Back to square 1

Hey Nicki,

Hope all is good with you and you still going strong and sure. Would love to hear from you.

Take care and keep fighting good fight:-)

Sandra x

Hi Nicki,

I hope u r ok and staying strong 🙂

Thinking of u, hope 2 see an update soon!

Take care xx

Hey Nicki,

Hope all is good with you...Update would be fantastic.

Stay strong and keep the fight going!

Take care

Sandra x

Hiya nicki was thinking about you and hope your ok and staying strong. Take care of yourself. Be good to hear from ya.

Just read that back and I was thinking of you but not in a stalker type way that it might've sounded like lol

hey Nicki,

Hope all is ok with you and you keep moving forward and enjoying your life.

Just bumping ur diary back up...update needed:)

Sandra x

Hey Nicki...

I will not give up on u....hope you keep fighting the good fight too:-):-):-):-)

Take care darling....give us a roar;-) we need to hear from you!!

S x

It's been a while since I've been here, but I have sunk lower and lower in regards to gambling. I cannot do it no more! Today is the first day of my new life. How many times have I said that :-/. Lots. But I cannot not do it anymore. I will not do it any more

Hey Nicki,

Good to see you back. I know you said this time you HAVE to stop and you have been here many times before. The reality is this isn't easy and it's not quite as simple as just saying I won't do that again.

A guy I know kept coming back to the GA group saying he couldn't stop, he gambled in betting shops only and mainly on his lunch break. We suggested quite simply he stayed in the office at lunch and took sandwiches. He didn't listen for weeks and weeks. One night someone just bluntly said why come to the group if you won't take advice. That was a wake up call, he took sandwiches and now is 6 months bet free. Just by removing the temptation of walking past his betting shop at lunch helped him stop.

If you gamble online get some blocking software. Why tempt yourself? Everyone has differing circumstances, everyone has different triggers, but the one thing we can all do is put some barriers up to protect us. Ok they are not bombproof but if at the very least they make you think twice then they are worth a shot.

You can stop Nicki, you can get your life on track. Post here regularly as you have before. It's a great tool at our disposal.

Take Care,

Flagg

Hiya nicki. Good to see you back, sorry it's not in the best of circumstances. I agree with what Flagg said about barriers. They really do help. Ok if you really want to gamble you'll find a way but they do make you stop and take a second and often enough that is enough to realise that what your about to do is wrong. For me it was self exclusion from the bookies around my house and my works and that has helped me avoid temptation as in my mind I go to work everyday knowing I cant place a bet even if I wanted to. I wish you all the best. Stay strong and if try to think of what you'd do if an urge does come - how will you avoid gambling - would a block help eg self exclusion, would leaving cards behind help etc. Take care and keep posting I've forgot lately how much it can help.

Good early morning to you Nicki ,

Firstly, welcome back !!

Secondly, we only fall down to get back up

Thirdly, you are WORTH to reap all the benefits of recovery!!

To sum it up..we are all still here for you and always will be. Dust urself down girl and come back to the fighting field...armour is ready for you!!

You can do it..so just go for it 🙂

Day at a time..the only way forward

Look after urself and speak later ( hopefully u won't dissapear 😉 )

Sandra x

Thank you everyone.

It has been tough but I'm on the 8th day. I sit here with my palms sweating because I want to gamble. But I managed to stop.

Flag I know what you mean about putting the blocks in place. My computers are all locked down I can't gamble on them till 2015.

My main problem is when I have a drink now I don't gamble unless I drink. Why don't I stop drinking? I think that goes a lot deeper then I actually thought. I have cone to realise over the many months that depression has been a huge factor in my drinking which leads to gambling. Yet I'm to scared to go doctors. I'm not sure what else to say. I'm stuck in this stupid depressive place and I feel a failure for feeling like this. What have I got to he depressed about? Nothing. So why do I feel like this. I'm so tired. So scared that I'll end up on the same path as my destructive father. I thought I was better then that I thought But I'm not

Girl..i have tears flowing ....

You are not on ur own..

Please get some rest and good sleep..

I will post more tomorrow..today is bad day..please stay strong..i have a lot to tell u..

Welcome back xx

Keep at it...no regrets x

S xx

Thanx Nicki...

Stay on here..ok?? It is not perfect world...but loads better than self destruction..

Keep posting...keep belief going..stay strong...u can do it!!!

Speak later...pls keep posting...we all understand xx

S x

Hi Nicki,

I feel ur anger and devastation about the situation you find urself in. Alcohol can be a big factor for us in making wrong decisions. I am no angel, and feel like I need to relax with a glass of wine on some of my days off. s**t hits the roof many times, and either if I don't start gambling, I end up in a "sorry me " state, with anger boiling inside for what am I doing to myself.

You will never be as you father. Yes, childhood events can affect us, and parents are the ones we are trying to take the path from. But you are grown up person, you have life in ur hands and you can make healthy decisions for yourself.

Did u have counselling? Contact GC, they offer free 1 to 1 counselling.

You say you feel depressed, but there is no real reason why you should be. Mind can surprise us my friends, we can lead happy life, but something deep inside can still play part in how we feel. Maybe you need to dig deeper in this and try to find a underlying issues which might make you feel as you are.

I would really love to see you around. Recovery is not a bed of roses, but this place is really great to come and vent it all out. Share good days and the bad. You can stop merry go round, break the cycle girl, you have control of your future. Let us be here and help you to keep making the right choice. You can do it, get that strength and belief back in you. We are always listening, and can always support each other on a good and bad days.

Be kind to urself darling.

Take it day at a time

Better life is out there for you, grab it with both hands and never let go.

Hugs (((( Nicki ))))

Sandra x

Hi Nicki.....

Hope all is OK with you and you are all safe and peaceful.

I am worried about u, if you still read and have time, please drop a line..

Sandra x