Stephen that’s brill that 🙂
I’m happy to be onboard in this war on terror.
Bring it on
Sars! wtg
I am having trouble again with the couseling site. The therapist was typing like he was drunk?! So I put in to get a new try with another therapist. My time with the groupon is running out. And, I just don't care. If I lose the money and have only a week of counsel. I'm still in recovery and losses happen even outside of the gamlbing realm. odaat tara2
MINI-CATCHUP - 13th May 2018 *** Next ROLLCALL will be 20th May 2018 ***
A warm welcome to you all. As I wrote a few days ago, I'm changing the direction of this thread slightly and introducing mini-catchups; twice-weekly (or more frequent) posts where I guarantee a response to every one who posts to this thread. And, of course, many of us will receive further responses from our close-knit, caring group. Everyone who visits here, or is part of our Challenge to remain gambling-free, is never forgotten and a personal response is guaranteed.
I am going to ease of the frequency of the Rollcalls to twice-weekly, starting again from next week, with a slightly different format. Our Gambling-Free count will still be noted, and rollcalls of honours given out (of course!), but I'll only personally respond to fellow Challengers, and anyone who posts, via the regular mini-catchups.
However, I never forget we're a team; a lively group of people here and a 'go for it', encouragement-led vibe that's borne out by our fantastic supportive posts and positive atmosphere here on our thread.
So - the ROLLCALL is back next week and, meantime, they'll be lots of MINI-CATCHUPS. I can foresee, and indeed have been, a lot of really useful conversations and fantastic support on out thread as we all endeavour to tame and manage this addiction we have the misfortune to share.
So... on with today's MINI-CATCHUP!
Caughtup - Thank you for your kind words and we're enjoying your company too! Your observations are spot on; it's not just the almighty stress we put on ourselves, but the impacts on others, too. Not just our loved ones and family, who tend to bear the brunt, but friends, work colleagues and even strangers who see a darker more frantic, withdrawn, paranoid and generally more depressing side to us. But we can, and are, lifting those dark clouds and our true spirit really can shine through. You've a busy week next week and how delightful it will be for everyone to see the real "you"! 🙂
Slot Fool - not long before you make your final repayment and become blessedly debt free. It's so motivational to us to read about the positives that show their face when we decide to deal with our issues.
Rubybaby - thank you for checking in. I totally understand your dilemma; when we are living life at a rate of knots, there is a fear that slowing down will let unwanted thoughts and actions in - the devil makes work for idle hands, as the saying goes. It puts us in a bit of a paradox. On the one hand, if we are too busy then we run the real danger of burnout. We simply can't go through life, for any length of time, at 100mph. We have to slow down a bit - from time to time - eventually. So, what's the answer? It's too allow, and prepare for, the downtime we all need. This 'set aside' time can be filled by listening to music, or the radio, or even something you want to watch on TV, Netflix or whatever. Something that you know you'll really look forward to. It could be something with your family, or friends. On Tuesdays I play snooker with an old friend with whom, post-gambling, I've got reaquainted with. Heck, I can't play snooker for toffee but nor can he so we're both the same level :). My point is, we need downtime and simply need to prepare for it doing something we truly enjoy. There's no need to run away from the gambling - you can keep it several steps behind you.
Adam123 - It's great to see that after your recent blip, Adam, your mindset is reassuringly, determinedly and realistically back in the right direction. Your knowledge and approach to this continues to build better, more solid and secure gambling-free foundations. It's all good, Adam, your trajectory is good.
Tara2 - I've been reading about your experiences about your counselling, that's been undertaken via e-mail, with interest. I wasn't sure what to make of the last exchange where you thought the cousellor might be writing to you whilst drunk? Blimey. That can't be good. In case you're not aware, Gamcare offer one-to-one counselling for free; I've tried it and it's good. Because their skillsets are gambling-centric you can be assured of support that's really tailored to our needs - and I really recommend it if you feel it might help you. You've written about going 'cold turkey' - picturing slots in your mind, torturing your soul ... yes, this is common and it's a battle between the 'addicted' and 'non-addicted' parts of our minds, both fighting it out. It will subside, although, personally, I still have those battles - perhaps they never go away. But as time goes by, and the 'non-gambling' side of our brains starts to assert themselves, then things do get a little easier.
Sars27 - thank you for checking in and what can I say, heading for 1 year gambling free! But - as you would be the first to caution - we never count our chickens. But ... there's also nothing wrong with relishing and look forward to a milestone ahead, either, and sharing it with the world. Because we should take pride in our success - because our families and friends are equally as delighted for us and want to share in our good news too!
Godoicul - thank you for checking in Godoicul and racking up 142 fantastic days gambling free. As you've said in the past, working overtime just to 'chase your tail' because of gambling losses is a shocking, heartbreaking and gutting waste of time. Sometimes we get a 'road to damascus' moment when we look at things from a slightly different angle - because we all know the score, deep down. I once worked something like 24 hours over a weekend and blew it all in the casino on the way home - illogical, and I felt absolutely disgusted with myself. All that graft! Never again.
