Believe you can and you will

23 days GF Tommy, that's really good going.

Thanks for dropping by my diary and hope your meeting tomorrow is a good one.

Being busy with work is always a good distraction, just watch the pressure doesn't build and lead to anything it shouldn't....

Take care and stay GF.

You are doing great Tommy, Keep going.

Good luck with the interview.

Just read your diary and there are so many true things said in the fact when we do gamble we become monsters to our family I've noticed this time I'm not gambling and how nice it is not losing ports bets and you become a better person. Keep it going

Day25

Thanks for the comments everybody means so much to my recovery and really helps me

Went to ga last night had a really good meeting met some new people and there's was a new lady who came who was broken and it really upset me and reminded me what an awfull disease we have .I've been gf 25 days and things are getting a little easier day by day IE angers going personal debts are getting smaller I'm starting to see clearer and the clouds are slowly moving from my mind and eyes .not had any urges today probably for the first day since quitting which is great .big job interview tomoz got all my stuff sorted going to do some revision on things I think will help.me.in the Interview and cross my fingers.so another day gamble free and another day worry free .Believe you can and you will jft

Hi Tommy .

Thanks for the drop by mate and the kind comment :))

Allway's seems kinda strange wnhen someone say's theyv'e looked at you diary but if it helps anyone it's all good in my book but I'm suprised you found much to go on as it's not all sensible and tidy like Martin's , just the ramblings of an old gambler if I'm honest :)) .

Look at you getting yourl life back together :)) soon be at your first month mate and that's gotta feel good ! .

I'm glad your sticking to GA and more importantly that your getting something from it , congratulations on your effort so far mate and I hope the job interview went well today ? .

All the best for now and I'll talk to you soon :))

Alan

Day 27
Hiya everyone having a real
tough day went for the job interview at fcho yesterday but had a phone call today to say I did a really good interview but there was a couple of people with better experience ect in front of me so I'm a bit gutted about that it's our last week with more or less no money when paid debts and bills I've been up since 5 with my current job had to go to Wakefield and check some parts we have made so quite tired anyway but soon as I had the phone call about job I went on a proper downer and started have really bad urges to bet I no I need to fight them I can't do it if I wanted to if I'm honest but it's an horrible feeling it makes me feel sick and angry about stuff need to stop feeling sorry for myself and man up and realise the good things I have in my life ie roof over my head a family a decent job and food in cupboards just them urges are sick and want them to away sorry for boring you all but thought I'd get some good advice off you all.

Hi Tommy :))

It's not feeling sorry for yourself , it's gambling telling you to do what youve alway's done in times of crisis , it's about relearning to do something else to take your mind off of it or better still learning to realise there just thoughts that won't hurt you if you think things through . As for the job well they'll be other opportunities you know that ? , my son graduated from uni in July and he's had no real luck and been on abit of a downer at times with no replies or just being told no ! , then this week he's had reply's all over the shop , interviews , actual offers and taster day's to see if he want's the jobs so he's on cloud nine and in a different place again :)) It's life mate it's just the way it goes and there's alway's something around the corner :))

As you siad in the last bit of the post you have to be thankfull for what you do have and take positivity from that , the urges do get bad at times but read back over your first couple of posts and see where you were , Is that worth going back for ? . Go and do something to take your mind off of it anything really , maybe try and catch a chicken like stallone does in the first " Rocky" movie :)) That'll keep you busy for a while :))

Iv'e been trying to reply since you first posted and been rushed off my feet in my shop bu better late than never mate :))

All the best bud :))

Thanks for reply Alan you have give me some great advice and I love what you have to say keep the comments coming I'll drop by your diary very soon cheers pal

Day 28

Its been a rubbish weekend just about had enough money for food and rent due to be I'll last week in work and paying off debts and loans so close to being strait so staying strong. At 12 bells tonight I will have done 1 month gf and I'll after admit it's been hard but feel.s great had many urges but with no money and all blocks in place would be very hard to gamble so not much more to say well just before stopped gambling my daughter had been having trouble with this girl and it all come to a head and the parents ended up all rowing and it went to far any way all got.sorted by parents and children but now the mum is carrying things on shouting abuse to my partner while.on bus with my children and now sending texts threatening one to my 12 year old daughter so police are being called will let you no how.it goes over next few.weeks

