Hope

Pleased to report that no gambling since my last post. Am keeping in touch with the calamity that mindlessly watching spinning reels, whether online or at a machine causes to my bank balance and more importantly to my mental health. This is an easy thing to do just now as its fresh in my mind.

I am tired today and glad am not working. I am debating whether to try and find work for tomorrow. I am in two minds. Part of me thinks take the work while its about and the weather is good for cycling but then part of me just can't be bothered, but then I feel guilty for thinking that. Might see if I can get an overtime shift at the school, more money. Am defo not working the weekend though. yes thats what i will do. Finding balance in life.

When not gambling and not desparate for money, you start to have choices again. I start to have choices again and thats a good thing.

Thanks for listening... S.A

Well done SA

It's so less stressful when we can choose certain stuff in our life :))))

Take care

Suzanne xxx

Hi SA,

Thanks for the nudge, I'm completely lost touch with you guys huh..
No running in my world recently, last i went out i did 7 miles (friday i think), but don't feel too energetic recently lol..have motivation for sure, just body objects big style :-/

Good to see you doing well and moving on with your life ☺..not easy to get bk on two feet huh...but as everything - is possible!

Keep looking after yourself, keep making the right choice! I'm here beside you all the way (& now on FB too lol if ya want to get in touch)

Take care, may life treat you well going forwards

S x

Hey SA,

How are you? How did your last run go?
I did 10 miles in 1hr 29s (to b precise lol) yesterday!..yup..can't walk today :-D..my knee is having truly tough time :-/ but it was awesome to get some fresh air in these lungs!

Hope work is steady and you're looking after yourself ☺

Stay strong ..stay safe & sound

S x

Hi Sandra... thats a good run. Anyone who can sustain sub-9 minute miles for 10 miles, has good fitness and endurance. My fitness has tailed off recently. I managed my slowest ever 7 miles on Sunday lol and I haven't run since. I am going to do the birmingham half-marathon though. If I scrape under 2 hours I will be happy with that 🙂

As for gambling, nothing since my last post and no urge to gamble. I know it won't always be this easy, in fact I know from repeat experience that as gamble free time builds up and i start to forget, then I become prone to relapse once more. I am though in an improving place at the moment, whilst my gambling mates seem to be heading in the opposite direction. Swings and roundabouts, day at a time as always.

Thanks for listening... S.A

My o my... ive just been glancing over my diary over the summer and into the autumn. I was in a terrible place. Gambling binges, job stress, depression, anxiety, more gambling, hopelessness, financial mess, catastrophising, more gambling, end of the world.

I feel so relieved that ive got through it without doing something really really stupid.

I realise now that it really was job stress that got the better of me. A cycle ive been through before. I went for months not getting enough sleep and feeling exhausted. Its no wonder that eventually I collapsed and sought sollace in addiction. I set myself up for a fall. Self-detructive behaviour.

Yesterday I didn't go out and spent much of the day having cat naps and watching netflix and eating cheese and biscuits. It was lush. I needed that. No guilt, just doing what my mind body and soul demanded. Work really isn't the be all and end all. I choose to work part-time and get some extra hours when and IF I want to. I am not at the beck and call of others.

No gambling. No more self-destruct.

Thanks for listening... S.A

Lovely post SA,

I chose part time too, and it's done me the world of good lol,

It's good to see you having some ME time lol,

Enjoy being gambling free, and of course stress free

Suzanne xxx

Thanks GT & Suzanne 🙂

Another half marathon in the bag. 1 hour 58 this year. Am happy with that especially given how much my running has tailed off recently. I didn't think i'd do it at all, due to gambling and not having the entrance fee, but i got my act together just in time.

Not much else to say, time for a long hot bath.

No gambling.

Thanks for listening... S.A

Sorry I ain't been around. Feel like I've got nowt to say, lately. Good to see you are doing just great, as I expected!

Do you know, sometimes we think we are doing c**P just because we don't feel great, but what we don't realise is, we are doing great just to still be here at all. That's the truth. We are surviving, and sooner or later we will catch a wave and ride high again.

Hi SA,

1hr 58 ? Ohhhh i think somebody needs to pick up the speed lol (that's me). Haven't run for a while now..well..i did at 6am Sunday morning..ohhh man you should see me lol..all hungover, pitch black, couldn't see a way ahead but tell ya what...i passed out and slept like a baby till late aft later that day..i knew there will b something positive to take out of it ☺..even if i only did around 3 miles lol. Half marathon lined up over the next days off...what can i say - bring it on!

Keep winning dear friend, keep making those right decisions and moving onwards one step at a time.

Look after yourself and well done on ur g free time ☺

Sandra x

Hi SA,

Lovely to read your positive post my friend.

Keep strong and keep SAS

Suzanne xxx

Thanks All :-)... and hey sandra good luck with your half marathon. If I remember correctly, you did 14 miles in 2 hours 10 mins... so a two hour half marathon is within reach, that is if any h ills have been ironed out flat ;-)... good luck!!.. let us know how it goes.

All is ok in my world. No gambling and not struggling with thoughts of gambling. Gambling f***s up my life and always has done it. The only solution is not to do it.

Am off to doc's in a bit. Iv'e run out of happy pills. I feel like I don't need them anymore but ive been down this road before, so perhaps a low maintenance dose... see what the doc says.

Thanks for listening.. S.A

P.s.. I am now going to do the washing up, its gonna happen.. bring it on!!!! 😉

All still ok in my world. No urges to gamble, so thats good.

I completely the Great south run once more. 1 hour 27 this year. All good fun.

Thanks for listening... S.A 🙂

Thanks for dropping by SA,

2 well dones coming up lol, one for your continuing abstinence and one for your great south run,

Yes I sure do take heed from your experiences, always have done my friend.

Have a great gambling free day.

Suzanne xxx

Hiya SA,

Sandra reporting on her run 😀
5 miles -38min!...average speed 7.40
...now..that was last week lol.
Today's aim (that's if i get out of my pj's) - 10 miles!

Will keep ya updated!
Hope all is well with you and you made that apt with GP..medication helps to keep your focus on right things, do not turn your back on something what helps you 😉
Lecture over - have a lovely (not to spooky) weekend!
And....WELL DONE on ur g free time

S x