Give peace a chance

You tube . Christina Aguilera singing ' Mercy on me ' .

Could have been me singing that 80 days ago

Congratulations Sir Stephen! 80 days gamble free ! Yes !!! Another milestone , another great day ! 100 days is just around the corner 🙂 . Keep up the good work sir !

Sars

Hi Stephen, Thanks for your post on my dairy, I have found in the past that help & encouragment of people on here has helped my recovery so your post really does mean alot.........Woah 81 days you should feel so proud of yourself, have had a quick look through your dairy and you have been a great insperation to others while also dealing with your own addiction head on, you are a great example of what can be achived and how peoples lives can change for the better, you seem in such a better place right now somewhere i aspire to get to also,keep up the good work you are doing great.

Good Morning Stephen,

Thank you for your kind words on my diary. You never fail to put a smile on my face!

Remember, no 100, 200 or 1000 day run comes without an 80 day run first.

Give yourself some credit - 81 days is awesome and I take my hat off to you.

You do not have to compare your 81 days with others who have been on the forum for much longer.

You are a player in your own right! 100 days is nigh.

Be proud of your achievement and carry on spreading those rays of positive sunshine around the forum.

Best wishes,

Mark

Thankyou for the posts on my diary . This is a massive opportunity for me to stop gambling and i'm really giving it everything ive got .

On my guard today as my monthly works pension went in the bank . Happened to meet an acquaintance from GA out with his partner , they both gave me encouragement which bolstered my determination not to gamble . Went to the gym for an hour which also helped . Also went to a 5 Rhythm dance last night which always makes me feel good ( it's a meditation in dance so I can move around like crazy for a couple of hours ) . Anyways the the good thing is I didn't get any urges to gamble today .

Well done Sars on your 60 Days GF tomorrow . You have really helped me with your positive attitude .

Wishing you well Chartom , not long ago I was on Day 3 but time soon passes . Good news is your back . You've had some good periods gamble free before so you know you can do it . The money that was once yours now belongs to them , this is strikingly obvious but also difficult to accept . A part of us believes the delusion that we can win it back and live happily ever after . It's not going to happen and we all know that . The only happily ever after scenario will come from not gambling .

Many thanks Markman . Your a great example forging ahead and showing the way .

I am stephen , a compulsive gambler committed to my recovery . I will do it one day at a time .

Keep going Stephen, you are fast becoming a little pillar on this site. Your well on the way to cracking this horrible illness.

Stay strong mate and keep up the positive work on everyone else's diaries.

Matt

Cheers Matt you really are a GamCare legend , talk about spread your wings and fly , your up their with the stars .

Only 82 Days for me but inspired by the courage and resilience of friends like you .

ABSTAINER TO GROUND CONTROL ............ WE HAVE LIFT OFF

Hi Stephen,

I am no legend but what I do feel is free and I hope my freedom and happiness can give others some faith it can be done.

82 days is not to be underestimated, every day gamble free is a day richer remember that and not just financially. Soon be day 100, a nice milestone.

Keep going mate we are all behind you.

Matt

Stephen.

Fella good morning, in the GA rooms it's often said

' Give recovery 90 days of full commitment and after those days if you don't see great change and opportunity ahead then feel free to go back at it'

For me as you near your first 90 days abstinence you are a shining example of how life can be found through the commitment wholly to re (dis ) covery, I believe that if you were asked that question today I would take great pleasure in hearing your answer.

Whilst actively feeding addiction we lose the ability to show empathy and any humility.

Today you bring both in abundance, for that you should be very proud.

You have gifted yourself an amazing foundation for a lifetime of your own choosing, one without the self destruction that is feeding addiction.

I look forward to reading your continuing journey it's inspiring and infectious.

We all live in action by the same mantra

I cannot win because I cannot stop.

Fella you have turned that upside down.

Abstain and maintain

Duncs

Hello Diary . 84 Days since my last bet . Seem to be settling in to my gamble free life ok . Quite content with social life and activities , exercising and eating well . Been on my guard this week after money went into my account monday but not really tested and no urges to gamble . Had periods GF before but the urges to gamble never went away and I was really just hanging on . Sharp contrast to this time when it's just not bothering me . Only differences are my GamCare Diary and one to one counselling so something must have clicked .

Thankyou Matt . Great you feel happy and free , compulsive gambling takes this from us . To have my liberty back is just mindblowing . Knowing I have the freedom to choose and make decisions regarding my life . Been existing under the yoke of gambling addiction for too long , I've had enough of it .

Thankyou Duncs for your encouraging words of support . I have been attending GA meetings again which I believe helps . Looking forward to 90 Days but will be wary as I blew it once before shortly after my 90 Day celebration , maybe i thought I deserved a reward . Thats just how delusional it all is , rewarding abstinence from gambling by having a bet !

Like the idea of having mantras at the ready , they can be a great tool .

Come to think of it there are a lot of tools in a GamCare Toolbox ......Solidarity - Friendship - Support - Exclusions & Blocking of Sites - Counselling - Handing over of Finances - Advice and Information .....Shame theirs not a magic wand .

One thing reading the diaries has taught me , we are all so very different but we share a common problem , which is a compulsion to gamble . I have no idea of the trials and tribulations GamCare friends are faced with , I do know compulsive gambling will probably make everything so much worse . I think fighting this together makes us all stronger .

Thoughts and best wishes to all who are struggling with the addiction . Their are no judges here , only supportive friends who can identify with what your going through .

Well done on your 84 days Stephen, your post has just lifted me, very empowering and so true. We seem to get our life back when being gf because we suddenly have time to spend on things that really do makes us happy.

Keep up the amazing work

Annie x

I know we all have our favourite mantras like ' one day at a time ' & ' i can't win because I can't stop ' & ' oh no I've done it again'

I really like this one off you tube ; Jai dada mantra - children beyond

Wow I've found a multitude of mantras on you tube for every kind of purpose . Think I might find one that feels right for me or I might just make one up myself .

"right for me" - a good mantra, Abs!

Hi Stephen,

Thank you for your continued support; it means alot.

You are doing really well. I heard that it takes 100 days to form a habit. You are currently 84 days gamble free. I hope this continues and becomes a habit for you x

Ta da!!! 84 days, amazing progress and inspiring and helping so many at the same time. Go polish that halo S:)