First time self-excluding

Hey bro, you are certainly not alone, I feel your pain. We are all here with the same struggle. I for example haven´t told anyone up close the extend of my gambling problems but letting people here know helps a lot since they can relate. 

The dopamine fixes are so hard to swallow, quitting weed and smoking is extremely hard and naturally your mind is looking for a different way to get dopamine. I don´t know maybe try some training for your mind to accept long term instead of short term pleasure. Yes said easily but so hard to do, anyway I hope you get better, you can do it. 

Hi

Well done giving up these unhealthy habits shows you value and care about your self.

Each unhealthy habit is best filled with healthy habits, and I do not mean obsessions.

It was important for me to find balance in my life.

Writing down my healthy needs my healthy wants which also means rewarding our self now and again.

Even to today I have a massage which is very beneficial for me emotionally and physically.

More importantly writing down my on going healthy goals, which causes us to extend our selves and build our confidence.

You are setting a healthy example to others that  the recovery program works once we get motivated in healthy ways.

There was a time I questioned myself if I could have a healthy recovery because I was non religious.

Today I know for sure any one can have a healthy recovery being religious or not.

It was all about how much time and energy we put in to giving up unhealthy habits for healthy habits.

And of course healing the hurt inner child that was with in me.

Love and peace to every one.

Dave L

AKA Dave Of Beckenham

@mark7 Thanks bud, it ain’t easy. Gambling is so subtle. I don’t necessarily get a lot of cravings to play but if I have some money to spare and it gets late on at night in bed, I’ll just load up and spin and it never normally ends well just me losing money or not knowing when to stop. I will keep trying the best I can to halt these false pleasures, rest and recharge and start healthy habits such as more exercise, meditation ect. Had a shocker of a weekend, a friend was sadly lost in a car crash and I’ve been hitting the joints and drinking, been so sad. Will keep trying and trying. I hope you find someone you can talk to about things as it is too much to do alone most of the time, go easy my friend. Be good to yourself. 

@gadaveuk Thanks my friend. My inner child must be hurting a lot as all I seem to crave is unhealthy things etc. Gambling is just another vice. Beneath all the layers of conditioning and ego pain, there’s a lot of love, kindness, compassion and potential. Which I’m thankful I do get to practice a fair bit. A lot of these vices including gambling is almost like the forbidden fruit you know it’s bad but it feels good so you keep going regardless of the pain and destruction that will follow. I’m not particularly religious either but there’s a great couple videos I’ve seen by Justyn Rees Larcombe who was a successful gentleman who fell into a very destructive gambling life, it is really great to watch if you ever feel like you’re having a bad day or going to relapse at something etc. Blessings to you. 

@gluhve 

Hi Risking taking was not just about the gambling but my unhealthy driving habits not keeping to speed limits, doing things that would cause an adrenaline rush in me, I got in to thinking that buzz was happiness and excitement and to even think it was fun and happiness.

The recovery program was a healing process and in time I would be more respectful of myself first of all then respectful of other people.

Wasting my time and my money gambling was causing pain to myself and people around me. 

People could not understand why I was so unhealthy sadly I did not know why I kept going through self abuse and self destruction time and time again not learning from the pains of my past.

Once one is able to abstain from Gambling it is important to not sit on our hands doing nothing, it is important to become more productive in every avenue of my life.

Thank you for commenting to my sharing and my recovery

Love and peace to every one.

Dave L

AKA Dave Of Beckenham UK