Well, 4 weeks gone and I think this must be day 30. My last 3 visits to bookies were "winning" ones and in a way it feels sad that I will never be able to spin a roulette wheel again although this is out weighed by the thought I will not have to hide losses or make excuses for where additional money has come from. I am now at the point where the thought if relapse and wasting my 30 days abstenance really helps me focus. So all in all. In a great place.
Today is going to be a good one, I hope it is for you too.
Its just dawned on me, my last gamble was in may and now its july.... june was gamble free! Looking vorward to july being the second full gf month. Have a great gamble free day everyone.
Day 34 and all is well. Feeling comfortable with my progress but not complacent. Lots to do to keep the nasty gambling animal in its cage! Golfing today and its going to be a great day. I hope it is for you too.
Hi mate. Just been reading through your diary and it's really inspiring. Keep up the good work.
Today is day 41 and the focus continues. No real thoughts of gambling but there remains an awareness that it is still stalking me so no complacency. I still make certain that my LiMiT is set every day making sure that 2 of the location, money, time triangle are not available - it certainly works for me.Going on holiday at the end of the week so will be passing day 50 in sunny spain. today is going to be a great day, I hope it is for you too.
Well. I am in Leeds this morning for a meeting. Arrive 45 mins early so decided to nip to the post office to send a parcel. During the half mile walk I past no less than 8 betting shops and 3 amusement arcades so had time and location (and a few quid in my wallet). The good news is that far from succumbing to temptation, I am incensed that there can be so much opportunity to gamble in such a small area. Really confirmed to me that we can never let our guard down and have to change our behaviours from the inside as the opportunity to gamble will only ever increase. Today is going to end a great day, I hope it is for you too.
Well done in getting this far.
I'm hopeful that gambling has reached it's peak in terms of accessability and the amount you can gamble without limit (Especially online)
Seems to being talked about more and more in parliament and problem gambling is reaching new levels.
I must say my anger towards some of these bookies has waned. Maybe as after 8 months I feel much more in control, at the beggining I felt vunerable and they were taking advantage.
I find it much easier to ignore bookies these days.
Sat at kings cross station awaiting the next train in 50 minutes so have the time. Location is good as at least 4 bookies within a 5 minute walk, have a few quid in my wallet (the same few quid I had yesterday) but I have a choice, I can gamble or I can choose not too and catch up on others diaries. It is sad to read about fellow CGs struggling so I will do the decent thing and for the next 45 minutes I will do what we all want to do and choose not to gamble. Please take strength from this, whilst it is a different challenge for each of us, when we have the choice, we must think of those you love and how they would feel if they saw you hurting yourself, no one would want to see a loved one in pain and I know that we all see gambling as an illness, a beast. So if you are struggling to muster up the strength to abstain, draw strength from those on this forum and those we love, we have a choice. I said today was going to be a great day and whether it is or not is within my control so I choose to make it great. I hope you all have the strength to make the same decision.
Good work Sbisstopping, I know that danger area in London well, was often caught there either with too much time on my hands, or the knowledge that another train would be available in an hour. You have made the right choice today, well done
Thanks Casey - I have just realised that because historically I self excluded from all bookies on my routes I could not have gambled anyway. However, I am pleased that i didn't even consider this barrier as I chose not to gamble. Having said that I did notice another bookies had opened in place of one that closed down recently - I wonder if my self exclusion still stands? Anyway, not to worry as I made the conscious choice not to gamble and that feels so much better! As I stated earlier, today is going to be a great day!!!
I think that today is day 46 but believe that that isn't important as I will treat it as day 1 and choose not to gamble making sure i continue my recovery.
I attended a GA meeting last night with a couple of newbies who really need our help. I have decided therefore that it would be very unfair for me to relapse and need much of the groups time at the next meeting. We were also joined by a guy who started his journey 10 years ago, listening to his positive journey provided a great insight into why we must take responsibility and listen to our inner angel and not the demons! The future is very bright!
I am looking forward to celebrating day 50 whilst on holiday but it will just be a day before the next day that i choose not to gamble.
I read many diaries in this forum and i am sad to see those who have gambled and whilst I appreciate that we are all different, we must accept that gambling requires us to make an effort, it IS within our control. Every time we make the effort to decide not to gamble we are shifting the balance to a brighter future. I am confident that eventually, my natural position will be not to gamble and it will be easier to make that choice rather than making the effort to gamble. To get there requires effort but in the long term will give me the best return on investment i have ever had!
Today is going to be a good day, I hope it is for you too.
Cheeky little post whilst in sunny Spain to say that all is well in my world. Day 50 passed on Monday and no worries. Back to my espresso..
Today is going to be a good day, I hope it is for you too.
Back to the cold, wet (and wonderful) british isles! Feeling good with no desire to gamble. Been to a new work location this morning with at least 4 bookies within spitting distance but had no desire to drop in. I am too far into my recovery now and thrive on the thought that if I sucumb to the nasty beast then I will have wasted 8 weeks of effort and let down every one who is supporting me. I did not attend GA last week as I was away and I will also miss this week. Whilst I am confident that I will be ok, I miss getting the updates on others journeys. Sad to read that others are struggling but remember that we have to treat every day as an opportunity not to gamble, even if we have been beaten the day before - gambling is not a habit to kick, it is an addiction to control every day. I hope everyone is well and is keeping the beast caged! This is going to be a week of good days, I hope it is for you too.
Just to say that I am feeling good and feeling the real benefits of being gamble free.
1. More time
2. More money
3. More smiles
4. More freedom
Enjoying my journey, those who are struggling... Please keep with it, it's worth it! Tomorrow is another day so will treat it as an equal and show respect to what it brings.
Just caught up on your diary & what a wonderfully positive read...Thank you 🙂 We do have the choice & the only way to be free from this is to choose 'No' everyday!
Looks like you sailed right through July too...Way to go 🙂
Keep an eye on your LiMiT whilst you figure out the way up keep moving safely along this path of recovery - ODAAT
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