CROUPIER - 13 months GF, read my new post on all of the improvements in life since abstaining from gambling

well donme for ten weeks , a very inspiring first post that i read of your , youb seemed to tick the same way as me , before we stopped gambling that is , ie binge betting and chasing unless have a win but even if winning going back eventually to loose it all, so again well done for ten weeks

Thanks for the positive comments to all.

I have now abstained gambling for over 14 weeks hitting the 100 day mark last Monday.

To all those struggling,

As an old friend of mine would say 'keep right on'

Scambling

Another weekly update:

Over 15 weeks clean now and intend to carry on this way. Now I have had over 3 months abstinence my financials are slightly better and I feel that I am much better myself in general.

Dont get me wrong I still have some personal debt to get out of the way, but not having 10 payday loans is a huge weight off my back 🙂

If anybody else is still really struggling to stay away then feel free to visit the 2014 challenge in overcoming section. We are a team of around 40 at the moment that collective help and motivate each other. Also as a team we have collectively stopped gambling for over 5 and a half years 😀

Thanks all,

Scambling

Awesome opening post, i read your entries, joined the Challenge. I am 4 days in but this is weird getting scared of it already because i know it's all fake feelings of kicking this addiction. I am reading almost every diary that comes on the first page. Well done on 100 + very pleased for you. Keep going bud.

Hi CasinoLoser,

thanks for your reply and encouraging words.

Stay strong in your challenge, once more time passes urges become less frequent and easier to control.

I have tried to stop many time and relapsed many times because I was complacent.

Concentrate on getting past the 1st week then set a new goal. This is the longest I have been off and only wished I did it sooner.

If your ever feeling weak then come onto this site and post your feelings.

Thanks and best wishes

Just a quick update.

Sunday will mark 16 weeks gamble free 🙂

Feeling strong and motivated and starting to enjoy life a little bit more

Scambling

Scambling,

Thank you for my diary entry. Complacency im learning what that actually means now and will have my guard up for it. Well done on 16 weeks. For me tomorrow marks one week done. So i listened to you point about a NEW goal. So i set my goal as read a diary at least once a day and to add to my diary. I am setting this for a week it's simple but i want to read others thoughts and comments and remind myself everyday why im doing this?

16 weeks woohoo that is so great my man well done...

CainoRoyaLoser.

@ CasinoLoser

Thanks again for posting on my diary. I am very happy that my words may have helped you, as you are in a vulnerable stage in your recovery... 1 week. Whilst this is a great achievement dont underestimate the power of the gambling demon inside all of us. For me 1 week and 2 week milestones are usually where I fall because I think im cured and control myself. Just carry on what your doing and you'll be fine.

Also thanks for the kind words,

Scambling

UPDATE: 31-03-14

Good Morning all,

Firstly let me start with a positive by saying I am entering my 17th week of abstinance.

Thats pretty much all there is positive to say...

This weekend has been tough for me due to continual problems with my long-term relationship. She still has mixed feelings and to be honest with myself, so do I.

We both would like it to work, but she insists that right now is not the time, which I agree with, but find it extemely hard to take. She is my world and I would'nt know what to do without her.

After disputing things again over the last 2 days it really did knock me for six and yesterday was by far the hardest day in my recovery so far. Usually after an argument the first place I would go is to the casino or a bookies. Yesterday I didn't go, but I felt vulnerable... Very insecure and very weak.

I could'nt concentrate on anything, could'nt be bothered to do anything, I felt annoyed and upset and also to add to that I was bored out of my brains.

I had no intentions of gambling whatsoever, but thoughts kept coming into my head and just would'nt go away. I did'nt feel like talking to anyone or even coming onto the website. I felt alone... 🙁

This went on for a few hours until I decided to play a game I used to play years ago(one I USED to have an addiction to for 7+ years) Whilst this game didn't hurt me financially, the introverted personality I have today is down to that game. It cost me £4.95 for 30 days membership and I was playing for most of the night. I guess some would say £4.95 is better than £495 ending up in the casino. To me both addiction's push me to the same place, which dents my personality and affect's my mental state of mind... So for me the price is irrelivent. Im thankful for the game being there last night, as I definately think it helped me to realise something. It's weird because even though I had'nt played it for year's it felt like I had never been away. Straight back into the swing of thing's and all my old tricks, routines and memories towards how I used to play the game came flooding right back! This scared the living daylight's out of me. How easy would it be to slip back into my gambling routine... Easier than I probably thought.

