I can't do this alone

Hi mjpsmummy - when I read your take on the emails etc. it could be me talking! Well done on getting to this point (Day 9 for me).

I spent some time this evening unsubscribing from several sites which keep emailing me, and the ones which don't have an 'Unsubscribe' option I put a message block on, so at least they go straight into my Deleted file.

Also agree totally with your previous post about the nonsense of spending 'virtual' money and yet being able to budget when food-shopping etc. What made it even more nonsensical was that the virtual money I was wasting wasn't even mine, but drawing on my overdraft each week. Let's hope we can continue to beat this...

Joanna 🙂

Hi Joanna,

Good to hear you have got to day 9. The first weeks seem to be the hardest. I made it to day 12 before and had a huge relapse but no more!

It's a good idea to unsubscribe from the emails. I even get some from a site I have been excluded from for ages. Surely that shouldn't be allowed?!

It's only now the gambling haze has lifted that I can see the stupidity of depositing hundreds of pounds in one night. I was completely drawn in but now I have removed myself from the situation I am thinking a lot more clearly.

Yippeee I have made it to day 17! That is officially the longest I have gone without gambling for the last two years!!

I have felt like logging onto the gambling sites but thanks to self exclusion and blocking software I haven't even tried. I have to admit to thinking about it but not being able to get onto any site is enough to stop the thoughts! The reality of losing is also enough to stop me from even trying to sidestep the software if it were possible. I'm not even going to try just in case it is!!

I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel but I do know I am still weak and if I was given the opportunity to gamble I would do it. So I still have a long way to go!!

same as all of us mjpmummy

roll on day 18 🙂

Thanks for stopping by my diary. Next time, I'll try not to be on day one. Congratulations on how far you have come.

I've not been on for almost a week but thankfully I haven't been gambling my time away. So I think I have made it to day 23!! I seem to have lost count! All I know is I haven't gambled since before my last payday and have almost made it to the end of the month!! I even had enough money left today to get my hair cut!! I admit there isn't much left in my account now but it's payday next week!!

Thanks to this site for keeping me on the straight and narrow! I don't log in every day any more but I know I need to log in once a week to 'check in' on the 2014 challenge and having got this far I really don't want to relapse and go back to day one.

Thanks for the post in my diary. Great to log in to yours and see how well you are doing. Keep up the good work!

What is going on?! I am SO SO glad I have blockers in place. If I didn't I would have gambled today for sure. I am really feeling like I'm missing something at the moment. I don't understand why because I have very very nearly made it to pay day and still have some money in the bank - not much but enough to survive until pay day. I still have fuel in the car and food in the fridge so it's all looking quite positive.

Why then is this great big monster (for want of a better word) looming over me and testing my ability to stay away from the online slot machines.

I am going to be tested on Saturday as it is the end of the month and I have to do the accounts and create invoices for all our clients. My computer at work has a blocker on it but the other machines don't and I will be there on my own. Last month I managed to steer clear so I'm hoping the fact that I have made it to a month without gambling will be enough to stop me. I really don't want to relapse now.

This thing is NOT going to beat me! But I am going to struggle to stay strong so words of encouragement would be really helpful 🙂

Sorry to hear you are struggling. Hope you make it through through today. Just knowing how many people were on here rooting for me really helped me not reverse that withdrawal this week. I hope I can return the favour in support of you today. Just think how good it will feel to look back and say you did it.

Take care and stay strong.

Yes, hope you got through today unscathed.

I think sometimes it's a form of self-punishment - to taunt ourselves with the possibility of returning to gambling, even though all the blocks are there. And also of course the mistaken hope that we can get a quick fix to boost our bank balance - what a delusion!

Stay strong, and try to remember that sick feeling we have when we have succumbed, and lost!

Best wishes,

Joanna

I admit I was close to giving in yesterday when I went to work on my own. It would have been so easy to turn one of the other PCs on and tried to log into one of my online accounts. I think I have self excluded from them all but I imagine I'd find one or just open up a new account with someone else.

Anyway, I managed to stay strong - the determination to get to the end of the accounts in one day was a good motivator - and didn't give in. I didn't quite finish all my invoices but I got a lot closer than I would have done if I'd been gambling the day (and my money) away!!

I have already lost count how many days it is since I last gambled but I know I have got over the one month hurdle which I'm really pleased about.

Well done on coming through a difficult day - that was a real test of strength and you triumphed. Congrats also for your month milestone. We can do it!

Joanna 🙂

It's been a while since I posted on here but I'm pleased to report that all is good and I haven't been near any gambling websites.

I had a random email from one today (that I am excluded from) introducing a new account manager and asking me to reply with some personal information so he could get to know me better!! A new marketing technique I guess! Made me really angry! I did reply and tell him so as well!!

Hi

I'm new to the forums ( it's my 3rd clean day)

I have had a slot machine addiction since I was young (45 now)

In 1990 I stopped gambling through visiting a local gamblers Annon group that's now disbanded they helped me overcome my addiction and I had over 10 yrs of bliss, worry free and very happy,THEN that came crashing to an end when I put my first coin in a slot at my local town centre amusements and I'm sad to say I'm worse than before ( I have a better wage these days)

My BIGGEST woe is gambling behind my wonderful hardworking wife's back - yet this isn't enough to stop me doing - I'm truly pathetic.

I have tried to imagine life without her, her trust and her love and I can't even use this so stop this dreadful " disease"

So here goes...you guys are all in the same boat as me and I'm sure that with everyone's support on here we can beat this addiction and move on to be gambling free and more importantly be HONEST people and have some self respect in our lives. WE NEED TO BE ON HERE AS IT ENDS HERE

Please comment as it builds strength

Hi mjpsmummy - So glad things are still going well for you. I still get the occasional email too from various bingo/casino sites. In some way it helps me when I read their two-faced offers, because now I recognise them as charlatans - feeding off the vulnerability and weaknesses of their punters.

Glads Dad - well done for your continuing 'sanity'.. Yes, it really helps coming on to this site and I hope you go from strength to strength. You use the word 'pathetic' - that 's exactly how I see myself when I think of how easily I let money on slots slip through my fingers and how other family members work so hard for their money and retain it.

Good wishes to you both.

Joanna