In a bet there is a fool and a thief

Hi trigger,

With 48 days under your belt, I will definitely say you are on the right road, well done.

Suzanne xx

Hi trigger,

thanks for your post.

I've been reading your posts and I'd like to share something with you which may not help you but certainly won't harm you.

September was to me what January is to you. A quiet, boring month which often led to big slips after good periods of abstinence over the busy summer months.

what I did in September just past was, I gave myself a "definiteness of purpose".

Basically a goal for that month. Something that you have wanted to do but put off. Can be anything. (I made a rocking chair) But the main thing was that I had this purpose every morning, noon and night of that month.

It needs to be something definite so that the mind has something to 'chew' on apart from gambling.

It worked wonders for me.

I wish you strength going forward.

All the best. John

Day 49; 7 weeks. Thanks Jon and Suzanne,much appreciated.

Your right Jon,I have pin pointed boredom as my major contributer,keeping busy and focused is key.
I have started a big garden project to fill any spare weekend time,I shall be working on that Sunday weather pending,I've got today sorted.
It's the time at work when it's quiet,there isint much to do,my mind wanders at times.
At least I'm wary of this;im keeping positive,I know I have to ride through a few storms,spring will soon be upon us,I'm not a fan of January.

Feeling very positive,I shall not gamble today;the big 50 2mo.

Feeling good,no thoughts of gambling

I'm in a good place

Cheers for the post trigger. Day 50 tomorrow half way to the big ton. Keep up the good work

Day 50! A little milestone achieved.
I've a long way to go;but my mindset has completely changed,I'm still in debt,but I feel much more in control.

Gambling takes over your life,that helpless feeling when you think the only way out of the hole you've dug is to gamble more.
I'm off the merry go round,is up to me to stay off now.

New hobbies to combat boredom; take each day as it comes and be happy are my aims in life
Be on guard at all times;cos you never know when you may act upon a mad thought.

Just for today I shall not gamble

Hi trigger,

well done on 50 days. That really is a fine achievement. You spoke about feeling in control now. I completely understand. Not being a slave to worry, anxiety, fear and the desperation of wondering how and when we can get that next fix or cover up the last loss.

Good riddance to those feelings.

Well done and best wishes,

john

Hi Trigger

Well done on your continued success! i have read your diary and it's so honest and real to many of us afflicted with this vile addiction. It is encouraging how determined you are and I wish you all the best with your journey.

annie

Thanks John and Annie,your posts comments and support mean a lot.

Day 51,no thoughts of gambling,I really do not want to give money away ever again.

I've never really believed I could quit,been a gambler all my adult life,but I want to arrest this addiction more than anything;im starting to believe my gambling days are behind more.
Not going to get complacent,that's been my downfall in the past.

Just for today I shall not gamble

Well done on 51 days trigger amazing stuff we both around the same stage in our recoveries and good to read you also have no thoughts of gambling aswell atm long may it continue and as you say stay on our guard.

Keep strong

Thanks taxi man,hopefully I will always be 8 days behind you!

Day 52; back running early this morning, - it is good for the body and mind.
No thoughts of gambling,the habit of looking at race results is subsiding;done out of habit;they mean nothing to me,I must stop.

Work still quiet,I'm trying to keep busy,I'm read this forum a lot,lots I want to do but unable to do at work.
Good thing is there is no way I can gamble.
No gambling today long may it continue.

Hi trigger,

Well done on 52 days, stay strong and keep going forwards.

Have a good day

Suzanne xx

Thanks Suzanne.
Day 53, -Unexpected bills,days out to pay for have cropped up.
Normally this would push me into gambling,going to keep strong.

Just for today I shall not gamble.

A few negative thoughts today,so I thought I'd write them down just to get my head back to reality.

53 days I've doing well,2 bad habits I've hung 2,occasionally watching racing and checking the results of a tipster I use to follow.
He made good profit last year and is up this year;trouble is I could never stick to just his selections- the downfall of being a compulsive gambler.
When I tried to just follow his selections last year;I would either miss a winner because id blown my stake money on a morning basketball or tennis game or Id not back a winner because he'd been on a losing run.
It's all pointless anyway,I could never hang on to the winnings;the winnings would be an excuse to gamble on other c**P;because you can't win cos you can't stop.

Sorry for the negative post;im just getting things straight in my head.
I've got to get out of the habit of checking his results;results in general;it had a negative affect on me earlier.

It's all a learning curve;i feel good and have no intention to gamble.
2 months next Thursday.

Congrats on 53 days Trigger. I think you already know what to do. Watching racing & following a tipster are you remaining in action. Its not healthy for you brother. Do the right thing for your sanity & your best possible chance of recovery. To continue to believe the dream that controlling your gambling is a possibility is a surefire way for relapse

Thanks for the post day@atime.
You're spot on,it is a tie with gambling I must cut off.
It has been my downfall in the past whilst in recovery,thinking I could gamble sensibly for a profit.
This time the penny has dropped, I know it's impossible,writing down my thoughts yesterday helped clarify things in my head.

You cant win cos you can't stop.

Life is rolling along nicely,the month I dread is half way through,and I'm starting to enjoy my new found freedom.
Spending time with my kids has been my pleasure in life,no longer feels like a chore that took away gambling time.

I'm liking the new me,onwards and upwards.

Just for today I shall not gamble