Well after just having eaten breakfast and reading MR Brightside's update this week I have decided that I need to be on these forum's more often. I have a diffrent approach, which could help many people struggling with this addiction, as im in the casino business. Still everyday I go to work and I have to face with the gambling environment, gambling conversations etc etc. My main goal after I help myself was alway's to help other's who share my addiction. That is what I am going to do from today.

You see MR Brightside, your right. This 2014 challenge is probably the biggest 'organisation' of compulsive gamblers that really are making positive step's to change not just there lives, but other's who also have the same problem. You have started something here that could be huge in the future and who would'nt want to be part of that?

It's time to hit the shower, get myself together and sort my bloody life out. I dont want to hide under that rock anymore. Not because of gambling and certainly not because of some silly game. I beat that game once simply by stopping to play and at the end of this post, I will once again be cancelling my subscription. The last thing I want is to replace one addiction with another.

So... I guess now is the time to chin myself up and start thinking seriously about what I actually want from life.

I'm going to get ready to go to town once I've emailed MR Brightside and do my shopping that I had planned to do 2 days ago...

I know its a long post, so thanks very much for listening!

Feel free to visit my recovery diary to read more about my situation and how I ended up here, titled: 'A Croupiers diary'

Scambling

Hi Scambling

Sorry that things are not good in your relationship and hopefully he will give you another chance and support you.

I completely empathise with what you say. The personality changes, depression are horrible side effects of gambling.

I used to lose money and then tell my wife we couldn't afford things which made me feel like absolute cr**.

But it sounds from the last few paragraphs you want to change and are going to make positive steps to make the changes.

There is so much in life to enjoy and it's amazing to think that as gamblers we have missed out on things other people do every day. Simply walking my dog has become a delight rather than sit in a darkened room gambling on all sorts of stupid sports.

Good luck and keep going.

Chirst21

Morning Scambling,

Ugh i wrote a long post to you and my computer crashed lol so had to type it all out again lol..

I like your long posts the more i read them the more i'm not thinking of having a bet. I only dream to have accomplished as many days G free as you. I set my goals like you said and i'm meeting that goal this week and that is to read diaries and post in them. Yesterday evening was a mad one for me as the salary came in early. Did i gamble? No i did not. Did i have a quick think about it? YES i did a huge battle for me and my conscience but i kicked it's a**e i let the demon lose this time, i won!! I am sorry you are feeling down about your ex etc and how life is treating you. Keep strong, you said you would come to the site more often now so i will be clicking refresh button to see more of you. Keep strong you got a followers me for sure.

CasinoRoyaLoser

Hi CasinoLoser,

Thanks again for your reply. I am happy in the fact that you enjoy my diary as do I with yours. Well done on conquering that demon, just keep your guard up and make sure you have barrier's in place because he'll be back.

Have a nice day 🙂

Scambling

Now the demon is sleeping so it's feels easy today being day 9. I know i have not beaten it and i know im a CG for life but i choose now not to give in.

How are you today how you feeling?

Hi CL,

Today is a good day. Im feeling much better, perhaps I just neededa good nights sleep.

All of my bills have gone out and I made another big payment to a family member I owe money too, so I feel good.

Just sorting through some stuff today organising that sort of thing.

Soon your approaching the 2 week mark and that's usually where I had a slip. You seem to be doing the right thing though, so just keep it up and as long as you have barrier's in place you'll be fine 🙂

I think im doing better than most because i came in here really determined and reading through everyones diary i can see the barriers are essential. In fact i would say without them it's an impossible mission. I had the courage to tell my wife and hand over finances and close accounts this is defiantly needed too. anyone reading this diary take every advice given by Scambling it's a winning formula and barrier. I am expecting something hard to hit me soon not sure why it's not coming this huge urge this slip but i don't feel it coming anytime soon. Complacent already maybe i don't know? it funny im sitting here waiting for this big urge or my world to crumble but don't feel like that.

Anyway we carry on choosing not to gamble

CasinoRoyaloser