I'm coming out of my cage.......

Good for you sir the bright side is the only side keep fighting.

The bear

Thanks Bear - hope you're doing we'll mate

Mr Brightside

Thanks Rainman - that's me in bed, self excluded from my online accounts, no access to my debit or credit cards and no note of the numbers....and the bookies are closed...... means that I am now officially one week into the journey!!!! Thanks for the encouragement - hope you are doing well.

Mr Brightside

well done on reaching a week, the most days I have ever done is 10 so I don't think I was 100% committed to stopping, day one for me again but hope to get many more.

good luck with getting to the 1 month mark

Day 8 done and dusted - to be honest I thought this diary stuff might be a lot of nonsense but thanks to all of you for helping and supporting - one day at a time, money in my pocket for the first time in ages going from Monday to Tuesday and an ability to look in the mirror in the morning and not think how I am going to cover up the losses of another weekend of losing bets and spins........and Monday chasing. Day 9'tomorrow - counseling starts and I begin to get into the root causes of why I do it, why I push the self destruct button......and my new life continues.........

I'm coming out of my cage and I'm doing just fine.......'cos I'm Mr Brightside.

hey Mr B

thanks for posting on my diary- you can do it! the first few days are the worst, but you've got a week under you belt, well done friend.

Counselling is good, but not easy; so be prepared to feel a bit shaky when you finish your session.

one day at a time.

Stu

Day 9 defeated!! Another victory for recovery!

Thanks to those of you who have posted today - I'm amazed at the sense of support and "team" - I'm not here alone.

Had my counseling tonight - tough going but another step in the right direction.

Tomorrow is double digits for me and another milestone. Will post tomorrow night with an update. I've got my daughter staying over - another reminder as to why I need to kick this awful affliction.

One day at a time Stu - you're so right and thanks for the post mate. One day for all of us!! Let's gain another victory over this tomorrow.

I certainly plan to........'cos I'm Mr Brightside!

Hey Mr Brightside,

Thanks for popping by my diary, just been reading yours.

Great to see you doing "What ever it takes to keep racking up those victory days". I to had counseling, and attended GA, I told myself I would do what ever it takes to beat this (one day at a time).

After all this horrible addiction is still doing press ups in the car park just waiting for us to fxxk up, but guess what TODAY is all that matters.

Keep on fighting the good fight. !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1gLGjPFkRA

take care

blondie x

Thanks for checking in Blondie - great to get the support of those who have been here, done this, are winning but are still real enough to admit its tough and a fight. Thanks for the link too!! I love The Killers - they will help me through this too.

I'm almost through 10 days and it's not been the easiest. A very early start, some big challenges through the day, a few urges and a huge appreciation that I couldn't access anything to give into them. Flip side there's been some real positive thinking and the first 'post stop' credit card statement that I can look at and think I'm already getting somewhere. And then there was a song with these lyrics on the radio......a timely intervention........

"I never really gave up on

Breakin' out of this two-star town

I got the green light

I got a little fight

I'm gonna turn this thing around"

It's funny........they say that when you are in a great place you hear the music.........when you're not, you listen to the lyrics......... Check out what you are listening to right now? Music or lyrics?

So onto Day 11 - a funeral to attend and a day off work. Going to surround myself with family and support/be supported...........

I'm gonna turn this thing around........'cos I'm Mr Brightside.

Me Brightside

Great to be reading that your doing so well, sorry to hear about the funeral but just stay positive and remember what your aim is!!

You've already proved you can beat this by staying clear this long so just live as if your repeating the last 10 days over and over, you've done it 10days so can do it again might seem a tedious way of looking at it (by repeat) but you will notice the change in your life and notice a lot when you have nothing to pay out (debts)

Keep strong today and focus on other things like family and friends, or even this blog to keep your mind off the worst thing in the world.

Unaitsert

Day 11 beaten - it's certainly not getting any easier. Determined to beat this though - such a great help not being able to access money or online gambling accounts.

I'm worried about a couple of the guys I've been chatting to back and forward - Unaitsert, MJB and lec - where are you all? Hoping you're alright - don't leave me doing this on my own and remember you guys aren't alone either.

So back to work tomorrow and the danger territory of the weekend approaches. I've done it once so I can do it again! Just going to try and keep busy, stay free of money, avoid the town and not give in to the temptation or urges...........

So I'm still listening to lyrics........hearing the music will come soon enough.......

"Change came in disguise of revelation, set his soul on fire.

She said she always knew he'd come around.

And the decades disappear

Like sinking ships but we persevere.

God gives us hope but we still fear what we don't know."

Except...........what have I got to fear? With everyone on my side, my Brightside(!), why should I fear something I don't' know?? I'm not going to buy that any more.

I want a happy life

I want to like myself again

I want to be healthy

I want to be proud of my achievements

I want to look at my payslip and know the money is all mine

I am going to give thanks for what I have everyday and I'm going to visualize an amazing future & I'm going to believe it will happen.........

And it will happen............'cause I'm Mr Brightside

MR Brightside

Glad to see you are keeping up the good work, really pleased for you! Don't worry I'm still on that wagon to feedom with ya pal reigns are in our hands!

Hopefully tomorrow work can play a part in keeping your mind busy I tend to find the urge and temptation come on strong just as work is about to finish therefor my advice would be to stay extra strong at this time do something different even make a phone call , remember though, you don't have to stay in and live a lifeless life, enjoy yourself spend time with your kids and friends that can help! Even coming on here I've found is a huge help! My temptation to gamble decreases just by communicating with people in the same boat doing the same thing and achieving success together! 🙂

Hope day 12 was as good as yesterday, just keep thinking- I've done this 11 days so I can do another 11 !!

Unaitsert

Day 12 and I'm going to keep this short tonight. I'm so pleased that I've got is far and there ain't no way that I'm going to give up now...........but I'm just as pleased that my compadres are still with me - Unaitsert and lec101 - still fighting and still winning.........in the words of the famous Sir Alex Ferguson......."I'm pwoud, vewwy pwoud, pwoud of my pwayers!"

And I'm pwoud too..........'cos I'm Mr Brightside

Hey 101 and every one of you wonderful people who are helping me through this........Day 13 almost gone and one of the most difficult ones yet - my second Saturday and no big plans for the day......so lots of thinking time, with urges.........but no giving in here!!

Looking forward to Day 14 and having turned my back on my old life 2 weeks ago. Focussing on the future, getting excited as to what life can look like and how it can be achievable if I stay free from gambling. Now that's encouraging! I'm going to create a visual board that I can look at every day and remind myself of all the things I want to achieve - I'm going to believe it all into happening!! May sound a bit loopy but think it will work and keep me focused on the positives of stopping.

Some lyrics for a song I was listening to today.....amazing how you can listen to a song hundreds of time and never actually hear it.....ok, so you put your own meaning into things depending on situation but they work for me........

"When there's nowhere else to run

Is there room for one more son

One more son

If you can hold on

If you can hold on, hold on

I want to stand up, I want to let go"

Pretty apt huh.........for all of us!!

So onwards to two weeks gamble free. Let's stick with it and continue to win.......I certainly wouldn't have got close to it but for my amazing and tolerant family and you sensational people who continue to listen to the ramblings of a mad man and posting your encouragement - thanks so much.

I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier..........but I am Mr Brightside!!!