*** Join The Guru Challenge! ***

Checking in again on day 18 gd times at the moment keeping busy with life no thoughts

Checking in -
1 week in the bag. 1 payday done with 0.00 spent gambling.
Have a good day everyone

Hi, everyone!

Chartom - thank you for your kind words.

Mitch - thanks for the 'heads up' about claiming back old bank charges - I know you'll make sure you put your windfall to good use ;). You've raised a very good point; if anyone here has taken a loan with insurance (PPI) on it in the last twenty years, or paid overdraft bank fixed bank charges (over £12 each) you could claim the whole lot back. I myself used to pay mortgage insurance years ago and have got a claim going right now (might get £1k back!). I've done this using a claims company so they're going to grab 30% of it, but you can do it all yourself (visit moneysavingexpert, they've got a good comprehensive guide). But however you decide to proceed, worth considering everyone. Nice one Mitch.

Abstainer - I've written you to on your thread, Stephen, and rest assured you remain very much part of our group!

Adam - congratulations to hitting 50 days. Keep it going ... this is what it's all about.

Christer1 - great to hear. Christmas coming up - this time, make it a letter one, a (less) stressed one. You know what to do.

Slot Fool - great to read. Really good stuff Slot Fool. Keep it going my friend!

Have a great weekend everyone. It's that time before payday, and - possibly - Christmas bonuses (me? no such luck!). Enjoy every penny. Don't give it away. Don't do it to yourself!

Just for once - have a Christmas you deserve.

If you're feeling weak (and it happens, we all know that!), dive onto this thread. Tell us how you're feeling. Or phone Gamcare, let them know. They listen. Or join us on the Chatroom, every evening. Just promise one thing. Don't gamble till you've tried one of these routes. Hear us out first. 🙂

Sorry to read that Abstainer. Don’t let one setback ruin your hard work. It’s sooo easy to do that. I know from experience. Just put it down to one wrong decisions or moment of weakness. Don’t let it become a series of wrong decision. Choose NO GAMBLING now to secure a better Christmas for yourself and family.

Checking in on day 47.

Abstainer wrote:

Sadly I gambled today on the fobt machines. Please can I start up again on the Guru Challenge Mixer, tomorrow will be my Day 1. Sorry to mess you about like this ...stephen

Seem to have flagged this post by mistake, sorry was a genuine mistake didnt mean to flag it ....

Here's a post from Josh280, posted today.

Hi Stephen.

I’m a long time reader of the recovery diaries. Can also spot a potential relapse about to happen.

It’s usually written in the tone of the persons posts, even if they don’t know it yet. Sounds weird I know.

*In 99 percent of relapses first thing to go is their day count. To me that signifies a relapse has either happened or in motion.*

I know you looked at your day count as a hindrance, but what it signified was growth.

*Unfortunately addiction isn’t something you can just move on from and forget ever happened. Recovery Needs to be a constant.*

Addiction can and will remain dormant. Give it an inch it will take a mile.

You don’t see people at ga or like who’ve been there 20 years constantly because it’s a fun place to be. It’s because they need to constantly work the program to stay ahead of the game.

You’ve been like a breath of fresh air since you joined the forum Stephen and you helped a lot of people along the way. And I can see this relapse has hitten you hard , so try to find the positive in the negative. You went 6 months. You now have a goal, 6 months and beyond.

Chin up Stephen ,

I was struck by this powerful, thought-provoking post, posted on Abstainer's thread today. I hope you don't mind Josh280, Stephen, that I quote it here. (I've highlighted certain paragraphs with asterisks.)

It's important on so many levels. Firstly, noticing signs of a possible relapse - a change in routine, like, perhaps, not counting days any more. And secondly, how critical a relapse can be. If it happens, it's essential that the reason for it is recognised and immediately blocked to avoid any chance of repitition. A repeat MUST be avoided because a relapse can hit very, very hard: not just financially, but psychologically. Remember - part of the gambling psyche is that we can be very, very crafty - so the non-gambling part of us has to be even craftier.

Members of our Challenge group and readers of this thread will recognise how serious our habit has become and how critical it is that we do our UTMOST to understand why we have been doing this and why we MUST stop.

Stephen - you realise how important this is to you, and your future; you are well respected on these forums and rightly so, not only for your approach but your generous nature that benefits so many others. We are really rooting for you, my friend 🙂

Fellow Challengers, and readers - - - let's live life, not misery. This addiction has devestating consequences. For our own futures, and for those who care about us - more than we realise, sometimes - let's keep on the path. It's a lifetime path; let's not kid ourselves. But if it's a path to an infinitely better future than the alternative, who's to argue?

Whatever you think of Christmas, it's coming soon. Let's - for once - enjoy the holiday. It breaks up the winter and, for many, provides spiritual happiness and time for reflection. Don't hand your hand-earned to bookies, or online gambling, or whatever. What's the point? Hand your finances over to trusted loved ones or friends and/or self exclude. Take action.

Am I a 'nag'? Possibly, but unashamedly so. But it's for the best. I care. Readers of this thread care. And you care, too.

Hi mixer just checking in day 20 and going well.

Checking in on Day 27

Marson - good to see 20 days under your belt; let's see you - one day at a time - hit 30.

Moorey - good to see you closing on a month. Keep it going my friend.

Bill Shankly, the legendary football manager, once famously said: "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that."

I would apply the same sentiment to gambling. It's a corrosive, destructive thing when it has you in its claws, which is why we have to go all out not just to stop but to make sure we stop forever. This takes a determined commitment to escape, and it can be done.

I have been reading some posts in the 'Family and Friends' section of the forums tonight. These are posts from those affected by compulsive gamblers, family, loved ones and friends who have been caught in the crossfire and are often paying the price. Often heartbreaking; not just having the horror of being confronted by the revelation of catrastrophic massive debts affecting them and their families directly, but - as devestating - the irrevocable breakdown of trust that causes relationship breakups, often with children caught up in the upset; truly, turning lives upside down. And other situations that arise. To people that didn't ask for or deserve this.

If anyone has any doubt of the serious direct and indirect impacts of continuing to gamble, knowing that we are compulsive gamblers, then I invite you to read a few of the posts in this section. Be warned - it's not easy reading, but this is the reality. (This is not to make you feel 'worse', btw, but to see another angle that we don't sometimes fully appreciate - myself included).

There is a lot to learn about this insiduious addiction. The more we understand, the more our mindsets will start to change, realising that gambling is seriously no good all round, and we must stop. What's more, a better life than the guaranteed misery awaits. Aren't our precious lives worth it?

Rollcall tomorrow, as always. Meantime, enjoy your Saturday night, one and all 🙂 !

Checking in gamble free day 73 :))

Checking in, hope all is well folks

170 days GF !!! Oh yeahhhhhh !checking in boss

Just checking in on 46 days.

Day 21 checking in

Cheacking in 84 days gf...........