4 months GF today but struggling

Hi

first of all well done you for getting so far your doing so well. I am into day 9 of my recovery and just like you I feel in lockdown I struggle not to gamble. I finish work and go home bang the racing on and just want to bet or go online on machines. Instead I try keep busy. Read a book or go on YouTube learn something. Can be anything. Weekends I’ve found myself getting board games out with my partner just to take the urge off. I’m only at the start of a long journey and also found going on this forum really helps with people giving you support and advice. Some stories are inspirational and thankyou to all you again who reply.

wishing you the very best in your journey

shaun

Hi, I know what you mean and I am finding it hard during lockdown too. It’s a new different fresh urge to deal with. Few tips that work for me. Firstly; exercise (albeit hard during gyms closure) is always a great stress relief, even walking for an hour outside layered up so you don’t get cold. Secondly; do you have anybody you can give most of your disposable income to? This way your saved money is being saved through somebody you trust and will not be spent away to any addiction. I do this with money giving it to my wife so I literally have money for bills and £100 spare on food. It’s sad it has to be this way but it works. It will always be this way from now. To help with correctly calculating my finances I have a function on my banking app called ‘Balance after bills’ whereby I can get an accurate picture of the money I do have disposable after by bills will be paid. It is like a good estimate. Those 2 things helped me bigtime. But if exercise is not your thing then find something else stress relieving like drawing, painting, reading, listening to calm music (Lofi Fruits), even google an activity. Opportunities are endless if you put your mind to them! Easier said than done however. Good Luck

Some really good advice above. All I would add to it is - be aware of your triggers.

If, when you were gambling, boredom leads to watching sport and watching sport leads to checking the odds and checking the odds leads to placing a bet - cut off those triggers.

Don't watch sport, and do something else during games you used to bet on...go for a walk, exercise or just do some housework or read a book. If it's checking odds - then put your devices in another room for the duration of your temptation.

And, as has been said, log on to here and talk to us. Another thing you can do is to tell someone in your personal life and, when the desire builds, give them a call. Talk to them for half an hour and distract yourself.

You've come such a long way and it's amazing to see. I would imagine you've formed a lot of good habits during the time you've been GF, so keep it up.

Hi lostitall - how have you been doing over the last few days?