Dilemma

Hi Russ.

Thanks for the post on my diary.

Hope you are enjoying your break mate. It is always a sad sight to see a gambler settling down for a long session. Especially if you are staring into a mirror! I think everyone realises in their own time when enough is enough.

All the best pal.

Morning Russ........Good to hear alls well in the 'good' Russ household. Sure beats the gambling binges hai!!

Have a good gamblee free break...onwards

Thanks, t&g, curly and pauls. I'm currently staying with my mum and dad for the weekend. The wind is howling outside but there's something very comforting about being back here. My parents brought me up really well and did not contribute in any way to my gambling. I started gambling because I liked it. These autumn months were always when I would get involved heavily in gambling...the jump season, the footy....not doing so much sport myself. I'm pleased to say I don't know any form, I don't know any big races on the horizon, I don't know anything! The last time I read the race section in a paper was on that fateful afternoon at the cheltenham festival. Long may it continue.

hello russ, hope you had a good break. keep going mate and keep ignoring the racing. only one winner.we know that

Nice post Russ. Jumps season, my a r s e. !!!

It's all a lot of rubbish where you get the start of a season, mid season and end of season... all with different reasons why anyone can win a race. To keep punters from thinking that maybe they understand it now. It's all corrupt... the trainers laying their own horses... tips... the vultures scavenging off us poor unfortunates.

Like you, I couldn't tell how many winners McCoy or Johnson had last week and I couldn't care less. Spending that mental effort on our families or recreation gives much better and fulfilling returns.

Hard to beat a night in the parents house. Oh to remember those days without being woken up at 5am by a hyper kid looking for their weetabix.

Best of strength,

Brian

Hi Russ.. just wanted to thank you for your timely support yesterday.. it was much appreciated.

Just picking up on a comment in your latest post.. "I started gambling because i liked it" ... and isnt that just it.. in a nut shell. I stumbled across gambling and realised instantly that i enjoyed it. I was amused. I was entertained. How soon that changed though. How soon it changed from being fun to being not fun. How soon it changed from being entertainbment to being something I did to escape my reality. I for one will keep trying to free myself from gambling and its consequnces one day at a time and it sounds like you are to.

All the best to you and your on-going recovery.. S.A

Hi Russ.

Thanks for the post mate.

I must say that i always find 'chat' to be a positive experience. I can understand that it would not be for everyone but it's nice to pop in there and see some friendly faces and share experiences whilst offering mutual support.

I think you are doing the right thing in ignoring the racing pages. I must admit that i am still taking a peak at results at the moment what with the jumps season starting. That is something i think i will need to cut. Dancing with the devil is not a good idea.

Terrible game at GP today but nice to see the Yak back on the scoresheet.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Well done on continuing to ignore the racing and managing to stay gamble-free. We all know that it will lead to a far better life. The urges will still come but we are all far stronger now than we have ever been.

Glad that you had a lovely few days with your parents - I had the same. Lovely home cooked food, great company and chats about normal things!

Have a great gamble free week

Getting There

Hi Russ

Interesting post and glad that you are still doing well.

I was like you and really enjoyed the start of the NH season. It is a great shame because I do miss the sport (not the gambling). In fact, NH racing is one of the few sports I could go watch and not bet. I haven't paid any attention to it this season and like you, have no idea what is going on. I don't really miss it because my life is pretty hectic.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, keep strong

T+G

Russ, many thanks for posting on my diary.

I've spent the last 15 years lying to people so it's time to come clean. To be honest, it feels great!

For the first time for as long as I can remember, I don't have to worry about covering my tracks or what my next fabrication will be.

Keep up the good work 🙂

M

Thank you for the posts. Following on from a post I made to MNS earlier, giving up gambling is all about barriers. These barriers will differ for all cg's. The barriers can be physical, emotional or mental. For me, it was a mixture of emotional and mental barriers. The emotional barriers have been created for my family. If I gamble again I will lose my wife and my three kids. After lying and deceiving my wife for so many years, how can I continue to do this? My one huge mental barrier was created by not gambling in Vegas.....if I can go there and not gamble...why should I gamble here? I also have a number of small mental barriers. I visualise smashing bookies up! I remember the chips that are swept off the table rather than added to the table etc etc. I don't have any physical barriers. Other cg's need this is in their armour to stop themselves. Someone like winning post uses this site to post and read on a daily basis as his barrier, seano handed all finances over to his wife, MNS decided to tell everybody. We all have are own ways of creating barriers, but it's these barriers that are key to a long and fruitful recovery. Russ

great last post russ about all the "barriers required" to beat this....like you said if you can go to vegas then why bet here...thats inspirational in itself mate so get yourself back on the front page !!!!

Hi Russ

I hope that you are well.

I have to say that I totally agree with your last post. Having halfheartedly tried (and failed) to quit in the past, I now realise that unless you put total barriers in place you are destined to fail.

On those failed attempts in the past I (subconciously) left avenues by which I could return to gambling. And when the right (or wrong) time came, that is exactly what I did.

You may laugh but I regard you as one of my barriers (among others). In your inital posts on my diary I sensed (rightly or wrongly) that you questioned my determination to stop. It made me feel like I cannot let myself down and come on here telling you about my (theoretical) lapse! Stupid I know but even though I've never met you, I don't want to let you (or others who have supported me) down.

You have done so well with you recovery - I really admire you. Keep it up and thanks again for your support.

T+G

Hi Russ,

Thank you for posting on my diary and continuing to support me in my recovery.

I played the Roman Road course at Celtic Manor on Thursday. It was very smart but very wet and windy. I played quite well despite the conditions and managed to take a couple of quid off my partners.

I personally see nothing wrong with having a small wager on the golf with your playing partners. It's something i have always done and it's never about trying to win money more just for a bit of banter. I certainly have never stood over a 6 footer on 18 with my heart doing ten to the penny like when my horse is jumping the last with a 5 length lead.

I like the fact that you use your trip to Vegas as a reference point. You are quite correct to say that by facing that challenge head on and beating it you have the strength to beat any potential gambling situation you may find yourself in.

Enjoy your weekend Russ, which will hopefully start with 3 points for the blues this afternoon.

Russ,

Just reading your post about barriers. Something popped into my mind that is kind of related, I thought I'd share it with you...

Speaking to a GA friend, he gave me a 'tip'.... if you get an urge.... follow it through.....in your mind. i.e. if you win, will you stop at that? You will likely end up on another binge/spiral..... from that you'll deteriorate further.... probably lose your wife and 3 kids.

Not much of a promise by the urge, is it ?

Keep up the strength in your recovery.

Brian