Day 1 of my reset programme and i am scared sh*tless that i relapse on this journey. There is also a huge part of me that's excited to see the difference in my life come May 11th. I know that if i can kick this addiction i will finally find some inner happiness and start to live my life without handing my hard earned money to the bookies every payday.
I am really hoping my sturborness (I am taurus) will help me to stay on track as i will be gutted if i need to restart this.
Feel free to comment and spur me on. I think having people that i won't want to let down on this forum will be a huge motivation.
Day 8 - Completed my first week without gambling in god knows how long! I would be lying if i didn't get the urge or feel like i could gamble to cover bills or help with my debt. I've found that focusing on my running is helping a lot and i don't feel so stressed out at work. Payday on Friday will be a real challenge, but i know if i stick to my plan it should go smoothly....fingeres and toes crossed.
I am here willing you on. You can do this. Focusing on recovery and coming on here really does help in the early stages.
Anytime you feel youself tempted come on here, despite what people are going through on ths site you will always come across
support and guidance.
From a fellow taurus 🙂
Well done for even starting to quit pal for a start.
I'm by no means a expert at all this but as every one says every day you don't go to the bookies you've won.
It's not going to be easy just get every thing you hate about gamberling and write it down it helped for me anyway.
Hi Peter,
Welcome to the forum. There are many other scared to death souls on here so you are in very good company. Take encouragement from the support you get and the practical advice on offer. It really helps. Why not try the 100 day challenge on Mixer's thread. I have found the team effort to make a whole of difference. We are right behind you! Mark
Good on you pal for starting your first day I have just started my first day today and I really wanna get past this I had so much going for me and I have thrown it all away In 2 months keep at this bud you will get past this
Hi everyone,
I would just like to thank you for your kind words of support. It feels really good to have people that know directly what you're going through will you on. On Tuesday i attended my first GA meeting, it was a real eye opener to how bad things can get if you let your addiction continue on and on for years.
Currently three days "off the bet" with another 97 to go. I wish you all the best in your individual battles and that together we are reaching months / years away from the gambling.
Well done Cap'n. Well done. You need to start somewhere and 3 days is a good start. Keep doing what you are doing and the gamble free days will soon fly by.
So thats me managed to reach two weeks without betting a penny. Probably the first time in 5 years that none of my pay has gone to gambling either.
I hope everyone else is staying strong and heading in the right direction towards their goals 🙂
Good on you Captain two weeks I am about 4 days behind you but more determined than ever now not to bet again.
How was your GA meeting? I live just along the road from you in inverurie and have been thinking about going to the GA meetings.
Keep winning by not gambling
Malc
Hi Malc,
Keep going strong mate! The difference i've noticed in my mental health in the last few weeks has been huge. I've also found work is going a lot better as i am not gambling while i am there and being frustrated when i am interupted. It's been good to have a clear head and not constantly think about football form or blackjack strategy etc.
The first one i went to was good, but i am very introverted, so i would only go once a month if i am honest. If you're an outgoing person and like a meet up every week then i could'nt recommend it enough. It is strange to talk to people you don't know about your addiction, but there's no judgement and everyone that attends is very supportive. It also gives you an insight to how gambling can affect people from all walks of life, wealth, age, etc.
Let me know if you make it along to one and how you got on?
All the best, and stay straight 🙂
Peter
Yip I totally agree with you makes a huge difference when you are not gambling or worring about where the money is coming from. To be honest GA is not really for me different things work for different people but you never know. I have been seeing a couseller and understanding why I do things and that seems to be working! Biggest test will be the end of the month pay day we will see.
Stay Strong
Malc
Malkie76 wrote:
Yip I totally agree with you makes a huge difference when you are not gambling or worring about where the money is coming from. To be honest GA is not really for me different things work for different people but you never know. I have been seeing a couseller and understanding why I do things and that seems to be working! Biggest test will be the end of the month pay day we will see.
Stay Strong
Malc
Sometimes going to a counseller is better for a more one to one approach. I went to one about 10 years ago and it really opened my eyes to why i was feeling low and depressed at the time.
Do you have someone that can look after your money for you? I've started doing this again and found it to be very helpful. How are things going in general? That's me reached the three week mark and things are slowly starting to drift away. I managed to predit the Arsenal score to my work mate in conversation last night, but the thought to put the bet on didn't even cross my mind. I am hoping this is good? Hopefully it means i am seperating the sport from the gambling.
Hope all is good 🙂
Peter
Mornign Peter 3 weeks get in there well done, I have got another counsellor session booked for Friday will see how that goes. Yip things are getting better still got no money and in a huge amount of debt but I am in the process of remortgaging my house hopefully get that done in the next couple of weeks, then putting my house on the market sell it and move on.
For me gambling was not about winning or losing it was about creating this wall so that nobody could get close to me weather it was with drugs when I was younger or gambling the past 10 years. Going to the counsellor made me see where my behaviour was coming from and why.
Anyway I have no thoughts of gambling don't want to gamble, not addiction for me is smoking need to see where that goes.
Good on you for getting the Arsenal score right we just can't place a bet as soon as you do it will be back to the start.
Stay strong be bet free
Malc
I can't really believe where the time has gone. If i can get through today then i will have managed to not gamble for the whole of February. I would be lying if i said i wasn't tempted to put a bet on the football last night. Two of those sky request a bet were winners over the weekend and it give me a bit of a taste for it again. I just had to keep telling myself for every two that win theres ninty eight that don't.
Anyways, i hope everyone else is doing good? Malc, how are things with you the last week?
Alrightie Capatain,
Things getting better still G/f so happy days getting things done behind the scene's so moving forward. Still need to get this mortgage S**t sorted but hopefully next week house on the market sell and move on.
Went to the counsellor again on Friday some hard hitting facts about life in general but sometimes you need to hear it or have it spelled out for you what ever it worked.
Stay strong Stay G/f
Malc
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