Had enough. Time for change. For good!!

Thanks Dan, great to see you doing so well as well

It’s the start of another glorious weekend, it will be a GF weekend.

I am now less than 2 weeks away from the magic hundred! However, one thing that has stuck in my head reading so many diarys on here, is it seems to be a point (shortly afterwards) when we can become susceptible again. I totally get why. So I will need to be on my guard that just because (assuming I do) I reach 100 days GF, not to take my eyes off the ball. To keep reminding myself I am playing the long game here, gamble free for life.

87 days gamble free.

Yes that’s exactly what I’ve been thinking/worring about.

But we must re-evaluate our goals when/if we hit 100 days to remain gamble free. I’ll be thinking of mini milestones thereafter, such as 120 days would be 4 months and 1/3 of a year etc.

Top work Ukds. Enjoy the weekend mate.

Well done ukds69.

Love the positivity flowing through your posts.

Cheers for the comments, much appreciated. This forum has gone a long way to helping me get to where I currently am with cutting out the malevolent stain on my life that was (note, was) gambling

Home alone for a bit this week, it really would be so easy to have a harmless gamble this evening. Luckily for me, as the devil on my shoulder try to persuade me to do so, I know it’s a trick. Because for us CGs, there is simply no such thing as a ‘harmless gamble’.

Instead I will give myself a little pat on the back. Today is indeed a nice little mini milestone. 90 GF days. Happy days.

Great stuff mate! Willing you all the way to that big milestone.

I’ve been having a few loose thoughts recently ref. gambling. I guess that’s par for the course in the giving up forever journey.

Today I started toying with the notion that, instead of my usual previous way of slipping slowly back off the wagon, namely a few small wagers, what about one big £1,000 10/1 shot? Logic being...no time wasted, I can afford it thanks to the money not gambled since giving up, no harm done??

I’m slightly annoyed that I, albeit momentarily, even entertained the idea. Fortunately I am made of stronger stuff now and within seconds I was back in the room, with that stupid thought drop kicked into row z.

Three things are foremost in my mind when the urges start creeping up.

1. I haven’t got this far to throw it all away now and go back to where I was 3 months ago.

2. Stopping gambling has improved my life immeasurably, why would I want to knowingly change that?

3. I’ve stopped gambling for life. I made the conscious decision to do so when I gave up this time. Through experience I know that if I gambled, no matter how much, I WILL be back gambling heavily again soon after, it’s not if, it would be ‘when’.

96 days gamble free today. I will not only make a hundred but I will never gamble again. I’ve accepted that gambling will no longer be a part of my life EVER and I’ve completely come to terms with it. And do you know what? I feel great about it!

Big milestone ticked off yesterday, 100 days gamble free.

I’ve been feeling a bit of a pull back to the slots the last couple of days Reaching milestones, especially big ones, seems to trigger a need to reward myself with the very thing I have given up!

But I was ready for it and had my defences up. I brushed it aside like an annoying little fly. I just reminded myself how far I’ve come and why do I want to go back to how things were? I applied logic!!

Congratulations ukds on 100 days of no gambling! A top effort mate and one which quite rightly should be rewarded by yourself....but not through gambling.

I’d by lying if I said I felt differently, but I’ve been having the same thoughts recently. But, like yourself, I’ve taken a deep breath and realised just what it means to gamble again. How unhappy it made me when I lost and was struggling again for money. The sleepless nights, stress and anxiety etc. It just isn’t worth it.

Keep it going matey. Next stop - 4 months! 🙂

Dan

Well done on the 100 days free.

Also well done on realising and recognising the feelings if the slight pull back.

Shows your resolve to not let that happen and how far you have come.

Long may it continue for us all.

Thanks Dan and whatsmyname, I really appreciate your comments and support.

I woke up a few days ago and my heart literally sank as I remembered I had been back to the slots the previous night having succumbed to temptation. Then a wave of relief washed over me as I realised it was just a dream, blooming vivid one though!

It was good in that it brought back those horrible feelings of waking up after an actual all nighter, losing thousands of £s. A timely reminder for me actually. It is weird how our brains work!

102 days GF. 120 days next target...

Hi Ukds69 - congratulations on racking up the 100+ days. Your resolve and commitment to tackle this is an inspiration.

I've had a couple times where I've woken up thinking I'd gambled - and it's always such a sweet moment when I realise it was all a dream.

You seem great at keeping yourself in check from day to day and I'm glad that you can see beyond those foolish temptations that keep trying to make us return to gambling.

Take care

Equinox

Thanks Equinox, really appreciate your comments.

As money starts to become more a bit more abundant in my account so does that feeling of ‘why not a small gamble?’ Luckily, experience has taught me EXACTLY why not! And for that reason, those pangs of temptation can royally do one, I am not going succumb.

109 days gamble free. Life is sooooo much sweeter without. My brain has been re-wired. I no longer gamble. I will never gamble again.

Well done mate. I remember those early, testing days for you but you’ve come through it all and are now reaping the rewards.

Yes... A gamble free life is the way to be. Chuffed for you mate!

It’s been a while but I’ve decided to log back in this morning.

It’s been a difficult few weeks, mainly at work. Prime time to sink back into the grips of online slots...

Fortunately a combination of GAMSTOP and reminding myself of all the (many) bad sides has kept me on the straight and narrow.

136 days gamble free.

Hey mate, was thinking about you the other day and wondering how you were getting on! Fantastic to see that you’re still going strong.

Sorry to hear that you’ve had a difficult few weeks but big pat on the back for not caving in to the slots. That would have possibly been your solution a while back. But not now! Hope things improve for you, whatever those difficulties are.

Take care mate and keep winning!

Dan