Today is the first day of my new start. I have said this before but i have been reading a lot of diaries on this forum and see similar stories over and over!
I have been strong enough to deal with my down days, i am having my first consulation for online counselling next week and seeking help with my debt from Payplan. Looking to the future and not being sucked into placing my weekly money into a FOBT. Now to have a positive Easter Weekend with the family.
This will not be easy but i want to remind myself of the destructive behaviour i have been taking part in and also that i have a family to support and who love me!
Craig
Good luck Craig. You're right that it's not easy, but each day you don't gamble is a good day. Stay strong and have a good Easter with the family.
Good luck mate!
What steps are you taking this time that you feel may work?
Hi Both,
Had a good 5 days without gambling feel quite positive at the moment. Steps i have taken this time is to ensure i carry on with counselling, before i undertook some phone counselling but really felt it was 'cured' after that period had ended. I will undertake the online counselling through Gamcare and again renew my Self exclusion and added on extra shops in local area. I am now trying to focus my time on my family and and also try and play a lot of golf again which will limit my free time. My downfall was really lunchtimes at work so have started to take a kitty of money for my lunches rather than bank cards etc. I will try and give an update on how I am doing on this diary and read others. If anyone has any other suggestions other than this would be helpful. I really am hopeful that the counselling will focus my mind on what i need to do!
2 weeks without gambling and feel pretty good about it! I want to keep going with this as it seems to be a real weight off without thinking about my losses and filling my time feeling a bit more positive. The real test is when i get paid tomorrow but at the moment do not feel like walking to find somewhere i am not self excluded from. Feel like my time has become more useful when i am not gambling and i can relax more, life feels like it is going in the right direction at present!
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
