Had a slight slip, but feeling like its crumbling

Hi Rob.

Try not to be too hard on yourself and try and treat it as a learning experience how the addiction finds its way into any chink in the armour.

It will make you realise that you have to extend your exclusions to anywhere you are likely to be, work regularly or travel past on the way.

You were facing my trigger points there. Waiting for someone, perhaps in another town and twiddling your thumbs. I dont like waiting around in town. Thankfully Im self excluded form everywhere around here.

Seriously in another town I have to be positively doing things and there for a purpose with things planned. I try to be alone as little as possible

Take it on with pride. Self exclude from that arcade because it gets you in a positive frame of mind to self exclude from all arcades. They are just as deadly as bookies. Arcades were my poison for decades.

The addiction can get back at you when its given a way....keep yourself active and rule out pubs and waiting around on your own until the blocks are firmly in place.

This may always be within us to some extent. I wouldnt want to be in a motorway service station for example after stress on the job.or bad news. I work through every scenario and am never complacent.

I dont think of it as back to square one. Youve had a painful learning experience which must now strengthen your resolve

Best wishes from everyone

Rob, be strong. It is a slip. Move forward from it now. Do not look back to it. It is done. Wake up tomorrow and start a new day.

Julie x