Been here far too many times, i want too stay here an never look back

Allister

Fella welcome to the forum, the doors of recovery revolve, it doesn't matter how many times you walk through them, it is what you learn each time you do.

We are all here looking to arrest that all important next punt, to put an end to the self created misery that is the compulsion to gamble.

Arresting that punt doesn't fix the issues alone, but it does create opportunity to make change.

Use this amazing platform to chart your recovery, for me giving a few minutes every day here has a profoundly positive effect not only upon myself but my family to boot.

The advice gifted to me on my first days recovery, still works today over three years on

There is a triangle time-money-location

Take one away and the punt becomes impossible Gifting the rational side of the brain time to think, time to re wire itself.

Have you self excluded or got yourself some decent blocking software?

In these early days of recovery put as many barriers in place as you can, long term they will help massively.

The advice I will give you is simply enjoy your recovery.

It is not a punishment, you will have punished yourself enough throughout your gambling life.

Through continued abstinence you will remain a winner, without waging a single penny.

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Thanks very much duncanmac for your kind positive words and too have taken the time too write. We are all in the same boat, and the more support the better for each other. I enjoy watching racing now without having a bet and seeing all the shock results coming through rathger than having about 10 mood differneces in a 5 furlong race. I hopefully have left the dark days behind now. You can never win when being a gambler but you can win the fight not too gamble

12 days gamble free feeling polsitive and strong. starting a new job on thursday and using the new job as a fesh start and my route too being gamble free. just taking every day as it comes. watched the horse racing yesterday loved it stress free watching all the shock results coming in an being happy i was gamble free. moving forward never looking back

Over a month gamble free, been doing great been busy with new job. A get an urge once a week about gambling due too new football season starting. When you see gamble free for 31 days you say is it worth it going back an it's not. Anyway going too keep busy an it will get easier an stay gamble free. Moving forward never back

Fell off the wagon an started gambling again.done a month gamble free and I can do more. starting from today a plan too try an stay gamble free. It only too that's one bet and I was away again. I can never win caused I don't know when to stop. I am a compulsive gambler and need too stop now before I lose everything. Moving forward never back

Day 1 without a gamble, still feeling it after yesterday's losses. Hopefully the pain will ease. It's the mood when you lose it makes it harder. I cannot gamble ever again. Cause I could lose everything I have in a few bets. Staying strong I am a compulsive gambler and cannot gamble

Day 2 feeling positive an keeping busy. Been in denial for so long too think i could still gamble after all the years I have had problems. I have gave up before for months so can do it again an for longer. The mental strength can get me through. I am a compulsive gambler an must not gamble at any time. Moving forward never back. I should be lucky for what I have an not unhappy for what I don't have

Cheers gt those kind words mean a lot. I have been here before. You need too stay strong and every day admit you have a problem an that you are a compulsive gambler. The day you don't there is a chance of following off the wagon. I find it easier if you post every day cause it lets you admit the problems

Day 2 nearly over had a good day. Kept busy an staying for too staying gamble free. Going too be on here as much as I can for the support an too give support too other people. A think that's where I have went before and fell into my old ways again an think I can control my gambling. Moving forward never back

Day 2 nearly over had a good day. Kept busy an staying for too staying gamble free. Going too be on here as much as I can for the support an too give support too other people. A think that's where I have went before and fell into my old ways again an think I can control my gambling. Moving forward never back

Allister, you are totally right, every day there has to be an admission about being a compulsive gambler. I think that is one of the key things. There is a fear within me of giving up gambling as it's been a huge part of my life but I am slowly starting to understand it is an addiction that is drawing me in and I shouldn't be afraid to stop. I'm a compulsive gambler and I need to do my best to stay away from it and limit any damage as it is always going to be there inside me. It's hard for people to get there head around. It doesn't kill you like cigs and booze but it rips the heart out of living. Turns good days into bad ones.

Thanks for your comment change. Your totally right. No matter how much you win you won't stop as you don't know when too walk away. We don't protect our winnings enough too control them. I have been here so many times an never realised how hard it was too give up. I have lived a lie for the past 14 years an nothing too show for it. I have lost so so much money and paying for it now trying too cover up all my loses. We need too stay strong and admit these problems every day. It's hard when we are surround by a betting caranval wither its on TV, radio or in general. Stay strong change keep up the good work. Keep posting an commenting showing your support

Hi

just wanted to say hi and show support. We have all fallen off the wagon at some point but by being here shows the desire and determination never to give up. Something in your post really touched home with me "we should be grateful for what we have got and not the things we don't have" that is so very true and when we are low we forget that but unlike some who are less fortunate then us, we have the power to change our destiny through our decisions and choices where some people don't have this opportunity. We should be grateful for each day we make the decision not to gamble. Something recently happened within my family, my aunt lost her husband to cancer a few months ago and was devastated, last week my younger cousin collapsed in the shower with a brain haemarage, at the age of 24 rushed to hospital and had surgery. She was in a coma with 50/50 chance of survival and on Friday came out but did not recognise anyone, not even my hurt. It's heartbreaking. Sorry to be all doom and gloom but it put things into perspective for me, I have a choice everyday I wake up about my future and what I do with it, sadly my cousin does not. So for each day going forward I am going to think about all the little things I should be grateful for and not what I don't have as many of us could have a lot less.

We all have a horrible illness but with effort, persistence, will power the support of others and blocks we have a choice to control and manage it.

Keep up the fight to beat this. Sending my support.

bex

Hi bex

thank very much for you reply. Am sorry too here about your hard time recently but it does give you a wake up call too realise we don't know what's round the corner. Gambling is demon when you lose a lot of money over the years it doesn't matter what you do you always fall back into the compulsive gambling situation. I think am at a stage in my life now am tired of that losing feeling it's like a depression of guilt as we have been here before and why can we not learn from our lessons. I am still having urges but it's because gambling has been apart of my live most of my life. Never thought one day it would become a problem but for sure it has ruined my life an nearly lost everything. All the best stay strong and hope things improve