Stephen67 - Thank you for a fantastic post, as always, crafted with exquisite care. Your Churchillian theme really hits home and, in fact, reminds me of one of my favourite Churchill quotes when, at the darkest days of the Battle of Britain, he said: "When going through hell, keep going." I remember this quote as we face our own battles, going gambling-free - it's not easy as we start and continue a journey that we know is good for us. We are here Stephen, as you infer, as a team, together, sailing the good ship!
Christer9 - I am sorry to hear that your daughter is still not in a good place and we all wish her, and you and your family, all the very best at this difficult time for you all. It's at times like this that we sometimes feel we need a distraction, some escapism at serious times like this. So we are all with you as you try to find that inner strength to keep you on the right path.
*** MINI-CATCHUP lighter moment to round off ***
You may have heard this story before, but, if not, a reminder that just because someone might be a 'big cheese' they can still be brought back to earth with a bang. Here's a transcript between an all-powerful, mighty US naval ship and Canadian authorities back in 1995. Who's going to give way here?
Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.
Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.
Americans: This is the aircra ft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States' Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees north, that's one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
Keep smiling, everyone!
Mixer
Genius mixer genius qoute
​
Many thanks Mixer for the Mini Catchup, as always I greatly appreciate your support and encouragement.
I will remember your Churchill quote. It just might strike a chord when my resolve weakens. "When going through hell, keep going."
Wishing yourself and all the Guru Challengers a great gamble free week...stephen
Checking in on day 53, need to stay focused and always remember that the urges do come but they also go soon enough
Checking in on day 25, dropped my phone on the weekend which has made me £60 lighter, would have definitely tried to win it back, never again!!!
Yes,today/this a.m. is one of those days. Everything was completely like a day that I would have said **** it. I realise that insanity is doing that same thing over and over and expecting different results. Just past 2 months gf. I don't like to count days but sometimes it gives me incentive. tara2
Checking in for another gf day.
This week hasn’t been great, it’s been a real struggle in all honesty I’ve though about gambling everyday and feel s**t about not being able to distract myself from my anxiety and a million emotions.
I am proud to say that I am still on track and gf and ready to fight another day.
Only one week but it’s a bloody great start.
Athena
Checking in still gamble free with 22 days behind me now, still some difficiult days and I'm sure there will be many more to come but at the moment I am so happy to just wake up every morning and say woo I did another day, I didn't destroy my life a little bit more last night, phew. That is mostly thanks to all the lovely people on here for sharing their stories, experiences and advice which has really helped me through some tough times of fighting this horribile addiction, ty x
Hey, Athena and Xangel, glad your are both here! It's a tough transition but we can do it with support and reinforcement of what happens if we go back to old ways. Plenty of hope and reinforcement on this site. Have a decent day gf. tara2
22 days in and can’t believe it!!!
Checking in on 188 days
MINI-CATCHUP - 16th May, 2018
Good evening everyone. I read a great quote, attributable, I think, to Jordan Peterson, an acclaimed clinical psychologist (author of the book '12 Rules of Life' that I thoroughly recommend), who said: "the happiest people are not those who achieve the most, but those who most enjoy the process of achieving!"
I like that quote, because, as recovering problem gamblers, we should dare to embrace and enjoy our gambling-free journey. Let's not seek happiness, but fulfilment.
Dare to enjoy the experience? Yes, let's do that. Going gambling-free long-term isn't a punishment. Let's genuinely gives ourselves a break and dare to live life to the full again. We know gambling gives us a strange attitude to money - we can't wait to lose it, bizarrely - so let's dare to do something better with it. Let's not live on beans on toast during the week leading up to payday - let's dare to be different and do what we want to do. Dare to dream. It's all within our gift!
Adam123 - Thank you for the kind words. And great to read you're back in the groove and back to being a non-gambler, renewed one hard-fought and hard-won, but so worthwhile, day at a time!
Stephen - glad you liked the Churchill quote. Definitely one of my favourites that. Along with:"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
John64 - You're doing great, my friend, well over 50 days. This is the way. Not easy, I have no doubt, but keeping at it, and keeping those blocks in place, and topped up as necessary.
Dmpowell81 - Sorry to hear about your phone and you've illustrated a good point: we sometimes look at bad luck that happens to us as an opportunity to gamble again and financially recovery the situation. Gambling just makes things worse; that's the truth.
Athena - you're making a bloody good start as you say - quite agree! Let's build some momentum here; we're all with you here 🙂
Xangel11 - you’ve written some lovely words about your fellow posters here on the forums and you're right, we're all a good bunch and there's a good, positive, supportive atmosphere. We're all good people, that's the thing, just wanting to break out of the somber, life-draining gambling straightjackets we've been wearing. And we can!
Tara - you're showing true grit and great to read your posts. Will it get easier? Yes. Will life get any easier? Can't say, but dealing with life will be a lot more manageable without the gambling monkey on our backs. That's a fact!
JeffUtd - this is good; let's see you hit 30 days. Why? It proves you can safely navigate a payday, or at least a month when you'll have at least some spending money. This will be the acid test. Let's do it!
Slot Fool - 188 days is absolutely fantastic and your posts, and supportive posts to others, are testament to your approach to this lifetime journey, one day at at time. That's it from me tonight.
As I said at the start of this post, let's dare to dream. Being gambling-free, dreams really can come true.
Take care everyone,
Mixer
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