3 months to change my life

Excellent post Suzy, showing There is away out of gambling AND Life is so much better WITHOUT it!

Keep it up!

Congratulations Suzy - but please keep that guard up.

100 days is excellent, but I have been there in the past, longer peiods, and when I least expect it I slip up and go back to Old Kent Road once again.

I look forward to feeling the same way you do. Hope all goes well tomorrow for you.

Hi Gav,
Thanks for your post. Peter was my first counselling session by phone. I still sing his praises as you know. Isn't it a small world?

Steven you are so right! Even going back to work could be a trigger. The guards are up, up, up.

I can't even use that auction website that begins with an E (sometimes this comes up as asterisks). I found myself bidding for the same items from different sellers. I ended up with two of the same bags. It could have been five.

You referred to monopoly. Had to give it up. It is in the same range for me believe it or not!!

I have to be aware of "substitute" addictions.

My life was a "feast or a famine"...sometimes the cupboards were like a soup kitchen. Sometimes we didn't have a drop of milk!

I have to work on the right balance.

I am looking for all constructive criticism as they say on X factor.
Suzy

Hi Suzy

Very well done on your days, nearly at 100, it really is a milestone and turning point

We are stronger wiser and more in control

Apart from the debts and tight budget we are feeling a bit normal again ( whatever normal is lol)

Those horrendous days of gambling misery are fading

but we still have to take one day at a time and slowly but surely we will continue to win every day

Take positives from negatives in all aspects of your life, your experience with abstaining now can help you be stronger and wiser with other areas in your life

Abstaining can gift us with so much in life now the awful fog from gambling is clearing and it's amazing what we we have missed for so long that is real and that simply is living in the real world and you are doing it be very proud of yourself

You are doing fine

Suzanne xx

Hello Suzy,

Absolutely well done you for getting to the 100 without the G business in your life.

You are so right......... seconds, minutes, hours ,day's, weeks, months and years of gambling lead to a totally miserable life for us all and it is all determined by clever psychologist who find our weak spots and lure every penny out of us till we end up beneath the gutter if we allow them to.

I will keep following your diary and wish you all the best in your recovery.

Best wishes

Back at work today, all went so well.

No gambling hangover meant no woody woodpecker in my head.

The 3 months have laid the foundations.. All I focused on was quitting gambling. Everything else didn't matter.

Not complacent, continuing to learn how we can be tricked into relapse.

Suzy

Suzy

Wow what a great way to start my day!!

I was worn to the bone,physically hammered from the heavy work schedule I am currently following,but let me tell you I will now skip through my day.

Why??

Because you through your thread injected a huge dose of resolve into my mind.

For me recovery is two things,firstly a gift,one that only you can unwrap,a gift that will never stop giving and in taking it you also gift many other folk too,it for me really is the one selfish act we can take.

Secondly recovery,the journey is bespoke,you have to tailor it to fit you,you have to use whatever resources at your disposal to continue to grow your own resolve to find the 'better' person within.

By and large we are not bad people,we are ADDICT's,addiction takes control it becomes all consuming,it kids you into thinking it is your best friend,only to repeatedly f**k you over,yet we all know what it is like to crawl back wanting to gift it more,expecting the result to change.

The mantra the same for each and every compulsive gambler

I CANNOT WIN BECAUSE I CANNOT STOP

I salute the effort you have given your own recovery,I think I am right in saying for you like me 'recovery' has become more valuable than the next bet,maybe that is the holy grail so to speak,I comes to you through the effort you give recovery.

A previous author of a thread I learnt a great deal from wrote with addiction recovery,to recover you have to give your recovery away,you are doing that through writing your journey here.

In time addiction will come knocking,it will creep up on your thoughts,it will use the good times along with the bad to try and tempt you back.

Funny because it is expected for us to fail by many of the outside world,we are seen as the weak and needy.

Well my advice put that piece of ignorant thinking in your armory too.

Something else to poke two fingers up to.

CBT has changed my life,it has taught me to harness my 'all in' attitude and use it to my advantage,it has to me you don't have to have it today!!

As for hypnotherapy with honesty the honorable Mr b sent me some cd's early in my recovery,I belittled them,thinking they were some form of voodoo,truth is addiction did not want me dancing to anyone else's tune,especially one which would reward me.

So I have stolen your thread for too long,but as fellow guardian of the gift of 'RECOVERY' I simply want to pay you thanks

Enjoy those 100 days but not as much as 101!!!!

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back

Day 100

I got off the merrygo-round.

As Duncs says "nothing changes if nothing changes". Well the Counselling helped me figure out what needed to be changed. I made the changes. When I saw how well they worked, I embraced the changes.

I learned how to say "no". When I say "no" to the things that don't do me good, I say yes to so many other things.

We were taught not to answer back. Huh!!!
I have learned how to stand my corner.
The principles I learned in Counselling I apply to home, work and of course quitting gambling.

My head is full of positive thoughts. I no longer have a problem with boredom. I can sit quietly and simply relax.

I have learned to cook healthy meals. My health has improved, my skin is clearer.

Family life is wonderful. I listen attentively to my children ( no longer one eye on the PC screen watching slots).

Life still has the same problems but I cope with them so much better. My brain was fried.....deep fat fried.
My head is now clear.....crystal clear.

My senses are alive. When I see a food description, it is no longer just words. I can see it, I can taste it, I can smell it.

I am more creative. I can find things more easily.

Suzy

Hey suzie

100 days gamble free congratulations on this milestone

You certainly have got off the merrygo-round.

I love your post, you are sooo right life is so much better all round without gambling in it.

A big well done to you

Suzanne xx

Hey Suzy,

Your last post was one of the best I've read on here for a long time - full of positive vibes!

Thanks for sharing and happy to hear that your life has improved through not gambling.

I would like to apply your strategy to my own situation. Focus 100% on stopping gambling, and let the other stuff take care of itself along the way.

Keep posting.

Paul

Hi Suzy,

Good on you for getting through those early times as you return to work...it can be a stress trigger, but it sounds like you had planned it out and knew exactly how to fight off any temptation.

Hitting a hundred days is already a great achievement, even in three months the differences that we can make and the changes in life are dramatic.

Keep up the good work,

Ryan

I was going to “tone down” my diary today for two reasons.

(1). It is not helpful to read about someone who is sickeningly positive when you are in the horrors of withdrawal.

(2). You will think I am Whacko Jacko.

But I have got such good feedback, so I will say it as it is.

I am quite likely in the “pink cloud” stage of recovery. It does exist. It is not sustainable but God it is a fabulous state to be in .

Never underestimate the Power of Positive Thinking - it makes so much difference.

You may think I am Whacko Jacko, but I have spent years developing those skills.
It is only now I am using them in a positive way!!!
Suzy

Suzy

Tone it down?????????

It should be emblazoned across bill boards

RECOVERY THE GIFT THAT NEVER STOPS GIVING!!!!

My friend you reap what you sow.

Enjoy it,keep sharing it.

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back

Nice work suzie your my girl on this journey