Its time

Sbisstopping,

If you believe you can achieve.

Toad

Positive GA meeting last night and some excellent discussions around recovery versus abstinence. Interesting to hear of different theories. For me, abstinance is great but recovery requires deep commitment.

Recently I have got drawn into something on here and I am disappointed with myself although I stand by what I have said. I will not get drawn in again and I continue to aim to support others as I continue my own journey of recovery. End of this chapter for me.

Today will be a great day, I hope it is for everyone.

Hi SB , Just stopped off to thank you for your input and support earlier , very kind of you !

Wishing you a good night and a gamble free day tommorow.

Alan

Hello sbisstopping

Thank you for your post. Your input is valued.

I have taken the time to read your diary.

Time well spent.

You showed great courage at the start which seems to have made the transition into great consistency. It has been useful for a newcomer like myself to read how you have succeeded. Highlight of your diary - the November charity shop incident.

I have no advice to offer you; but give you my respect.

Great job!

Glint

Another week without gambling and resolve is very high. I have been reading a lot of diaries and wonder if my approach is rather shallow - keep asking myself if I have really searched deep enough to understand why I gamble ? Today I have decided though that what I am doing is working, everyone's recovery is personal to them and this is mine!!

I went on chat last night for the first time hoping to get a new perspective but (without being critical) most of those on there used it as a way of chatting in coded messages so it's not for me, I will continue on my own course. I will post here periodically, I will attend GA and I will keep my triangle broken. I will thrive on the positivity I get and feel through not gambling, I will continue to abstain and share my journey with my family. I will not gamble because I choose to live this way. Every day is a fantastic day because I choose not to gamble. I hope that anyone reading this also feels the benefit of being in recovery.

Hi SB , Great approach my friend and one that I can readily identify with , what `works for you , works for you !

As with you am really begining to feel the benifits of my new life , one without the ups and downs that goes hand in hand with addiction !

Nice tohear you being so positive my friend !

Stay safe and best wishes on your continuing journey .

Alan

Hi Scott:))

We all do our own recovery journeys quite unique to ourselves, please don't underestimate your own journey, I think you are doing fantastic 😉

I have never been in the chat room, keep thinking I should pop in, even if it's just out of curiousity.

Keep doing what you are doing because it's working, stuff does start to unfold even though we don't realise it at the time.

Suzanne xxx

Hiya Scott , your absolutely right buddy and I know that really , I just seem to have this quest thing going on at the moment , of trying to make those that don't get the whole recovery thing see the light . Because I don't see it as rocket science I expect everyone to follow suit but in the same breath I know that we're all so different it can take others in the same position a lot longer to get it ! Thanks for the kind post my friend really kind of you !

It's interesting isn't it.. I have been thinking about things and find that to me, gambling was a very functional pastime. It filled free time during my working day - I know I ended up addicted and lost a lot of money but I can't recall a real emotional attachment to gambling - it just became the natural way of filling time. It frustrated me, made me smile and made me sad but my approach to recovery has been about removing that practical dependence. As a person I plan things well and knowing there is a practical solution (triangle) has been great for me. I suppose I now have to ensure that the little dendrites firing in my brain have assumed a new favoured route which does not include gambling. Early on in my journey I declared that I wanted to get to the point where my natural action would be not to gamble rather than fill my time in a bookies. I have that now but by being on here I have realised that I will always be only one poor decision away from disaster. That is why I keep posting, not because I want deep routed emotional recovery but because I want to constantly remind myself why I choose not to gamble. Whether my approach is shallow is irrelevant as you have all confirmed that's ok - I think I needed to hear that so thank you. Hope that makes sense.!

Today will be a great day, I hope it is for you too.

Morning Scott , great honest post and full of self exploration , why am I what I am ?.

Have a great day Buddy !

Morning. You post on here, you go to GA and you keep your triangle broken. You're enjoying the life that being gamble free gives you and you're not being complacent. You're aware of the risks of taking just one bet and you're choosing not to do that, but without driving yourself mad about it. Doesn't sound shallow to me!

Just keep doing what you're doing, as it's working for you.

LifeBegins x

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

CW

It makes so much sense.

You remind me of an old forum user on here - Russ1. He, like you ' got it ' early.

Agreed, with LB and CW.

There's always room for self-improvement.

I think it's good you're asking yourself questions and looking for new perspectives. That's how to avoid the dreaded complacency.

Your post to me mentioned us all being on different journeys - I suppose some people find their way quicker than others.

Can't believe it's been over a week since my last post.. All is good and focus remains. Very busy so will leave it at that. Tomorrow will be a fab day - hope it is for you too.