Five Days In

.....

Well what works for one person, certainly doesn't for another. I have had a gambling problem over a 20 year period. Often, blowing a weeks wage in a day. I'm 36, not saved anything because of gambling. I literally fast forward to retirement day, wondering where I will be.

The big positive to take from each of our situations, is that we can all change. How much do yo want it? The answer for me now, is I want to quit and that's it. I went with the positive part of my brain, it told me what I needed to do to get my life in order. As we are all to familiar, we spend far too much time listening to the negative part of our brains, that the positive part rarely gets used.

I felt empowered and grown up for once. I have decided to stay active on this site, and change my life. For me, the answer is not giving your cards to someone else, or cancelling online betting accounts. It's all about building up your hatred for gambling and never looking back.

Take control. Think of one positive thing you can do today, and listen to the positive side of your brain. It's the part that knows what's good for you. Stay strong, fight the fight and keep looking forwards.

Paul

Hi paul1001

I am a recovering CG.

Welcome to the forum, and I do hope you achieve your goal.

Whilst I welcome your enthusiasm re the challenge that you are going to face in arresting your gambling problem, I feel that you are putting too much confidence in your willpower. How many times have you said to yourself..."no more"? Then, the very next day, have a bet.

I wish you all the best in your attempt at going it alone, but in my time in GA I have met only one person who has abstained from gambling using his willpower alone. Addiction is tough to beat when you don't have the support base behind you.

Bset wishes

Hi Wal

You're right, I'm not going to question your logic. Yes I am a compulsive gambler, and yes it's going to take more than willpower to stop. I have plenty of issues that gambling medicated, so I know that this will not be easy.

Got a number for counselling near my hometown, so I'm hoping to pluck up the courage to go. I'm simply putting measures in place that will hopefully help me. I'm in a better place now, but yes it has only been a week. I have stopped gambling for months in the past, believing that it's all under control, only to slip back in to compulsive gambling.

I'm just happy to say, that getting my feelings out in the open is helping me. Kind people like yourself give me words of caution, which is helping me to focus on each day at a time. I do hope everything is good in your life.

Thank you.

Paul