i had undone all the good work i had done and was worse off than ever before.
Been in this situation so many times before.we have all said it after a big losing streak"right this has to stop"etc.i felt so low.so sick and alone.my head totally fried with all the financial stresses i had heaped upon myself.
I really had to stop this time or else xmas would be a disaster and car was on its last legs too.couldnt sleep with the worry of it all.
So ive had another go at quitting and im now on day 156! Feeling so much better inside.stress easing.debt decreasing and a better outlook on life.i downloaded net nanny for my android phone and it has helped me so much.best 7quid i ever spent! The urges now are a lot less intense and seldom happen but removing the ability to click a few buttons and enter the madness again is a vital for me.once i start i cant stop.weather winning or losing.
Keep up the good work everyone.i hope we all win this fight!
I play fantasy football myself in a free league with some friends but sports betting was never my problem so it doesn't bother me.
I am aware though that some people spend a lot of money on multiple teams and spend a lot of the time and cash trying to predict the best 11, that sounds a bit too much like gambling to me. As a slot machine J****E I would say it's fine but there are probably people in this group who spent money on fantasy football in addition to their sports betting so probably best to not promote it here.
On another note, I really wish there was a like button on these comments. I try to read them all but don't have time to comment on every one. If only there was a way to say that I read your comment and like what you say, without having to type stuff out it would be great. Knowing that people read and appreciate your thoughts really builds confidence and self belief and gives you the encouragement to stay GF.
What ever day you are on, well done for starting on the road. It only gets easier with time as long as you put the right blocks in place and are determind to go Gambling Free. It's the only way we'll ever really win.
Simon
I 'like' your comment Simon about the 'like' button idea, I agree !
Boxingday1
Challenge Update Week 8
Intro
February is quickly passing by and we have just hit the 50 days mark for the challenge. It only seems like yesterday that I was writing the opening post on here. It’s been a fantastic start for many of us and each week there are more new milestones to celebrate. We have also had a few slips, but I’m pleased to see that soldiers in need quickly dust themselves down and get posting again. We are all a work in progress at different stages of recovery, some will slip, but together we don’t need to fall. Payday is around the corner and it will test us, some more so than others. I really hope everybody can focus on recovery and stay strong, but please don’t give up if you slip, this place is welcome to all and we are all looking out for each other.
We have got 57 soldiers safely checked in and 8 missing. I’m sure some of the missing troops are safe and sound and a late check in would be very welcome. It makes these updates a lot easier for me if troops can remember to check in once a week, rather than missing a week out here and there. The more this challenge is utilised the better for all of us, it’s refreshing to see so many of you looking out for each other and helping each other along. If a soldier is in need of some support there’s usually a very quick reply with some good advice and words of wisdom.
So onto the last update of February, it’s been a great start and I’m proud to be a part of this group of special people!
Coping with urges
A difficult week for some is coming and I hope we all get through it without any urges. However if you are struggling have a read of this. I found it here, https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/urge s"> https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/urges
How to cope with urges.
For many individuals, the crucial problem is coping with urges. In order to cope well with them, it is usually necessary to understand them accurately, rather than in the distorted manner of many addicts. Some common distortions about urges are that urges are excruciating or unbearable, that they compel you to use or act, that they will drive you crazy if you do not use or act, and that they will not go away until you use or act. Some individuals are confused enough about their own thinking that they have a difficult time identifying distinct urges, and simply think of themselves as behaving a certain way "because I like to."
In actuality, urges can be uncomfortable but they are not unbearable unless you blow them out of proportion; they do not force you to do anything (there have probably been many instances where you had an urge but did not act), they have not driven you crazy yet (and will not), each urge will go away if you simply wait long enough, and there are periods between urges which become increasingly longer if you stop.
Although during the initial days or weeks of abstinence or moderation, especially after a long period of daily addictive behavior, you may experience many urges of strong and even increasing intensity. Recovering addicts of all types report that urges eventually peak in frequency, intensity, and duration, and then gradually, with occasional flare-ups, fade away. How long it will take for urges to peak, and how rapidly they will subside, depends on many factors, including the specific addiction, the length of the addiction, how successful the program of abstinence or moderation has been, and the strength of the developing alternative lifestyle. However, as a very broad guideline, within six months to one year most addicts will report only feeble urges (for instance, one a week, lasting a few minutes, a 1 or 2 on a 10 point scale).
It is also crucial not to take responsibility for the occurrence of the urge, but only your response to it. It is normal for any addict to experience urges, and just because on Sunday you decide to stop does not mean that on Monday you will not have urges. The fact that urges occur does not indicate that your motivation is weak, but that your addiction is strong. Because all habits have unconscious components, of which the urge is one, it will take time for these to die away. What is within your control, however, is how you respond to the urge. An analogy could be made to someone knocking at your front door. All sorts of individuals might knock at your door, but it is up to you to decide with whom you will talk. Their knocking is not your responsibility, but to what extent you choose to speak with them is.
