A year on gamble free

Welcome, and well done so far Ricky.

Nice to meet you on Chat earlier.

Stay strong and keep posting.

All the Best

Jon

Ricky,

Welcome to the forum and well done for starting your diary. My story is similar to yours in the way that I never had online accounts but struggled badly with roulette in the bookies. I used to play almost every day and for five years endured a personal nightmare constantly worrying about debt and suffered pschological despair often lying awake at night wondering how or when this would all stop. This stopped 92 days ago when I found this site. I started a diary like you are doing now and I dedicated time to this site by reading as many stories as possible seeking as much support and good advice as I possibly could.

I realised that I had to make changes to my life. Without changing the way I lived I couldn't expect my life to change. I adapted simple rules and put up barriers that would prevent me from gambling even during times of weakness. Three months on and I still don't carry a bank card to work. I no longer have urges to gamble but just incase they return I won't be able to act on them because I won't have access to money at that precise moment of weakness. Will power is not enough. That is an example of one simple rule and the barrier that doesn't allow me to gamble. I have many more.

As for the benefits - well they are never ending. I don't worry about money the way I used to. When I go to bed I sleep a sound and peaceful sleep and generally I am happy and content with life. I don't have to lie to my loved ones about my whereabouts and I feel good within because I am proud of myself because I have turned a very bad situation around.

I realise now that when I was in action it was difficult to stop because I was always chasing losses and no matter how much I won it was never going to be enough. I had to accept that gambling had beaten me and accepted my losses. This allowed me to start from scratch at DAY 1 just as you are doing.

If I had to offer any advice I would say treat this as the most important thing in your life right now. Giving up any addiction is difficult but the benefits are huge and far outweigh the hard work required for success.

I wish you well.

Tomso.

Hi Ricky, it was nice 2 speak 2 u in chat earlier 🙂

Well done on the 3 days gamble free 🙂

U can beat this!

Stay strong and keep going 🙂

Hi Charlotte thanks for posting on my thread ye i will stay strong I cant afford to gamble anymore its just not an option. Well done on ur 3 weeks gamble free 🙂 I'm sure we can beat this.

Hey tomso thanks for your reply and sharing your experience with me it has provided me with some more tips on stopping like the bank card idea. That's really good 3 months gamble free i hope to say that too within 3 months I got along way to go but with the support from you and everyone else on here and my fiancee i have confidence i can put this behind me. Today will be my 4th day gamble free I will take each day as it comes and post regularly on the diaries and other peoples threads so thankyou once again :).

hi ricky24,

put your recovery as a first priority in your life.compulsive gambling is a very serious illness.i m 40 days bet free, i am addicted to FOBTS as you.take all the aproriate measures to stay away from gambling.self exclusion, handing your money over to someone you trust, GA meetings, the forum.

wish you the best for your recovery, the journey will be long but it worths a try.

take care

mike

Hi Ricky,

Well Done on all the steps you have already taken to beat this horrible affliction!

You have the future to look forward too now and a wedding coming up, what more incentive could there be! Oh yes, that you want this for life and to be gamble free to enjoy it!

I wish you all the best on your recovery

Keep Strong

Smiling Lucy

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your post and well done on your 40 days gamble free. Ye that was the first thing I did, self exclude myself from all the bookies in my hometown was a mission but had to be done I got alot riding on giving up I really cant afford to mess up. This is definitely my priority and the support has just been amazing im only in my first week now on my fourth day I know it will be a long road but one that is necessary. Where can I find out about the GA meetings I think it may benefit me to go to one.

Thank you once again keep up the good work.

Best Wishes

Ricky

HI Ricky

well done on day 4, keep at it the benefits you will start to see not just financial are endless.

If you go on to the gamblers anonymous website there is a tab that says meetings, you can then search by area. On the same website they also do an online meeting on a thursday evening at 9pm, i have attended the last 3 and again they are a real eyeopener and a sense of inspiration also.

Keep strong ricky, One day at a time.

Blondie day 25

Hi Ricky

I just wanted to welcome you to the site. You are already discovering how supportive this place is and that everyone here knows exactly what you are going through.

Stick close to this site, read and post as much as you can and you will give your recovery the best chance possible.

All the best.

LMM

Hi Ricky,

Warm welcome to you buddy many thanks for your post on my diary and be assured you are in the right place!

Here you will get support, guidance, friendship, warmth and most importantly you will be understood!! Having people close to us willing to stand by us and support us is amazing and we are very lucky, but right here is where you will find understanding, a community of people who all have exactly the same addiction and have all done exactly the same things as you.

It's a huge challenge nobody will deny that but it's a challenge you can face and can win that has to feel good! Just to reaffirm what Tomso said it's massively important you get those barriers in place. For the last 5 weeks I have carried no money and I have to say it is a pretty liberating experience. Of course we need money but on a day to day basis we can cope without it and believe me not gambling is far easier without funds.

I do ramble and I apologise my last word would be take this one day at a time it's a very simple method and very very effective. Reward yourself, each day is a victory and enjoy your recovery. Giving up is not a burden it's the key to a much much better life marriage included!

I wish you every success!

Flagg

Day 5,

Last night i went out for the first time since giving up gambling with my fiancée to bars and a club there was flashing light and fruit machines everywhere but I stayed strong and resisted I'm feeling really positive and I am definitely on the right track and will stay on this track

Hey Flagg,

Thanks for your warm welcome and kind words and advice. Ye i will try and offer as much help and advice to anyone yourself included if ever needed. Your doing so well mate like you say got to take each day one at a time. It's working for me so far. 5 days gamble free. I will keep coming on this site regularly the support is fantastic. What did you think of the chat? that's a good place for everyone to chat the forums are good as well. Keep in touch mate

Keep up the good work

All the best Ricky

Hi Ricky, thank u 4 ur support on my diary 🙂

Well done 4 staying strong last nite, it gives me hope 🙂

U r doing gr8!

Stay strong and keep going 🙂

Morning Ricky,

Great to catch up with you on chat Friday night.

I quite enjoyed the room although it was a bit quieter than I expected.

I see you were 5 days gamble free yesterday mate, we all start at day 1 and it's amazing how quickly those days will pile up providing you stick to that day at a time ethos.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Flagg

Day 6

Today is a sunny day and im feeling good probably the first weekend I have never gambled so feeling good. I'm going for a nice walk along the downs with my fiancee today we concentrating on fitness now for our wedding in 2 months.

Hope everyone here on Gamcare has a nice Sunday remember day of rest not gambling stay strong. Thanks to everyone who has been posting on my diary it means a lot. 🙂

Ricky over and out.