day one after 25+ years

Too much

Welcome to the forum,a place where you will receive a great deal of help and support all from like minded folk who share a common goal to arrest the destruction that is their compulsion to gamble.

There is no cure or medication we can take to stop,there is a way,to re wire the addled brain,to have a belief in a new way.

Ultimately a way which makes us winners,ironically a way which contains no waging of a stake.

You have taken the first huge step

To admit you are powerless in the arms of your addiction.

You will have lived the same mantra we all have

I CANNOT WIN BECAUSE I CANNOT STOP

no win big enough to fill the desire and losses chased in the same vain,all resulting in the same result

Loss of finances,loss of self esteem,loss of self respect,loss of mind.

Take all the help out there to help you in your recovery.

My advice the same advice that was gifted to me on my first days recovery

There is a triangle

Time-money-location

Take at least one away at all times and the punt becomes impossible

gifting the rational side of the brain time to kick in.

Give recovery half the effort you gave you compulsion to gamble,the results will astound you.

Be honest with yourself and others.

Recovery is the one selfish act I gift myself that has a profound effect on those I profess to hold dear,I wore your shoes twenty plus years of progressively worsening gambling addiction before I found recovery.

Be proud

Be kind to yourself

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back

well 2nd day done and trying keep positive as letting my myself stew on thoughts of past mistakes is not going help just makes feel depressed and not think straight...so installed a block on laptop to gambling sites and downloaded as much literature to read on giving up as I can spending time reading this and the recovery of others on here helps give me strength and confidence this can be beat,wish all fighting this well and an addiction free life

Well done mate for taking the first steps, putting the blocks on will help. I never the first time I tried to stop as I thought willpower would be enough. Few drinks and the temptation was too much for me and I relapsed. I'm on day 6 and already feel better this morning, I've woke up and my first thought was how much did I win or lose last night. Well I won as I never gambled. Keep busy and take up new hobbies this helps me with any boredom which is when I would gamble. All the best mate

Hi TM

Thanks for your message

Wishing you well on your recovery

Take one day at a time and win every day you don't play

There are far more rewards from abstaining than gambling and that is a happier saner and healthier life

Stay strong and positive and keep going

Best wishes

Suzanne x

thank you for the support,day 3 done and my day has been better the difference when I finish a day without gambling is amazing feel at peace instead of the self loathing...had few spells today where caught myself thinking about past mistakes too much...trying get over that as otherwise will just spend my whole life unhappy over this horrible addiction and I want be free of it and happy! will not lie i'm aware the urge is still there and sometimes think if I just do this or that and that's where I went wrong...but I went wrong moment I decided to gamble that was the mistake not how I gambled.only way I'll win is never betting again.I hate the person I am when gambling it is like I'm in a horrible bubble just me and gambling.

wish everyone else strength and a gamble free life - 3 days out the bubble 🙂

Hi mate well done on your 1st days of recovery I am very similar like many people on here and keep it going 1 day at a time and you can and will do this with the support on here x

right day 4 again had more energy today and coping better with other problems in my life without the stress and aftermath of gambling,also very aware from past experience this is when temptation can get me...start feeling better and forget all the pain and loathing till the next gambling session,so sticking with the triangle,time-money-location as long as make sure at least one is not present I cannot gamble and then i'm a winner.

also need get some things back into my life as its now empty of people,activities as hard to have relationships or be involved with the world when your in the "gambling bubble"

hope everyone is doing ok and for those who stumbled tomorrow is a new day

day 5 been a mixed bag not gambled but its been on my mind a lot,had to cash in some savings to cover my last huge lost as cannot afford to pay the creditcard back otherwise,and tomorrow will be a difficult day as keep thinking if just use some of the money to try win some of it back.but it won't be some of the money will it I'll end blowing the lot and then be even worse off than I am now,so why the hell do I still have the urge to do it.think the hardest times will be when any money in the bank.but I did not gamble today and I do not have to gamble tomorrow sorry to ramble but it helps to vent it all on here,day 5 being the person I want to be

Hi TM

Well done on 5 days

Keep going taking one day at a time

You win yesterday so you can win again today

Stay strong positive and focused

Suzanne x

Hello TM

thinking of you on day 6

enjoy it but keep it simple

re-read duncs comments if your struggling

tri

hi well day 8 so over a week now,managed get through last few days when money went into account paid straight off bills no point in tempting myself, thank you for support messages they help.Just one day at a time and today I will NOT gamble.

we sound so similar been gambling for over 32 years and always have lost.im back to day one today as I went to the casino and lost a grand. I even said to myself before I entered it will end with an empty wallet apart from debit slips from getting more cash. I feel sick but am determined to succeed. I hate what gambling does to us all. good luck m8 I will start my own diary now and hope it helps

Too much

Well done on the first week often the hardest , you can see your not alone fighting this awful addiction , make full use of this amazing forum

One day at a time

Castle2

day 09 done and it has been better although I catch myself looking back at gambling with rose colored glasses...thinking I did win but got greedy and made a mistake...its not true its just my gambling brain trying find a way to let me do it again as in "If I just..." but total abstinence is only,I am a gambling addict have to accept I'll try find ways to justify betting but using this forum helps fight it.I know I've got in a mess with other parts of my life but gambling will never help me fix them.

its a vicious circle

1. I am unhappy with my life,financial problems

2. lost friends and am lonely

3. gamble think a big win make everything alright(my gamble brain fining a way to justify my actions)

4.big win does not happen of course lose more money I cannot afford too.

5.financial problems get worse,feel even more depressed.

6 interact even less with people as down ashamed and keep the gambling secret.

back to 1....and around it goes life getting worse every time this is why I have to stop.and why I did not gamble today