Day 73 gamble free,
The day is just beginning which means yesterday was a gamble free day, I had urges but did not gamble and blocks are in place. Every day like that is a good day. Sad way to go through life but better times are hopefully ahead.
Paulds
Day 82 gamble free,
Almost at the end of another gamble free week. Life isn't great but it would be a thousand times worse if I was gambling and for that I am thankful.
On to tomorrow and another week, it will hopefully be another gamble free one. Only looking ahead until tomorrow though, one day at a time.
Paulds
Day 89 gamble free,
Almost three months but all that matters is that tomorrow I make the right choices. Keep my head down and don't give in, never give up, keep fighting. One day at a time is manageable but a whole lifetime isn't, so just focus on tomorrow.
Paulds
Day 72 gamble free.
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i made the wrong choice for a couple of days back in May, idiotic even if financially it did not do any harm. Putting long stretches of gamble free periods together but gamble free means gamble free, doesn't matter if it is 1p, it is a waste of time, money and energy.Â
Day 128 gamble free,
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i havent gambled since May but taking it one day a time, tomorrow could be the day, I have had a few urges recently so should keep my guard up. Finances are getting better at a painfully slow rate, so much time and money wasted to gambling. Never again, don’t give up!
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paulds
Hi and well done on your gamble free time 🙂
Just to say that sometimes I am at my most dangerous when my life starts to get better and am not the only one to say this. It may well be that slowly improving finances is good for you. If your finances improved dramatically over night (eg a bailout) then your gambling head might start talking.
Anyway it sounds like your fully focussed.. Keep up the good work as I try to do the same.. S.A 🙂
Day 133 gamble free
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Thanks S.A for some wise words, very true, I just started to think again tonight I could have a small bet on the football it is a sure thing, bound to come in. What horrible tricks our minds play on us. We forget about all the damage to our finances, mental and physical health as well as the lying and deceit, we forget that one small bet always leads to utter devastation
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paulds
Day 156 gamble free
Been thinking about gambling a lot lately, looking at odds etc. Thankfully blocks are in place although I had to visit a town far away so I could have gambled, but I didn’t, because I hate gambling, because it is a waste of time and money, because it makes me want to jump off the nearest bridge, because i turn into a lying deceitful person.Â
Next challenge is tomorrow, that is all, one day at a time.
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pauldsÂ
Not as important but now 519 days until debt free, counting down from 1460. Bean by bean the sack is filled.
PauldsÂ
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Day 158 gamble free, that is all, almost through another day of hell, soon time for bed and I can turn and face the wall and afford a smile and say to myself that I haven’t gambled today. That smile is all I can afford but happiness and psychological well-being is so much more important to me than money. By not gambling I will  be able to afford an increasing number of smiles
pauldsÂ
Day 175 gamble free, 500 until debt free
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strong urges to gamble, it kills me inside but I will not give in.
Almost the end of the day and I will have survived again. One day and one step at a time.
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Paulds
Paul, well done for posting. You are not alone. We are all here with you. Use the Helpline to chat if you need to cos it's there 24/7 now. You've got this mate.Â
Drama x
Dear Paul,
I hope life is being kind to you.
Congratulations on your fantastic run of abstinence. You should be homing in on 200 days by my reckoning.
Thanks for your words of support back in August. I have avoided the Forum as I could not handle writing another "the world is lost" entry.
I had a bet just before the holiday and had it came in the holiday would have been paid for. But it didn't and the despair I felt overwhelmed me.Â
I am now very grateful that the bet lost as by now I would have been ruined as I would have given it all back and then some.
That loss forced me to get my @*it together which I did.
The last few months have been financially very troubling as a result but we are nearly back to a pre-slip position.
Yes, we got a low key holiday in Cornwall which the kids absolutely loved but Rosie and I kind kind of went through the motions.
I have promised my family that next August I will be a year gamble free and they will have the best holiday ever.
Anyway, just to thank you for your stalwart support. I hope I get the opportunity to return the compliment.
Best wishes,
Mark
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Acceptance truly is key on this journey. It reminds me of a time when a friend shared similar wisdom with me during a tough patch. We were sitting by a quiet lake, jotting down our thoughts in our notebooks. Sometimes, just putting thoughts on paper helps clear the mind.
Acceptance truly is key on this journey. It reminds me of a time when a friend shared similar wisdom with me during a tough patch. We were sitting by a quiet lake, jotting down our thoughts in our notebooks. Sometimes, just putting thoughts on paper helps clear the mind.
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Maybe using an online notepad could be a great way to keep track of these moments and reflections. Keep marching forward, one step at a time.
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