I am going to try and keep a diary which people can read. Hopefully i will be able to open up but like most gamblers i find this hard. I kept a diary last year which was for my eyes only and found it really helpful. In fact when i stopped writing my diary this is when i started gambling again. In my diary i will be setting myself targets and when i acheive these targets i will be rewarding myself. It does not need to be anything expensive but just something that i maybe would not have bought if i was gambling. I am on my second day and i have set myself my first target to reach 7 days gambling free. When i done this the last time i found it easier to start with to resist temptations but the longer i went not gambling the more complacent i became. The key for me is to take myself out of all gambling situations and stop looking at odds and tips before events as i know that one bet on football will lead to FOTB. So day 2 will be completed tonight and i will not be gambling.Happy New Year to all when it comes and heres to a gambling free 2015
well Greggsboy you'll get help and support on this site
take in all on board - tri
happy new year
Day 2 completed. No real urges but it was hogmany last night so had a bit of a party. Thats us just woke up and normally would head down to bookies for Football, racing, roulettte but today is different. Going to spend with family and get a take away later on. Heres to smashing day 3. Happy new gambling free 2015 everyone
Thanks NT and Triangle for the support. Day 3 with no gambling completed and looking forward to making 2015 my first full year of not gambling in about 30 years. Been looking at the triangle you need to break to stop gambling. I am going to really struggle with location as i counted last night i have 23 bookmakers within a 3 mile radius of my home. To self exclude from these would take forever then i have about another 100 within a 10 mile radius. Money - at this time i do not want to burden my family and people close to me trust me with their money and to be honest i have never let them down. In all my gambling days i always made sure that i had a plan to cover my losses. I am now debt free and have no more access to loans or credit cards. Time- this is what i can break. I am going to start taking up my hobbies again. I play badminton, tennis and football. I am also a keen cook and enjoy nothing better than conjuring up a meal from scratch. So heres to a busy and gambling free 2015
Hi greggs and welcome aboard,
3 days in and what a strong and positive post,
I wish you the very best on your recovery
Best wishes,
Suzanne xx
Thanks Suzanne. I find it easier at the start to be positive and upbeat. I struggle when the complacency sets in. Hope i have learned my lessons from last year when i went over 200 days then stupidly thought i could control the beast. Finding this site has been a godsend and realising there is people i can talk to with similar problems as myself. The wholeGA thing scares me so this is a great substitute
Thanks NT sounds great someone telling me i have not had a bet this year andeven though i went over 200 days last year i did not start the year not gambling so could never at any point think i have not had a bet this year. Reading some of the stories on here makes me feel so humble and even maybe a fraud as i have not experienced rock bottom and still have a great family and a good job. But i also undrstand that any one of these people could be me in the coming years. I am just grateful i have never tried online roulette as my saving grace in the bookies is when i lose and have to go and get more money that time is enough for me to gather my thoughts and stop for the day. This would usually mean at least a £200 plus loss but reading stories on here realise that tis could be a helluva lot worse. Reading back there and thinking that £200 loss is ok is crazy bit if i can not gamble in 2015 and do not have any £200 loss days then i will be looking at a minimum 3 g saving. That will do for me
Its a good start greggsboy.
Keep the triangle to two sides and you'll guaranteed to be ok as well as having yourself refusing to bet.
Mba
Day4 smahed. Still no real gambling urges but mind still wanders when watching sports towhat odds this would be and what do i fancy in this game. Day 5 going to spend at Carnival with kids and then go out for dinner. Looking forward to reaching my 7 day target and treating myself.I am not going to gamble today, tomorrow or in the future.
Day 5 completed. Had a sleepless night last night and was having really negative thoughts when i woke up this morning. How can i not have small bets? How can i not control my gambling? I am not as bad as other people. Stuff like this running through my head. Dont know if it was because i was watching the darts last night or i know i have a full triangle today which i am going to find hard to break. But after reading the 2015 challenge i have banished they thoughts and arranged for something to do between 12 and 5 to break triangle when my wife goes out today. Heres to a bet free 2015
Hi Gregg,
Well done on 5 days, those negative thoughts don't last long, keep thinking of the positives, with abstaining because there is no comparison with the negatives of gambling.
Stay strong and keep moving forwards and upwards.
Suzanne xx
Day 6 completed yesterday. Just finished my first day back at work and even though it was a struggle its good to get a bit of normality back into my life. Going out to play football later on so pretty busy today and tonight which is good. I did not gamble yesterday i will not gamble today and i will not gamble tomorrow.
Well done Gregg, one week tomorrow,
Stay positive and keep busy.
Suzanne xx
Nice one Gregg good luck with the new year I hope it's a prosperous and gamble free one 🙂
the bear
First week completed. Feeling really good and upbeat about challenges ahead. Isaid after 1 week i would treat myself so have just went on and bought myself a new book for my kindle. My next target is 21 days free and will reward myself again. I did not gamble yesterday and i will not gamble today or tomorrow
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