Its been a long time since I’ve posted on here but I need to sort myself out and this forum is a help. So I’m hoping this new diary can grow over time and be more successful and long lasting than previous efforts. Sadly there’s no cure to this addiction but I’ve got to get better at how I deal with life and got to put more effort into getting through each and every day gamble free. I thought self exclusion and the likes of Gamstop would stop me gambling but this is just not the case. I need to focus one one day at a time as that’s the only day that counts. In the past I’ve been too focussed on how many days I was accumulating without a bet always failing when I hit the 100 day point. So I won’t be saying today is day one tomorrow is day two etc.... I just need to treat each day as day zero.
I’ve now got an amazing family and a 2 year old son. I’m a good dad but maybe if I wasn’t gambling I would be an even better dad. He hasn’t missed out on anything yet but I know if I continue gambling he could in the future. I would say the many blocks I’ve got in place have helped to some extent but binge gambling is hurting me especially around pay day. Pay day is Monday so I need to regain my focus and start putting a lot more effort into my recovery.
Ive called this thread Canter as it’s a great song and the lyrics are relevant to my struggles. Looking forward to many more daily posts and reading some other threads for support and inspiration.
Hi Bornagain, welcome back to the forum. ?
What blocks do you currently have in place? Whilst having these in place is only half the battle, it certainly helps to have as many blocks in place to reduce the chances of an unplanned slip up.
Hi bornagain
excellent song choice I must say. Brutal but very true!
I am very similar in how u think. I have Always been thinking of years down the line instead of the hear and now
my aim is to shorten those long term targets and make things more short term and worthwhile definitely living day by day.
Before I would be thinking of what I can have/do in 5 years 10 years ect but not thinking about the hear and now which should be taken at a canter not a sprint
keep focused. slow trots means more trots ?
Thanks for the post Determined Dan. I used to think I could find so many blockers that this create a world where I could not gamble and solve all my problems. Sadly I’ve realised this is not and will never be the case. The only person who can prevent me gambling is me. However I do get wages paid to partners bank, I’m self excluded from all bookies within an hours drive, I’m signed up to Gamstop, I attend GA etc...... Ultimately despite all this I can always find ways to gamble so I as a person needs to work harder on myself and not think blocks can save me.
Thanks Lord Lucan for the post. Thankfully I’ve survived today gamble free and when I wake up tomorrow I can deal with tomorrow. I used to obsess about what would happen and what I could have or achieve once I reach day xxx but it doesn’t work. Just got to focus on the now. Just for today!
I’m shocked your still gambling bornagain. You ran one of the best threads on here in my opinion nobody has done a one better since in my view not that I was ever involved in it but that year long thread was the best 1.I just had to say that because I have been on here a long time and I wish you will I don’t think you ever got the credit you deserve for that
Thanks for the kind words Boro but I think others did it far better than I did.
Im on my last night shift in work and it’s pay day. I’m actually feeling great and when I wake up on Monday afternoon I’ve lots to keep me busy. Got to remain focussed today and make it another clean day.
Managed to survive today (payday) really well. Been busy and not had any urges. It’s the first payday in ages that I have not gambled so that’s progress. Plans for this evening are to get some food and enjoy some darts. Day zero starts again tomorrow.... just for today!
Hi there bornagain
how are you doing?
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.
