For My Family.... chapter 2

Well done!

I've followed your diary since the start and the change in you is massive!

Stand up and be proud of yourself.....Keep on doing what you're doing 🙂

M x

Proudarab wrote:

Hi all,

100 days done!!

I remember 4 years ago getting to 100 days gamble free and thinking it was all so easy! So even though today is a day to be happy and maybe celebrate, I know too well how easy it is to become complacent and let it all slip away. Not this time though!! Strangely enough I received a letter this morning saying my DPP had been approved, so double reason to be happy. I now know how much I will be paying for the next 10 years!!! But it's a lot less than I was paying for the privelege of gambling. What's done is done, there's nothing I can do to change that but things are moving in the right direction and the future is now all up to me.

Hope you're all well and having a good weekend.

PA x

Boom - Welcome to the 100 club.

Been rooting for you all the way.

Sbb

Congratulations on 100 days 🙂

Belated congrats 100 days whoop whoop!! Keep it up! x

100 days done and a cup final to look forward too.....well done Arab.

Damo

Happy dalmatian day and well done on reaching the century club
All the best

Congrats on the 100 days 🙂 roll on 200 days xxx

Hi all, thanks for your kind words. And yes Damo a cup final to look forward to!!

So Day 105 today and debt repayment plan is now officially in place, first payment due at the start of March and the last payment due 11 years from now!!! How the f*** did I get myself into this mess is all I keep thinking. I've managed to end up paying less than I thought I would have to but over a longer period of time, so I guess life can carry on without huge pressure on the finances every month, and as my wife says, no matter how far away the end date is... at least there is an end date now.

I'm reading a book just now by a guy called Justyn Larcombe, called Tails I lose. Don;t know if anyone else has readt it but it's an autobiography of a guy who had it all and lost it all through gambling. Doesn't matter how much money you have or your own individual circumstances... we can all relate to each other one way or another by the feelings we have had or the positions we have got into financially and in our lives in general.

GA meeting tonight, didn't make it last week so looking forward to going tonight to see how everyone is getting on.

Also been thinking about telling more people about my issues. Some close friends maybe. Not sure why, just have this urge to tell people. Bit random I guess but feeling the need.

Hope everyone is well..... PA x

Hi all,

So went to my GA meeting last night and came away feeling a bit lost.

I feel as though I'm not taking to this like others, probably because I'm not very comfortable speaking in front of a group of people. I sit there listening to everyone and can relate to lots of what is being said and have an idea of what I want to say in my head. Then when it comes to my turn it just comes out all wrong or I don't say what I was wanting to say. It's really frustrating and I am coming away from the meetings feeling quite down.

I also am hearing people say that as soon as they came through the door they realised this is where they belonged. I don't feel like that and am slightly dreading my meetings just now. Does that mean I'm not accepting that I have a problem??

Also really becoming annoyed with arranging counselling which isn't helping. I've been to an initial "assessment" appointment which took about 8 weeks to arrange, then I get a letter saying I have an appointment at 2pm on Monday. Not sure how many times I told them I couldn't attend during work hours but still they give me a 2pm appointment.... how hard can it be!!! So I cancelled the appointment and I've been told I'll get another one through the post. So another couple of weeks waiting. It's just really frustrating as I really am feeling the need to talk to somebody on a one to one basis.

Anyway, apart from that, it's Friday, I'm going to hospitality at the football with some mates tomorrow so at least I don't have to watch my shambles of a team sober. Looking forward to my weekend.

PA x

Hi Proudarab

Sorry to hear you're having problems with the counselling. Is it the RCA Trust?

Kind regards

Forum Admin

Hi there,

Yes it was originally but the counselling to be at TCA in Dundee. Seems to be taking a long time.

PA

Keep marching Proud, you are doing very well.

Day 112 for me....

Still no word on counselling. My wife was thinking about getting some counselling too, this is not helping!! No matter what anyone says to me, I don't think gambling is recognised as an addiction in the same way as drink or drugs. The hidden addiction.

PA

Totally agree people think we gamble because we want to really!!!!! it needs to be highlighted more because people do not see the harm they think it is not there as you say this is a hidden addiciton.

Needs more attention.

Malc

Hi all,

Unbelievable stuff, got a letter on Friday confirming my rescheduled appointment for councelling and it's not even at the right office. Beginning to get fed up phoning up and trying to organise.

Apart from that last week was ok. Just working away and leading a simple life. Missed my GA meeting last week due to taxiing kids around to various clubs, it's hard to keep attending weekly when you have so many other commitments. Even though I want to attend weekly my priority has to be to my wife and kids. Feel guilty for not going though.

Was reading back through my diary at the weekend and its funny how people come and go in life. There are a few who commented quite a lot and who now are no longer on the forum. I can only hope they are all in a good place and still on the road to recovery.

Hope everyone is doing well x