setting goals /having daily routine???important or not in recovery???

hard to give advice to someone else, but using blockers can give me more time to think

i speak to others often and get advice and gamcare chat and netline could be a good place to start?

hope this help

triangle

hi triangle ,

yes i agree blockers help i have k9 and no bankcard at min just weekly cash allowance frm joint card with wife , ive found phoning and this forum to bemore help to me that going on chat as cant anyway as have ipad is good that gamcare helpline freeto call , but thanks for the advice appreciate it

fitzy

Hi Fitzy, it’s a good point,

I know that I have stopped for over five years - I couldn’t give you an exact amount of time. This is because I believe that counting the days can put a great deal of pressure on your shoulders, as well as making relapse even worse than it has to be. I remember getting to one of my first targets of one month, making it, then completely capitulating the day afterwards……that said, I know for a fact that it does help some people so I think it is depends on you, and what you feel comfortable with.

I think it is more important to have a life-plan rather than goals; focus is so very important in those dark, early days - you may be experiencing your strongest urge but one glance at a five year plan with things you want to do, places you want to go, and what you want to achieve, may well stop you doing something stupid.

I also have an intense dislike of the phrase “Day 1” - Day 1 starts when you first commit to stopping for the very first time; after then, you pick up things, you learn techniques, you make progress, so you can never truly go back to “Day 1” - I always refer to it was “Part two”, “Part three” and so on…..

JamesP

Hi James excellent post as always couldn't agree more! Life plan makes much more sense as long term , which is let's face it a long term thing beating this addiction and keeping it beat. Guess goals more short time and like you say if one of them say counting days , for some can make it harder and put more pressure for yourself.

As you correctly say different things work for different ppl , if something works for someone then great even if doesn't help me.

There are no right or wrong answers in many ways in how we each individually fight and arrest this illness?? Addiction?? Or maybe is both ??

With gambling sometimes it throws up more questions than answers , that's where asking for help and support and allowing yourself a chance to receive it comes in

Oops random rambling yet again , apologies for anyone having misfortune to read this lol

Right I'm having few bad urges

I could gamble ( althought difficult as blocker on ipad and no cards or access to money)

Right I'm off to do some cleaning and household chores and be positive with my time , give my wife less to do

No doubht I may update my diary or another thread even and go overboard , later on possibly

Fitzy