Hope

Hey SA

Congratulations on your big 300...you don't look a day over 200 lol xx

big achivement and also full support on dealing with what life throws without the anaesthetics..

I think your new job will appear soon...right place...right time ...downwind of the right info..etc.

Am also tired and need to rest again...xxx

Thanks for the post bringing me up to the 1000 posts mark!

Agree with what you say re socialising. I don't so much force myself to stay in but just stay in as it is the easiest option. I have gone out to events before and turned at the door and came home or just sat there silent as others converse as I feel I have nothing to bring to a conversation as my life is so empty and a failure. Social occasions which don't go well have always led to gambling. It's like my life is a mess and I can't have a conversation but I can go and win £200 in 5 minutes and that makes me happy again in that moment.

But I know I need to somehow improve my social life and agree it's a big part of recovery albeit a difficult one.

Best Wishes

Day 301 gamble free.... and thanks for the support everyone 🙂

I wasn't planning on going out for a run this morning, but then did and felt good and did a speedy (for me) 5 miles. Then I felt pain in my left leg and stopped and walked 4 miles home. Hopefully its nothing too serious... I shall rest for a few days. learning from the past I hope. I just been really enjoying watching the great north run. I'd like to do it someday. World men's triathlon championships finale later. I shall watch that too...its something to do.. so I can continue to avoid Nvq work

My mate has gone to ground, not replying to text messages. I hope he's ok but in a way I really didn't feel like the idea of going over and listening to his tales of woe. Other than listening I can't help him anyway.

In myself am ok. another working week approaches, more stress. Day at a time and all that. on it goes... thanks for listening... S.A

Hope the leg is ok. I know from experience what it's like to have to walk back from a run injured.

Envy you being able to watch sports on tv without a bet - I can't do it.

Hope your work isn't too stressful - what techniques do you use for dealing with?

Hi it probably is just a pull/strain

I think it has a lot to do with the change in weather. Pulls and strains seem a lot more common. Only the other day, I bent down quickly without thinking about my knees to switch TV off and felt a crunching pain, and old nervy pains were back in the bottom of my back once more...

You will gradually recover, just your body saying 'do I have to' again. I get this more in my late 30s!

Glad you are doing so well with your life away from gambling..

Keep going from

Awayout

Day 302 gamble free.

What a s**t weekend that was. Other than the running and write on here I did nothing constructive, couldn't even motivate myself to wash up. Lazy in my thoughts, spoke to nobody, idling away time watching Tv and now its time for work. Atleast I didn't gamble, that's something I guess. Thanks for listening... S.A

SA

My friend thanks for popping by thread. we both added another century on the same day.

I take this view on proceedings, sorry in advance if it's happy clappy but through my eyes it's how i see things.

So you got running over the weekend, you posted some fantastic things here, not least the one upon our friend blondies thread. You may well have re charged the batteries for another working week. to do a job you give a f**k about, one in which you hold your own high standards whether folk around do or don't.

Also you show great humility toward your pal, many would run for the ***, and no there isn't anything you can do to make him cease, we've been that soilder boy!!

oh and to top it all you did not have a bet.

Above all else that is enough, if when your feeling low you don't give into your addiction then that is surely enough.

I have been witness to the results of what gambling reeps too many times.

I hope too that new watch is helping with the running.

again well done

abstain and maintain.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

SA

I sympathize and empathise with you. Yes it's great to not have a bet and go a run and post on here but we both know it's not enough don't we...my life is similaras you know. We both need to get through the current phase and find more to interest us and take up our time. A life where we continue to abstain from gambling, well that on it's own isn't good enough.

People can suggest things to do but it's all dependant on individual circumstances and interests.

I suspect like me your current circumstances are not exclusively down to gambling problems.

Day 302 continues...

Thanks both. Ive lifted myself out of the doldrums for now. I was pro-active at work. Myself and another colleague took the most challenging client up into the hill's and a long walk in the breezy conditions. The client was in good form and being out in nature and the fresh air helped me too.

Got back from work to be met by my neighbour. Nice fella but consumed by his addictions, absolutely off his face on strong lager. A happy drunk on the surface. I don't suppose he will be so happy tomorrow.

Anyway am on a level at this moment in time. No thoughts of gambling. Thanks for listening... S.A 🙂

P.s Funny, you can't write the word h ills... you have to put a ' in it. Am thinking of putting the word William in front of it. 😉

Hi SA

Glad you're keeping an eye on my arithmetic- obviously my brain was addled yesterday 🙂

I'm also pleased to read that things in your world are OK. "on a level" days are the ones I enjoy most- definitely had enough of the immense highs/lows of gambling.

Take care

Irene

x

(I have some clients I'd love to take to the wilderness- but I'd be tempted to leave them there lol)

Hi

Its me again.......maybe some colleagues!

Hi SA,

On a level is good. I think that is what life is supposed to be like, but it's hard to accept, so we distract ourselves with all sorts of "issues" to make it seem more interesting.

I think addicts more than most. So really, increasing our exposure and tolerance to mundane reality, is the best medicine! Not very s**y or thrilling though, eh?

Oh well, on with the mundanity!

Take care,

f x

303 days without a penny gambled in that time.

Thanks all and yes Freda, I continue to expose myself to my reality, no hiding from my life standing at a slot machine.

Am slugging my way through Nvq stuff getting side tracked at every opportunity, like coming on here. Work was ok, still proud of myself that ive had not a days sickness since 2011.

Went for a run at the *** of dawn today, just 2 miles but glad I made the effort. Set me up for the working day. I might do the same tomorrow.

I carry on carrying on and on and on. Its the only way. Thanks for listening... S.A

S.A. - when you use the phrase 'not a penny gambled', I assume you mean that literally - i.e. yes I know I am not following the standard complete abstinence path but I firmly believe that any compulsive gambler need only abstain from what hurts them.

So if one is compulsive on horses, or slots, or football, do what you can to stop gambling on those things.

But I will never subscribe to the view that putting a pound on the lottery, buying an odd scratchcard or raffle ticket does any harm UNLESS that act leads the individual to gamble again wrecklessly on their problematic area. i.e. if someone does the lottery at a pound a week for many weeks/months and never wins, if they are inclined to start increasing their stakes to a fiver a week, then a tenner etc then they have a problem but I dont see the relationship between someone doing a pound a week lottery and then suddenly going mad on horses or slots. Same if someone at work is selling raffle tickets, you can buy a raffle ticket without it leading you back to your problem gambling area, just treat it as giving money to charity, you arent buying the ticket thinking it will give you a buzz if you win and it isnt changing you as a person or alllowing you to escape from anything...

Sorry longer post than anticipated, just got me thinking

Best wishes, glad you are running ok again

SA

Fella, I am sorry to reply in sorts to a post upon your thread, but I am merely posting from the other side of the coin as it were.

For me a zero tolerence is the only way for a compulsive gambler to live, to gamble in any form for me is to give acceptence to gambling, which gifts the addiction a way through the door.

You have been around this forum longer than I and I am sure you like me will have lost count of the folk who come to the forum due to there gambling in a bookmakers, to then fall foul to online gambling and vice versa.

The destruction to our lives gambling brought is surely enough for anyone to bare. Therefore I believe in total abstinence.

As I say fella just wanted to flip the coin over and post from the other side.

Keep up the good work, as is said many times here do what suits you.

Duncs stepping forward never back.