Day 1 - being honest with myself

Hi great to read your doing well, just wanted to second Cheryl words on your username, as you have come here and made that first step towards a better life, no one can call you stupid for making life better for yourself and everyone around you. Put the past habits away and enjoy your new found free time.

All the best Chris

Thanks Chris for yr words of encouragement. I was dreading coming home tonight knowing Id be tempted but Im not and Im feeling strong. wishing us all well on our journey x

I just read page by page Sabine's diary. I too have ovarian cancer but im still here. What an inspirational lady she was. She beat her gambling demon. So will I . Theres no point in saying well I have Cancer so why not just enjoy the things you like doing, well losing money isnt one of them. Even if I was terminal, which Im not yet...... but think about it diary, we are all terminal People with Cancer are just forced to face their mortality........ if we all decided to carry on gambling because we were terminal this site would be empty of posts. we're all here to make life better, to free ourselves from this addiction xx

Day 4 and feeling good! Today, again, I WILL NOT GAMBLE, feels like inch by inch Im clawing my life back. Back to where I dont have to get up then gamble. Trying to stay positive 🙂 Instead of gambling I've found a new pastime, I come here and read posts and recognise myself in so many others. Im fortunate I suppose not to have got into too much debt but any debt is not good. Ive put a payment plan in place which is affordable and Iwont leave me skint but Im determined not to add to that debt or touch my savings or current account. Just happy to not be gambling. I CAN DO THIS!

Hi

Inch by inch day by day you can get your life back simply by choosing to not gamble

Day 4 is great

Stay positive and strong and keep going to a better life gambling and debt free

Suzanne x

Thanks Suzanne. Day 5 and feeling so positive. TODAY I WILL NOT GAMBLE. I dont even feel like loading those stupid games. I dont want to feel stupid anymore with feelings of self loathing, feeling like I have this secret that anyone who knows me doesnt know the 'real me' the one who sits obsessively tapping the 'spin' button. Day 5, TODAY I WILL NOT GAMBLE!

Morning

Well done on 5 days of winning

I can relate to you saying no one knows the real me

but that is past tense now the real you will come back a lot stronger and wiser

Keep going and stay positive and strong

Suzanne x

Congratulations on day 5!

see nearly a whole week gamble free, you can do this, keep strong and positive!

Laura x

Good morning Diary. Just checking in on Day 6! TODAY I WILL NOT GAMBLE. Still feeling positive, positive I can abstain . Thoughts of tomorrow when I'll be on my own all day til 9 at night and time on my hands.... time when Ive decided to get all those niggling jobs done. Clean the oven, do the garden, (weather permitting), sort paperwork, shred what I dont need anymore. Wipe paintwork down etc etc etc . anything but gamble! If I can make it through tomorrow I can make it through another week.

Thank you Laura for your words of encouragement, I need those words of support xxx

Stay strong, you are doing really well, push those urges out of your head and try to remember what it feels like when you lose money rather than win. Remember we can never win as we cannot stop!! Keep busy and enjoy your day, take care Jaz x

write a list of all the things you want to do,( i always break it right down ) then tick off each one as you go, sounds daft but i do it sometimes when im lacking motivation and each item you tick off an item you feel a rush of achievement!

be strong and positive! you can do this, already you are nearly at the end of a whole week gamble free!

well done to you

laura x

Morning Diary. late this morning I had an unheard of lie in. TODAY I WILL NOT GAMBLE. gonna write a list as Laura suggests of all the things I want to achieve today ( thanks For the support Laura!). I have til 9 tonight to resist urges and make positive steps not to gamble! will check in later if I do get any urges ! Stay strong everyone x

I love lie ins lol, unfortunately they are few and far between!

had a couple mins so just thought id check in and say hope your day is going well! I know ticking items of a list sounds daft but when you see several marked off you think wow i am achieving something x

anyways hope you still feeling positive and will check back later x

Good Morning Diary. Day 8 and TODAY I WILL NOT GAMBLE. in fact Im gonna be so busy with grandchildren the next 4 days i wont even have time to think about it. I just hope that when peace and boredom descends I dont return to the dreaded mind numbing slots though I aim not to because I never want to disappoint those grandchildren. Luckily Ive stopped before any damage has been done financially so I can still treat them. What if I return to it, I may not be so lucky to get out early next time. Anyway, today is day 8 TODAY I WILL NOT GAMBLE XX

Morning stupid (not any more) great to read you are now starting week 2, enjoy your time with your family that is one of the greatest parts of abstaining the extra free time you get and the clear mind it leaves you with. Well done stay safe, and have fun.