Abstain and maintain.Stepping forward never back.

Well done on the 500 days Duncan and good that abstinence has made such a difference to your life. Great support you show for others, hope you can continue to help and inspire me and others to get where we want to be.

Afternoon diary.

Thanks so much for all the wonderful posts, I feel humbled and so enriched through this forum.

Today marks 500 gamble free days, a milestone i only thought was a fairytale when i came here broken on 23/01/2012, truthfully i could not see past the end of my nose. My life through gambling had become truly unmanageable.

To my beloved wife i had reverted to being worse than a child, my moods unpredictable, money all changed up to gambling tokens, a court order for the repossesion of our home served.

That day as in my first GA meeting the night before i saw hope. Smiler offered words which will live with me for life.

I took the advice given, Sarah took charge of the finances.

We went to court, i pleaded a broken man, the judge, said he had seen it many times, but believed, there and then i broke, the realization of my addiction hit me like a ton of bricks.i threw myself at the mercy of recovery. It was hard, harder on Sarah, the kids, my mum all those lies.

I put it all on the table, oh the lies I had told.

Together Sarah and i worked through them, the support amazing, my life became better it grows every day.

I have learnt a great deal about myself and even more about my wife and wonderful kids, they played a huge part, still do.

I feel an amazing sense of pride of what we have achieved and today on our 10th wedding anniversary i give thanks to recovery and what it offers.

You have to want it, like addiction the compulsion to recover has become the most important thing in my life.

I became a winner and have a priceless prize for it.

My family.

I pay tribute to you my gamcare family, so many who have helped me to get were today i stand.

My name is Duncs i am a recovering compulsive gambler.

No bet today." stepping forward never back.

Well done Duncs.... 500 days for you and 200 days for me.

Stepping forwards, never back. Warm regards... S.A 🙂

Wow Duncan - well done!

I'm only on my first day but reading things like your diary will inspire me to better myself and not gamble.

500 huge, massive, days!! Well done Duncan, take a bow! Your family should be very proud, you are a rock mate, just keep doing, what Duncan does.

Andy

Congratulations on 500 day mucker! You are the perfect role model for this site. Rock solid as wilsy says.keep it up mate.

Scottyboy

Hey Duncs

500 days- wow! Many congrats on hitting this milestone. Keep it up 🙂

Irene

x

Shiny xxxx

Jiminy Cricket..!!!! ..500 .....Nice one Centaurian x 5

R and D xxxxx

Hi Duncs,

Thanks for the post sir. I gotta get me some of that positivity that you seem to find in abundance. I feel ashamed sitting here wallowing and you are over there with a horrific back pain. And, finding the time and words to cheer me up! Just goes to show what an awesome person you are. I agree with Rach. You are a true role model. No pressure. It's all in a day at a time but, 500 of 'em whew!! That's huge!! Gonna get out my crossbow now and give the sheriff a what for. 😀 -joanxxx

Morning Dunc.

Well done mate on the 500.

As ever ,thanks for your help over the last 15 months.

Enjoy your weekend

gazza

Hi Duncan

Firstly massive well done on the 500 days now 501 of course !

Av to echo what Judy says bout been the role model , been honestly truthful u av inspired me so much in ur recovery but more importantly motivated me in my own I want that life u now av and worked so d**n hard to get , when I av slipped it hurt and won't lie when I say I felt a tinge of jealousy with others that haven't urself included but for me that is the drive and why I will keep trying

The inspiration that ur posts on ur diary and others are always full of positivity I cannot recall any negativity even with ur bad back there's no real moaning ur attitude is flawless

Like I av always said behaviour breeds behaviour and that message u send out echos around this forum , the 500 days is ur own personal achievement but the impact u av had on other peoples lives and their recoveries is just as bigger achievement as ur own

Something to be so proud of

Castle2

Sorry I missed wishing you the best on your anniversary and 500 days achievement and hope you were well enough to enjoy it.

You have made so many changes in that time in your own life but for me it is the kindness and insight you share with everyone on here that is the most significant difference because as you have said before we become so self engrossed when we are gambling.

To be in such pain and still have thoughts of how you can help others is surely a major achievement and much appreciated.

I will take you up on your offer, I really think that just having that option may make it that I never, or seldom, need to use it if that makes sense.

It is an added responsibility which will be good for me but will be a lifeline as well. I am too old to be counting the days and looking at the future, I need to stop this now as every day is precious as are those I care about and at this stage in my life I cannot risk damaging any relationships.

Thinking of you today as a Red Admiral butterly coming to my rescue, colourful and strong.

xxx

Evening diary.

Had a bad day today with tremendous spasms and the feeling my back is ripping itself in two.

I have rested my body, medicated to the max, dozed in and out of sleep most of the day on the floor on my camping mat, a whippet either side as my guardians lol.

Between resting i fed my brain with some gamcare medicine.

Some truly amazing folk here, each and every one from the compulsive gambler to the partners/ wives of the addicts trying to find a way through the destruction our compulsion.

To top them all today the honourable Castle posted a truly amazing post from the depths of his soul. His courage to fight this against a tidal wave of things that would break many a mortal. And to see the harmony he and Rachel have found to bond against the fact that they come from either side of addiction, one devastated by there addiction and the other a victim who's only fault was to love a compulsive gambler, who choose gambling over love.

This further invigourates me to commit my life to simply help as many folk i can to overcome the destruction.

No bet today 501 days winning. The prize for abstinence.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Congrats on the 501 Duncs!

A truly magnificent achievement. You definitely lead the charge onto the battlefield (in mind if not in body at the moment )

Hope the back eases up soon

Paul