Boxing Day 1

Thank you Our Lady and yes, just 16 days later and finances looking healthier and stress from gambling is gone. It's a horrible addiction that grabs you back in when you least expect it. I need to keep my guard up now - my target is to remain gamble free for one year and hopefully longer but one year is the goal. Having quit on a memorable date I want to keep that date in mind at all times to keep me focussed this time in the long term.

Checking in on three weeks - think I might book a holiday !

Hi BDF.

Here comes the sun! You book that holiday and focus your energy on saving for that and then totally enjoying it too!

Take care and have a lovely gamble free weekend.

Our Lady.

Thank you Our Lady.

I'm hoping to book one very soon - just three weeks without gambling and my finances look very much healthier. Sure, I've got my debts, but I'm paying these off gradually. My day to day finances are really what matters most at the moment and I know I could easily waste 2-3 hundred a night when I was gambling. Will give it some more thought this week and maybe book something !

Good for you! I look forward to reading the outcome of this on your diary.

Take care and have a lovely gamble free Sunday.

Our Lady.

Thanks Our Lady. I've booked a few days away ! All possible due to not gambling for 29 days now - feeling much better for it.

Well done Claire almost the first of many months to come . Glad to see your enjoying recovery

Deano

Thank you Dean0 30 days done ! Feeling optimistic.

Hi Clare.

Lovely to read you are clocking up your g.f days.

Take care and remain strong.

Our Lady

Thanks Our Lady for your continued support. 32 days done - & 333 to go. It can be done and will be done.

39 days !

Well done Claire!! So happy that you are sticking two fingers up to devil friend that leads us to gambling! Total waste of life!

Mel xx

Back to day one ... again !

Going to give it a good go this time. I've checked back into the forum and I'm back to stay !

Wish me luck !!!

Day 3

Early days and feeling motivated to stop again. I've had my fill of slot machines to last a lifetime. Next three years repaying gambling debts ought to be enough to put me off !

Hi BDF and welcome back, I saw you joined the 2017 challenge so thought I'd pop by. Fair play for coming back and giving it another go! I've done this many times over the years as well and in reflection I think I realised what I was doing wrong. Previous attempts at abstinence was just me not gambling.....that's it. I didn't change anything else and sought no outside help and relied on willpower alone. It's no surprise it didn't work and I soon returned to my gambling ways. I stopped for the last time about 490 days or so ago and finally admitted not only to myself but loved ones I needed help. Total honesty along with weekly GA meetings have been the key. Addiction thrives on secrecy and lies so I simply don't give it a chance to breath anymore.

You can do this one day at a time but you need to change the way you approach recovery this time. Willpower alone won't cut it, get some real-life support as well. I haven't read all of your diary yet so apologies if I'm going over old ground.

All the best