Specific techniques for coping with urges include the followin:.
When an urge occurs, accept it, but keep it at a distance. Experience it as you would a passing thought, one which "comes in one ear and out the other". Detach yourself from it, and observe and study it as an outside object for a moment. Then return your attention to what you were previously doing. If the urge is intense, remember (and perhaps picture) your benefits of stopping/cutting back (which can be carried in your wallet or purse). Recall a "moment of clarity", a moment when changing your addictive behavior seemed almost without question the right course of action. Think your addictive behavior through to the end:
When an urge is present, you tend to think only of the Benefits of the Addiction, but completing the image to include the negative consequences that follow will give you a more accurate view of the whole scenario. If the urge is very intense, engage yourself in a distracting activity, one which you have enjoyed before and which will take your mind off the urge, or use a specific distraction technique, such as counting things (e.g., leaves on a plant, books on a shelf), doing arithmetic (e.g., continually subtracting 7 from 1000, 993, 986, etc.), or focusing on alphabetical/verbal games (e.g., saying the alphabet backwards, reading signs backwards, searching book titles or license plates for the alphabet, etc.). Any simple activity conducted at high speed can fill up your attention, thereby allowing no attention for the urge. Any thought or activity on which you completely focus your attention is all that is needed, because if no attention is paid to the urge, then it will no longer exist. Although another urge may come along at any point, that urge also can be dealt with in a similar fashion. Over time the urges come less frequently, as already stated.
To summarize these urge coping techniques, all urges should be accepted. Low level urges can be observed but kept at a distance. Attention can then be re-directed to whatever one was paying attention to prior to the urge. More intense urges can be "counter argued" by reviewing in some fashion the benefits of not engaging in the addictive behavior, and the facts about urges mentioned above (e.g., all urges go away eventually; they are uncomfortable but not unbearable unless I blow them out of proportion;). Very intense urges can be dealt with using some form of distraction, repeated as necessary. All urges eventually go away.
Milestones in the coming week
scotty 1971 hits 50 days, well done on the half century Scotty!!
mac09, pellekanin, Markb117, gingermotty, Better life and blue in the red all hit ten weeks clean this week. Amazing to see you all sticking at it and going so well!!
Glads Dad, elchipper, brutus123C and Bornagain all hit three months free in the coming days (today for Glads Dad!) The century is close!!
Taxi man brings up the century today, congratulations mate, it’s a big step to hit three figures!!
I Wished hits the treble century today, well done Suzanne, amazing achievement, so pleased for you!!
triangle and his buddy Ringerbell hit 50 weeks onThursday, brilliant to see you both marching on towards a full calendar year, well done!!
Roll of Honour/ Days Gamble Free!
The numbers really are growing and we are making the right choices. Based on an average loss of 50 pounds a day we have collectively saved…………………………………..£155400…………………………Wow what an outstanding figure, we are not only giving ourselves and our families a better life in recovery, but we are depriving the bookies of a serious amount of money. Well done troops!!!!
Summary
It’s been another good week, there is now a hard core group on here who I believe will see this year out, make sure you are part of this group and amazing things will happen. 57 of us stand together and go forwards into March enjoying the rewards that recovery brings. Its also going to be a week that tests some of us, so make sure you use this forum to help you and if you need the telephone list or a chat away from here message me on [email protected]
Lady Baggins didn’t make check in this week but I’m sure she will find her way onto here this week, she is very close to a full calendar year. Followed very closely by triangle and Ringerbell who are getting close to a year. There was talk of some sort of get together to celebrate, it would certainly be nice to have a drink with my fellow soldiers. So if anyone fancies arranging a meet up at some point in the coming weeks or months then email me or make a post about it.
That’s it for this week, stay strong, check in and enjoy your week.
Phil
newhorizon71 all you have to do now is make another post before check in next Saturday and you will be added to the challenge. Great to see you are on day 156, you are doing really well!
Sorry for the super late (missed??) check in this week. Just been really busy all week, but happily still no gambling
Checking In - Day 255
My head was full of gambling thoughts this week. Great post from zulu13 has really helped. Waiting for the tough times to pass as they surely will. Take care everyone and stay strong. Suzy
Hi Phil,
I'd like to say a massive thank you for another great update. I cannot convey my gratitude enough for your time and effort in organising this challenge and fellow soldiers in sharing experiences / updates.
Life has completely transformed in the space of 10 weeks GF. No looking back now.
Keen to meet fellow soldiers at some point.
Have a good GF week.
Andy
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