Dan's Journey

16th February Day 21 GF Today

Whoop 3 weeks completed and the start of my 4th week, i can't believe the changes in my life since arresting my addiction.

Soooo many changes, my mood swings are going, i'm now just happy most of the time, i'm not causing/creating arguments to have alone (gambling) time. Things are getting done at home and my relationships are starting to improve.

I've invested a lot of time in to a hobby, recycling / upcycling old furniture. When i feel the strain i pick up a paint brush or sand paper and do a little more, i'm now reaping the rewards are have made a over £80 so far.

I've been given some tablets from the GP to help me sleep and it's doing the world of good to me, i'm feeling less tired and less stressed because of it and people have commented on how much happier i am, not just those who know my addiction but people i don't. So remember everyone (and myself) i'm not gambling and i'm happy.

Pay day is approaching which will relieve us, i don't have access to my accounts which is good because i don't have to worry about having that money in the bank and what i could do with it. The bills will be paid, the debt will be paid and we will be comfortable with what is left, my pocket money is what i earn from doing furntiure up so i need to keep it up.

@Phil in response to you above comment, i started to ready your diary and will continue to catch up and i understand what your saying. The doctor has given me a month's supply and that is all. She said no more, i'm hoping by that point i will be over 50 days GF, have sorted the debt management plan and things are better between me and my wife

All the best to everyone for another GF day. Let's smash it again!

I think you are doing great Dan. I wish I had your skills to earn some extra money!

Thanks Phil

17th February Day 22 GF Today

All is good, counselling today, sometimes get me down afterwards for a bit but it's good to get things out. Looking forward to spending positive time with the family this weekend.

All the best to everyone for another GF day. Let's smash it again!

Just changed my user name from babyeric2004 aka dan to GFDan. Mainly due to a few comments from mods about it being too long. Also feel's a bit strange when gentleman call me baby haha, so i'm now GFDan. Hope no one minds

18th February Day 23 GF Today

In a bad place. Boiler packed in last night and it needs replacing. No money to buy one and the cost to fix is so high it would be better to buy new with a warranty.

Please God end me now. Can't take this no more.

Hey Dan,

Stand back and breathe! There is solution to every situation.

Don't put yourself down for something what is out of your control.

Nice & steady, find the solution to the problem. Shop around, it's surprising how many deals are around.

Stay safe & most importantly - look after yourself. Good days will follow..believe!

Ps. 23 days of freedom is just a start..keep on moving and don't look back.

S

Hi Dan, you are catastrophising. It's not the end of the world - it's a temporary problem that you will resolve. Please try and be a bit kinder to yourself as I think you are doing really well. How you feeling today? Phil.

Hang in there Dan, step by step. Share the problem, sort the problem, solve the problem. Breathe, sit back enjoy the benefits of your new gamble free lifГЁ x

Dan ...theres not much I can add to the advice from the good folks above but didn't want to read and run....

It's a boiler, an inanimate object.....I'm not belittling the situation and understand the stress it's putting on you but it can't destroy you....It's been said already but I'll say it again....Be kinder to yourself, youve come a long way since that first post....

All the very best....

M x

Dan,

A boiler can be sorted mate...I know it doesn't seem that way tnonight, but it can be sorted.....Tell you a little story...My Mam and Dad have worked hard all their lives and worked hard. Life hasn't been great to them financially, but they always got by. We wanted for nothing, and my Ma took on three jobs, to pay off on clothes so we were always well dressed, and had holidays...More than some on our estate. She always wanted better for us. Every Christmas and I mean every Christmas for the last 7-8 years, an electric appliance or the bolier one year, has broken, exactly two-three weeks before Christmas. There was always just enough money to put Christmas over. My Mam fills our table with people that have no family and would be on their own, and they take students every year. Anyhows, this year it was the fridge. She didn't know where she was going to get the money to pay for it...Well I worked a 12 hour night shift (what a shift, I was at my limit at the end of it)...but it paid well, and I sent the money home for the fridge. What I am saying is, there is always a solution. Do not get disheartned Dan, I will pray for a solution tonight...Thinking of you. Keep your chin up matey.

Julie x

20th February Day 25 GF Today

Thanks for your support and encouragement. I had a wobble, not with gambling, just with life. I think i have put to much pressure on myself to be this perfect person and show everyone i'm now recovering and all is good again. Simply it's not, i am destroyed inside and i'm rebuilding one day at a time. Not just myself mentally, but with my wife and kids.

Yes i have an addiction and yes i am arresting it. However every little thing being thrown at me i'm taking as personal and over reacting instead of being the calm collected person i used to be. This is someone i now need to learn to overcome.

Whilst stressful and using finances i was going to use to eat this week i have overcome the issue with the boiler, i've managed to get on a service contract where i get a new boiler and it's services free, maintained free with free labour and parts whenever if ever it breaks down.

Now the positive thoughts. I am 25 days, 1/4 of the way to 100 days. I'm sleeping, i'm not really thinking about gambling. My relationships have improved. It's pay day on Friday and that will take a huge weight of my shoulders. I've processed my forms to Stepchange to sort out the DMP agreement, so that process is underway.

Once again, thanks for your kind words. Now to the next day and then the next.

All the best to everyone for another GF day. Let's smash it again!

Totally agree with your comments Dan it just life and we need to learn how to deal with things head on instead of hiding behind a gambling wall, once the walls are down we are exposed and vunrable. This for me is what I need to learn how to deal with like you said one day at a time it tooks year to build this gambling addiction / life it will not be sorted in a day.

G/f only way to go

Malc

21st February Day 26 GF Today

Not really much to say, busy day yesterday.

Have GA tonight which i'm looking forward to, i'm at ease with GA being apart of my weekly routine.

Looking forward to pay day, have some antipication about it as it would be the first time since the 25th Jan and my breakdown, i have blocks in place for it.

Hope everyone is doing good!

All the best to everyone for another GF day. Let's smash it again!

Big turn around of events today.

Positive news! Number 1, My mortgage renewal has been processed and approved. Took 3 weeks to get through it but finally there. So 5 years out of my 6 bad debt credit file years are taken care of.

Positive news! Number 2, My stepchange plan has been signed off with no debt payments being taken until 1st April. Which gives me a month's grace to get everything straight.