7 days gambling free

Hi Pav

Well done, first week done gamble free which is the hardest one. It does get easier especially after a couple of months.

I know there is a lot of pain denoted in your post but I'm not sure I was anywhere near where you are after my first week. That's impressive. 

Have you self excluded with Gamstop yet ? I agree, creating friction in the form of barriers really helps.

This can be the first week of an amazing new life if you want it and are prepared to put in the work which it sounds like you are

It didn't take me long to know that the money was gone along with the wasted time and I had to draw a line in the sands to put that in the past. Ok, I can't forget about my past but if I live in the past then addiction will strike again. Same goes if I worry about the future then I will be looking for shortcuts again and the addiction strikes. So through GA I quicky learned to simplify my life and live each day at a time. The only thing that matters to me is being the best version of Stuart each day. I start each day with mediation and writing out a gratitude list, again a GA method of routine.

My biggest problem was always isolation in addiction. I used gambling for escapism from life, loneliness and any form of life experience I wanted to run away from. I needed connection. I started talking to people and walking to connect to nature. Slowly but surely I started to feel better, not fixed but better each day. 

Hey Pav, 

Thanks for sharing.

I feel what you are saying about the non financial impact. 

The isolation and surrendering to the gambling does not define you and is not who you are.

Like Stuart said, your over the harderst hurdle, get as much support as your willing to get and keep going forward mate.

Gambling crippled us all, not always financially alone but the isolation, the shame, guilt and embarrassment they make it feel impossible to open up to our loved ones and be honest so it digs in deeper, the first week is the hardest and the feelings of shame guilt and embarrassment will turn, took me a few weeks to shake embarrassment but this forum and chat rooms definitely helped on that because I felt heard and seen and not judged. Sometimes you got to hit rock bottom to bounce back to the top

Thank you Stuart, Dom and ChefJake for your support and encouragement. I have now self excluded on GameStop as well. I aim to put a weekly update of my progress here. Thank you again for your support 

2 weeks gambling free - I managed to tell my closest friends about my gambling and have received tremendous support from them which has kept me going. Next stop 3 weeks clean 

Hiya

I feel that the saying

The truth will set you free, is so true for addiction

Well done, I'm sure you feel amazing

Have you tried coming on the chatrooms here yet Pav ? There is such a community within them

Stuart

Hi Stuart, yes I need to come on the chat room sometime soon 

Hi Pav

Would be great to see you on there. The 8pm one each night is superb. If you are free today or tomorrow I will be on there

Stuart

3 weeks gambling free. I am getting better at controlling my gambling urges. It’s difficult for me to join the chat rooms as I work 2 jobs, but whenever possible I read about the success stories and pitfalls and ways to navigate my way through this process of getting myself rid of my addiction. Thank you to all the regular contributors on here who are really helping me out with some very good advice.

1 month gambling free. Feels good. Though by my calculations it will be 5 years before I am debt free, it feels good to get through the first month of my journey. Just focusing on getting through one week at a time 

Hi Pav

Well done and thats flown by since you first posted. Keep going, one day at a time and try and put the debt to the back of your mind. Just keep paying what you can afford 

Thank you Stuart. Yes just trying to stay in the present with positive thoughts. Thank you for your support and encouragement