Friend has my bank card.

Look8ng foreard for your update...

Stay strong dear soldier, make changes, embrace them. Only you know what works for you!

Hugs

S&B xx

Good on you Stephen for never giving up giving up!!!

I am so proud of you, it took me many attempts myself and you were always there telling me to pick myself up and dust myself off and fight this with everything I have once more and then one day something finally clicked and I didn't gamble no more.

There you were telling me to fight it when I thought the fight had left me and yet it was always within.

I hope you are okay Stephen. I am soo proud of you. Never give up giving up. Much love x

Thank you for the posts on my diary. I am overwhelmed by the support, advice and encouragement from gamcare friends. My response to your kindness will be to fight this addiction with everything I've got. I now have two more strings to my bow which will strengthen my resolve and keep my feet firmly planted on the recovery road.

My good friend is holding on to my bank card for a year. I will just get money as and when I need it. It would be very sad to let her down after she has gone out on a limb to help me. I will be true to my word and I will not betray her trust in me.

Friday night I attended Gamblers Anonymous. I really enjoyed the meeting and will go every friday when possible. Friends I hadn't seen for some time where concerned for my welfare and gave me a warm welcome back. I found this quite heartwarming.

Hi Stephen don't know why but stoic made me laugh. I think GA is good. If your dancing interferes maybe do alternate weeks. It's all good for the soul.

Thank you Merry Go Round for popping by my diary.

Just been reading your post on "fear". Very interesting and thought provoking. I suppose things that threaten our existence and quality of life should be feared. Problems arise when we become fearful of fear itself or if we become transfixed or immobilized through fear.

Now I am Stephen the Stoic, fear is not something I need concern my self with. Blissfully at peace with myself and the world around me.

I will post on my diary daily and interact with my gamcare friends.

On a Friday evening I shall attend Gamblers Anonymous and show solidarity with others in the group.

My friend has my bank card and I would not dream of letting her down with lies and deceit. She has, after all, put her trust in me and I will not betray that trust.

I will keep busy with Salsa on Tuesday, English on Thursday and every other day at the gym for swimming, yoga etc.

I am going to enjoy my recovery. I will find peace and contentment by giving my life some meaning. I will explore all avenues with common sense and reason.

Well done Stephen, we're all here to support you. You can do it mate.

Stephen, i hope you want to stop as much as we all want you to this time. Please do everything you can do to help yourself out.

Hi Stephen great to see you back posting and with the added support of your friend you can fight this! Am 100% on your side and everything going for you, take care Sx

Keep going. Pleased you’re still on track & keeping busy and finding meaningful things to occupy your body and mind sounds like the way to go.

Hi Stephen,

Saw the name change and feared the worst! However, pleased to see that you're trying to change things a little, with handing over the bank card, and going to the meetings. If you are at your most vulnerable around payday/pension day, why not arrange to see your friend that day, or plan something else to keep you busy?

I saw something on another thread where someone said "don't forget, you're paying for some fat cat's kids to go to private school" and really hit home (maybe because I have kids myself). Managed to develop an intense dislike for the gambling industry, which works for me!

Keep cracking on, and keep trying to add to your defences.

Rich

Ur last post was superb Steven, do that plan and everything will fall into place.

​

Thank you for the posts on my diary.

Feeling very positive about being gamble free.

I have my gamcare friends plus I will be attending a GA meeting every Friday.

A trusted friend has my bank card.

Plenty of hobbies and interests to focus on.

It should be a walk in the park really. I have ticked all the boxes so it does look promising.

Stephen, thanks for your posts of support I have really appreciated them and although I have been a little quiet of late, i will return the support back when i can. Pleased you are feeling settled and more content and in control.

Wilsy

Like you I need just a little bit more than willpower as gambling has built very powerful structures over the years to get us back involved and need to stay super focused just to get through a day especially if we are alone or not feeling to good about life in general. So with 100 days to the World Cup we will take Englands 82 world cup song for our journeys. This time, more than any other time, this time, we’re going to find a way, find a way to get away, this time, getting it all together, we’ll get it right, this time, we’ll get it right. This time Stephen you can do it.

Thanks Smashed I am with you all the way. We will get it right this time.

The greatest England song of all time has got to be Vindaloo by Fat Les. Just been watching it on you tube and it is hilarious.

Wishing you well my friend...stephen