100 Days (23/100)

You can do it. Just believe in yourself. Educate yourself in the problem. Read others diaries, post here in your own.

Stick it out. As the days pass it gets easier.

We weren't born gamblers. It's something we got caught up in and it's something we can escape from too.

Wish you the best on your journey. Trust me, it's worth it.

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Hi Mark

We are all guilty of swearing off gambling for life only to return once the dust settles. As Robert says stay focused and see if you can do the homework set and post on it! By coming on here and admitting you slipped is a big step forward, no one is infallible. The door revolves both ways. I hope you get to 100 and beyond and who knows you might actually start to like the not gambling mind set!

Take care

Thank you so much ATK85, Robert and Smiler for your words of encouragement. Very much needed and appreciated.

Robert, I am loving the cricket analogy. A year or so ago when I was trying to stay on the wagon I would refer to each passing day as another run scored. A run of four days without a bet or a post would be a four. Five wides were good however I kept losing my wicket before I hit a six.

So far the innings have started nice an steadily. Day one are usually streaky leg byes. Today it is, shall we say, two runs to deep mid-wicket. My wicket remains in tact with a few early runs on the board.

Mark

Hi Mark

Well done for coming to the right place for help with gambling.

I have also made numerous attempts to quit gambling and always used to aim for the big 100 days of abstinence. I have achieved this twice now only to fall not long after I achieved this aim.

What I found was that when I reached 100 days, I felt like I conquered what I'd set out to and convinced myself that I was 'cured'.

My aim now is not to reach 100 days, but to adjust my life so that gambling does not play a part at all, not just for 100 days here and there.

Just something to think about, by all means have short term goals but also try and look to expel gambling from your life forever. One of the main things to do this is fill the void of time created when you give up gambling. Keep yourself busy and start to enjoy life again.

Hope this helps

Jimbo

Markman

Fella good to see you back.

I will just say this, abstinence is a gift only you can give to yourself. It is the one selfish act that gives continued results.

To abstain and maintain.

Keep taking, its yours and it's free.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Many thanks Jim and Duncs for kind words.

You are both very right and it is indeed good to be back.

My last diary post was on 13th which now makes it day 7/100 - already quite a chunk negotiated without too much drama.

I have just done a budget, which if I stick to, and barring any problems, should mean that by day 100, my only debt will be my mortgage and stuff in the debt management plan.

The bottom line is that after all normal outgoings, I will have £10.00 per day to cover my petrol to work which is a 20 mile round trip and day to day expenses of which there are very little.

No doubt some people would think this is a lot of cash, whilst other who are more used to the high life would wonder how I am going to manage.

To me this sum feels like a king's ransom bearing in mind how much I have deprived myself through gambling in the past.

What feels good though is that each day I go without spending any money, means more money for the next day.

As long as I do not gamble things will be just fine.

Mark

Mark

Well done on the 7 days. Im behind you for the big ton.

Keep posting, write everything down. al your thoughts and feelings, good and bad. It all helps. Be honest with yourself. You will gain great strength from reading back the diaries. and the diaries of other members.

Learn to recognise your triggers and your symptoms and signs. once you understand why you gamble, you are better armed to deal with it. Knowledge is power.

Compulsive gamblers will be compulsive gamblers till they die. The voice inside you that wants you to gamble will always be inside you, this voice... which i think of as a piece of music, will always be playing. Fill your life with other things, keep busy, have fun, enjoy life. Turn up your LIFE music... it will drown out the gambling music and you will never hear it. eventually the gambling music will get turned down. Never be complacent though because if you get depressed or or down or lose someone you love, and your life music gets turned way down... thats when you will hear that old gambling song being played again, and you will be vulnerable. keep that life music playing loud. hope that made sense.

All the best for the 100. I will be rooting for you.

BE POSITIVE. STAY STRONG. JUST BREATHE

Kyle

The greatest win I will ever have is to learn I can never win gambling.

So, rather a large chunk of the 100 days is behind me. I cannot lie and say they have all been gamble free - that has beena seperate problem. I have had a few bets here and there, mainly out of boredom, however I feel as though I am really arresting this addiction. I did not bet today. I did not bet yesterday. I have a bit of cash in the bank but I have no desire to bet today. I bet when I am bored. betwhen I am stressed or worried about money. I know that if I do not bet today I will be another day closer to my goal. I have changed the goal posts slightly, I know, but come day 100, as long as I can stay gamble free or can count the number of bets on one hand, things will be just fine. If I do give in to the urge I have no desire to bet big or chase huge losses and therefore no more setting me back another month either way. This way there is no pressure to abstain as I do it for me. It should have been like this 8 years ago. Roll on day 100. Many thanks to all of you who have shared your though and offered your kind words of support - I wish you every success in your recovery.