22/12/12 A new start

Right that will be 2 days gamble free. It is not always easy when you start to worry about money- but I must keep this same attitude up. I feel nothing really, I don't need congratulating for this small achievement, I just need to keep it up. X

thank you for staying gamble free, through your strength I find some for myself. day two down for both of us 🙂 x

Thank You, you have a big day tomorrow- I know what it is like to suddenly have money when you have had nothing. Please don't waste a penny of it- I know how tempting it can be to just gamble a bit. I know I can't do that and I don't think you can either. I'm off for a kebab- luckily my wife gets back tomorrow, I can start to eat normal food again! Good luck x

I am ready to start another day free from gambling. I did have some sad family news that shocked me- my younger sister is in a psychiatric hospital- this will be the 2nd time, but still came as quite a shock. I thought our family was a normal middle class family, but with me being a gambling addict and my sister with other issues, I feel really upset how life has turned out. I know a sudden shock can make you gamble again, however I hope this has the opposite effect and leads to me becoming even stronger and supporting my family when they need me. I must not gamble for my future happiness. X

Hey Ben. Been reading through your story and congratulate you for taking this first step. Like yourself yesterday I lost quite a bit on money for the 1000th time and I am in a similar position. Also my addiction really started off when I went to university and I haven't stopped since. I made a pledge yesterday to stop gambling now and I know with the help of people like yourself this can be made possible.

Think of all the money you can save from today and put it too good use ( your deposit etc). Forget about your lose, because it is gone, chasing will never bring it back.

This is also going to he my first full day. Day 1 of not gambling. I am sorry to hear about your sister but know she will be in the best of care.

Best wishes

Daniel

I have made those similar pledges hundreds of times before- I really hope this time it might just work. I have spent some of the day reading about "big time gamblers" who over their life time won/lost huge sums of money. There was one guy Archie Karas who turned $50 into $40 million, then lost it all back again. Im not writing this to promote this gambling, but when you do read those stories you think why didn't he stop at a million dollars. I guess although I have played for much smaller amounts than that, It is no different, it's not the money that is important and no win is big enough. Reading these articles does sometimes tempt me, thinking if I could go on a run all my problems would be sorted out. However, I do know in my heart this is not the case. At times I feel so free Knowing I won't gamble today, but I still get that niggling feeling every now and then. I guess that's why I'm writing on here now. This will be 3 days, so I just hope I don't get too complacent.

Thanks for your comments Daniel, writing this is definitely helping me, good luck with your addiction, I hope you remain gamble free for the rest of your life, 2 days behind me! Merry Christmas.

Hi Ben

With respect you need to get this 'I may win' picture out your mind and spend more time concentrating on the fact that you will lose lose lose and any winnings along the way would just be ploughed back in.

You have made a great decision to give up now just stick with it buddy.

Just remember why you gave up in the first place.

Have a great Christmas

Dave

It is true, if I start again - I will lose. I am happy to be gamble free for the last few days but realize I have a long way to go. I managed to not buy a lottery ticket at the airport, despite there being 25 uk millionaire made tonight. If I won I would probably just gamble it away eventually. Merry Christmas everyone x

Merry Christmas Ben!

Enjoy the start of your new life with less stress and more freedom!

Hope you have a wonderful day with your wife and family 🙂

Say strong 🙂

xxx

Yes, I do feel surprisingly content today. I only had 1 real temptation- I went to the local shop to buy baileys and a couple of guiness. They guy in front bought 2 scratchcards, and just for a second I was tempted to buy 1, thinking how a big win would change my life. I am happy to say I walked out of the shop gamble free. I realize if I am going to beat this I can make no exceptions- and must not think like that.It's no always easy but I feel better im myself already.

Well done for you today- hearing your story inspires me more than you can imagine. Merry Christmas.

Hey Ben.

Firstly Merry Christmas

Really good to see your making big steps. Not buying a scratchard etc. I also saw the 25 millionaire raffle. I thought to myself wow that could be me. How many times have I thought that before. I feel good today and I am going to enjoy the football tomorrow without looking up who to back.

Stay strong and keep focused. Your making huge progress already.

Daniel

In the past I have thought just the odd lottery ticket, scratchcard is not really gambling. Even the occasional football accumulator bet for a couple of pounds. Especially when my big losses have been nothing to do with that. This is something I must stop thinking, because as soon as I buy a ticket, card or coupon my mindset has immediately changed and suddenly a bit of recreational gambling seems okay. Why not just start gambling big. I know this will never be the case- and the importance of not buying these tickets has bigger consequences than the money. Also by not buying a ***** ticket each week will save me £104 a year - I could spend that on a nice meal out. If I think like this I am going in the right direction.

I'm looking forward to watching the football tomorrow without any bets on. Although, there are so many adverts for gambling even around the pitch- this just makes me believe even more in what I am doing. Thanks for your comments Daniel. Good luck.

Another day- I'm off to the gym to watch football soon. Happy to say I am still gamble free. Life is still a long way off being stress free- but I know I am moving in the right direction. I almost feel I have to write on here to keep away the feelings of not gambling. If I don't write I feel I may slip back into my old ways. It is that, that I am really scared of. Thanks for giving me that support. X

So I will finish today gamble free. I feel I am going

In the right direction- however I do know how quickly you can slip back into gambling. 1 bad day, stress, an argument. I know the real tests are still to come, however I feel hopeful about the future. X

Hi Ben

A great big "Well done". You have taken some really positive steps in the past few days.

One mantra that helps me when the urges strike is "I will not win cos I can't stop" (even if I did win initially, I'd lose it all back and more so there's no point!). I'll never win back what I've lost- its gone and I must move forward. I also use Netline when the urges are really strong- you are right to be vigilant. One of the difficult things is the unpredictability of those feelings- I find that having some plans which I can employ to cope with them helps!

Wishing you every success 🙂

Irene

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