2019 - Lets do a whole calendar year gamble free!

Hi guys

Another weekend is almost here, aargh, that lovely feeling on Monday morning when we know we haven’t gambled over the weekend. No running from bank to bank withdrawing and depositing money to cover our tracks, no feeling zombified after a huge loss and no lying to loved ones.

Take care.

Shaun

Thanks as always for your words of wisdom Shaun 🙂 happy GF weekend! Going to do Christmas shopping with the money I actually have in my account - yayyy!!! Kaz x

Hi guys

Day 90 and getting ready for my Xmas dinner at a casino, I have a plan..........

No way am I going to throw away 90 days.

Speak soon.

Shaun

Plan successfully executed, as soon as I got their I started to ‘feel unwell’, had meal and left. Felt bad about lying but didn’t have much of a choice.

Shaun

Sean1,

Well done on leaving the casino early. It's a shame that the event had to be held there. Is there any way you could influence the choice of where to go next year? A shame for you to have to put yourself in a triggering situation at all.

Best wishes

Forum Admin

Congratulations Shaun on 90 days gamble free. Many regard it as an important stage in recovery and a good time to reflect on one's progress.

I do like your positive attitude towards recovery. You seem determined, knowledgeable and have a good understanding of gambling addiction.

I must admit I was taken aback when you ventured off to the casino for a christmas meal. It might be a wise precaution to exclude yourself. I wish you every success as you continue on your gamble free adventure...stephen

Hi guys

Thanks for the messages.

Forum Admin, unfortunately the venue was out of my hands, as soon as I learned it was at a casino I did try to voice an opinion about having the Xmas dinner at an Indian restaurant but was shot down straight away.

Stephen, thanks for your comments, appreciated. The two last Xmas dinners I missed through other appointments and sickness and it was noted so couldn’t really get out of it.

Stay safe.

Shaun

I am winning at gambling - by not gambling!

Let gambling starve and in turn we will all grow.

Are we getting conned out of our money? NO WAY.

Stay strong guys.

Hi guys

Lesson for today, we will not pine for a gamble as we are not giving anything up, quite the opposite, we are liberating ourselves from pain, misery, lies, stealing and having no money.

So why on earth would we miss gambling? Answer, WE WONT!

Shaun

Shaun's on a mission - a noble quest

Raggy blue jeans and an old string vest

But hope in his heart and a will to succeed

Will keep him safe in his hour of need ...stephen

Keep going Sean lad! Keep the faith northern soul!

I read Allen Carrs book 2 years ago. After reading it, I was almost 2 years without gambling. But after 2 years I have had several relapses. I cant understand why. I agree with EVERYTHING in the book. By reading it, I could relate to everything because I was a gambler for quite some time. I have experienced it all! It took all of my desires and will to gamble away as I saw gambling for what it is. Just for a quick reminder: The ways that little monster got me was by gambling impulses. You know that breef tiny moment where no thoughts matter. The moment when you dont think any of those bad aspects with gambling, but set aside all rational thoughts and compulsively deposit money. My tip of the day!
Dont make that first bet!! The spiral will begin and at the same time you will lose motivation because you kind of reset the timer from the time you got absent. A double blow, which turn to several blows...

"The best way to throw the dice is to throw them away!"

Sean1 wrote:

Plan successfully executed, as soon as I got their I started to ‘feel unwell’, had meal and left. Felt bad about lying but didn’t have much of a choice.

Shaun

Well done Shaun. Your doing so well. I was a little bit nervous for you going there, but you made the right move and minimized the chance of slipping up by hanging around. Early on this year I tried quitting through just willpower alone, it started in December last year and went through until May this year when we went to the races for my best friends 30tj birthday at Cartman. Thought I won’t bet but got sucked in to doing a syndicate with friends thinking this isn’t gambling. Well when I didn’t win that was it then I was betting on the horses and then when that wasn’t going to plan I then was on the dogs in the betting shop. Didn’t lose a great lot that day, but it put a end to my gamble free period and then put me back on the full blown path of gambling after that day and started playing the fobts again. I know now moving forward that I need to be 100% committed to not betting on anything even a lottery ticket or friendly game of poker. That first bet what everyone speaks about is so true for all us here and it needs to be a no no. Many people on here do have slips on their recovery and I don’t want to be one of them people, but know it’s a possibility. Just about avoiding that first bet. My wife has bought me Allen carrs book. Going to give it a read and hope it will help. Thanks for your posts and keep showing that addiction who’s boss.

OAU

Thanks guys, knowing we are all in this together keeps me going.

Don’t place that first bet.

Don’t ever question your decision to stop gambling.

Yes, guys. Our minds are fully aware that gambling is bad. Nothing good gained from it. The instant we place that first bet, the fog comes full force. We then think "I placed a bet, so I might take advantage of it now that I broke the chain". You feel so Disappointed making the first bet that you have to place another.

If you win, you lose. Its about the "thrill", not the money. The dumb casinos want to lure you, and the government is in on it imo.