Hi.
I am currently on my longest gamble free stretch (136 days) for about 29 years. Mostly I gambled on poker. I switch between feeling like I have beat this addiction to being unsure I will be able to get through another week so often at the moment.
Mostly from my therapy I got from the NHS I try to reward myself for the progress I made. I also keep track of my days in diaries and my finances in spreadsheets. I also listen to a script written by myself where I describe how it feels to gamble and how it always ends up with me losing and things I can do to help me not gamble. I don't like the sound of my voice so my therapist recorded it for me. I think maybe it would have been better if it was me talking to me.
Fortunately like when I quit smoking in May 2013 it becomes easier in general to not think about gambling all day long. I do not spend all my time imagining what I would do if I won big anymore. I have realised all that would actually happen if I won big is that I would gamble more and probably at higher stakes. Reminding myself that I have been telling lies to myself and others for many years helps to not act on urges.
Positive habits are just as addictive as negative habits I see quoted. So I have been trying to build positive habits such as running for my mental and physical wellbeing. I have run 21 parkruns (5km) since the middle of June 2024. This is my highest ever tally in a year. On Saturday I ran my first ever December parkrun and am trying to keep up the habit during the winter. I also did my longest ever runs this year. 10 miles in September and November. To give back to Parkrun I have been volunteering at Junior Parkruns near me and recently got my 25th volunteering milestone.
I try to make it easy for myself not to gamble by looking at how much better off I am not gambling. Both financially, and the amount of time for other things I have now. This has been my most expensive Christmas in terms of presents bought but I have had plenty of money for other things. I was able to go for a couple of meals out with my girlfriend in December and buy myself presents. Which is why I am so pleased with the progress I have made.
Still have a lot of work to do to stay gamble free. It is hard work but definitely worth the effort.
Well done. I just joined and this is the first post I read. I hope I can mirror what you’ve done so far. I’m a keen runner too!Â
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