Tommy a late welcome from me. Congratulations on hitting one month bet free. You mentioned about not a lot of money right now that I promise will improve over time. The early stages are a tricky period but you’re in great hands with our mutual friend Martin . When the time arises and you’re feeling deflated use him. Don’t stop reaching out. Apparently if you do 12 meetings in a row he takes you for a beer or two on him lol Hopefully this finds you in good spirits

Thanks Wentworth I will.pop.by your diary soon .Martin is a top man and is helping me.in my recovery I hope.its.true about the 12 strait meetings haha

Day 32

Went to GA last night had a really good meeting one of the members mentioned about going to meetings for so long then having a bet and not going back I have done this on four occasions I am now 31 and started my first ever g a at age of 18.this time as been the hardest time but I really do believe this is now a lifetime commitment which I will take one day at a time .I am going to put hundred percent effort it and abstain.ive got to come back to my post s if I get the feeling of I'm cured I will be ok to just have a small bet I will never be ok to do that ever one small bet leads to lies cheating manipulation loss of friends family money children I've got.to remember all this .

I'll leave it for.today as had a long day at work but the good thing is it's my last day tomorrow ready for a.long weekend with my family catch you all soon jft

Thanks for the drop by Tommy 🙂 I whizzed straight over to redirect you to a saner place but see he’s already walking shoulder to shoulder with you @ your GA...Mine, like Al’s is a lot of crazy so thank you for giving it a go & feel free to pop it back on the cyber shelf until you next have problems sleeping 😉

Sorry to hear the open space job didn’t come your way but good skills on giving a good interview & keep on applying...I hope there’s something rewarding round your next corner. As they say, the pilot light is always on & the only safe bet for us is not placing one - ODAAT

Hiya everybody should be five week gamble free today but I relapsed on Friday and had a bet .
So day 2 is here

I had a massive row with my partner as we went to town to do some shopping we haven't been getting along due to us both having our own issues mine is gambling and my partner as her own issues so after we had massive row in town .I was left with money in my pocket not loads it was 24 pound but because I had not put enough blocks in place I was able to go in the local bookmakers and I went strait to the fobt and lost in seconds I was so weak and couldn't control myself.i then went on to have a football bet later in day which also lost so I messaged my g a WhatsApp group .and got some great advice I should of been on there before I bet .so from Saturday I've started day one again I'm going put more blocks in place and I'm not going to have any money in my pocket for foreseeable future .times are hard and not going is so hard but I no I've got to take it one day at a time back to g a Tues and carry on feeling down at mi it's in life but no can overcome this thanks for reading jft

Morning tommy,

You know I hate the word relapse it sounds like a bowel movement You’d get in your 80s lol

It takes time to find the formula that works for you. You’ve already mentioned your blocks aren’t tight enough so get self excluding. If you do the online form for the bookies they ring you back and do all the work for you , all you have to do is send them a photo. You mentioned your bird has a few issues aswell maybe ask her if she wants to go to the gamanon meeting whilst your at ga? I know hers might be different to your issues but it might give her a platform to talk her issues through with others who won’t judge her , does she know about the free biscuits? Come to think of it they should remove the one day at a time logo, and replace it with “we do free biscuits” the place would be packed to the rafters.

Jokes apart you lost 24 quid which isn’t the end of the world but I think that would of been a lot more if you had your hands on the cash. So carrying minimal is going to be a good start . If you don’t need it don’t carry it . As well I’d be providing receipts even for milk. The advantages of that you can also look at the end of the month where you can save a few quid.

Tommy we’ve all had a relapse so don’t beat yourself up , that doesn’t mean they’re a good thing just means you’re not doing enough. You’re most useful tool is your friends at ga like Martin if you leave it to late and only use them once you’ve gambled your not using them the right way. Talking is your medicine make sure you take plenty of it.

I’ve never met Martin but he’s like the brother I never asked for lol it’s most likely I’d still be gambling if he hadn’t kept nagging me. 🙂

But seriously when I stopped I gave myself a few tasks to learn about addiction, another was to complete a minimum of 10000 steps per day most days I’d smash about 27000 but it gave me a focus point. Another was when I got an urge I started in the kitchen and went up the stairs and back ten times. I’m serious by the way and it works to distract you.

Well done tommy for at least admitting you had a relapse and for giving it another go.

Enjoy your ga on Tuesday and save some room for biscuits they’re free