Life or Misery; that's the choice

Let's get to Xmas gamble free! We can do this! If I can do it it will be the best Xmas I will have experienced as an adult as I have always lost a tonne of money from being off work and gambling all day - only day 2 but they all count

Athena

Mixer, you anticipated my response correctly pal, no gambling today and no gambling tomorrow either. Hey one day at a time and we'll get there.

Athena, day 2 is 2 days better than normal for most people on here, congratulations. You'll be amazed how quickly they add up, keep it up.

Dholla1 - Excellent stuff, just what I wanted to hear! You are indeed a team player; and any team is far more effective than the count of its individual members.

Another GF day in planning tomorrow -superb.

Athena - talking of team players, you're part of our determined little gang. Another GF in the offing tomorrow- all setting us up for the weekend. Resolve building all the time.

Moorey - with you all the way and another key member of our team. We all count the same, we are all worth it and we will succeed. Another GF tomorrow Moorey..? I don't need to ask that question. I just know, from your clear determination in your posts, the answer.

GF tomorrow everyone. That's all we ask of each other! And we'll catch up tomorrow, friends. 🙂

Another GF day for me tomorrow, yes. I'm finally starting to think more clearly now. It's such a simple, yet wonderful feeling.

It's not until you stop gambling that you realise just how much of a destructive bubble you're in.

Not good!....

This worry-free life is far more enjoyable 🙂

Well I'm here on your thread reading thread wow what a popular person u r I like ur advise I did the multi exclude and it really helped and easy which u could do same for online

Hi Christer1

Thank you for your kind words.

It is nice, I suppose, to be popular but the real inner satisfaction is to be *respected* as someone who is personally trying to slay the gambling beast, and as part of that goal is happy to help others with unconditional, positive help and support. I would love to drag us all, kicking and screaming but happier and wealthier financially and spiritually ... because I detest gambling and the misery it brings to those of us who need help with it.

I'm all ears about multi-exclusion online Christer, what you did and the difference it makes to you.

Why not join our little gang, too, as we collectively, day by day, grit our teeth and take the enjoyable route in life rather than guaranteed misery.

I wish you all the best Christer. And look forward to hearing from you!

I'm on Day 7. Still in the valleys but looking up at the path that takes me up the mountain; not the mountain itself. One manageable step at a time; that's the secret.

Wow almost too many people to mention, your diary Mixer has become a nice little group chat, exchanging best wishes and advice. Best of luck to everyone today, stay strong, stay GF and remember how good it feels NOT worrying about how to tell the partner or face your bank account.

Taking nothing away from you though Mixer, this is your thread, just remember that everyone who has posted on this diary is here for you my friend, just as you are always there for them.

The difference it made is I've got no where to turn to in a moment of weekness. OK I will join your group while we we all batter this out together

Hi Christer1,

You've identified a good weakness here - you need a bolthole for when things get tough; something stressful happens or the gambling devil is tapping you on the shoulder... here are a couple of suggestions...

1. Immediately contact a 'buddy' - someone you can trust and have primed for such a moment. They can talk you through it, talk you out of it, and take practical steps as necessary, like, for example grab your bankcard!

2. Dive onto this website, write a diary, join the chatlines, netlines or phone up Gamcare. Do something! Get yourself out of the heat of the moment.

Because the moment will pass. Like a recovering smoker, take just one small drag ... and, we know what happens. So, when you hear that distant rumble of tempation, have your contingency ready.

Part of that contingency might involve taking some practical steps before hand. I don't know your 'poison' offhand but if it's bookies just ban yourself from all of them within 2 miles right now - it'll take 20 minutes, Plus you can add more to the list anytime you want. You really can put impediments in the way.

Welcome to our little group - keep posting! We are a small, tight-knit group evolving from a single, determined desire to stay GF for another day. It hurts us immensely if one of our number falls of the wagon, we collective feel the disappointment and pain. So lets try our best to give ourselves the very best chance to improve our chances of success. I believe collectively we stand more a chance; others may disagree. But whatever works, that's what I say.

All the best, Mixer

Another glorious day of being gamble free, my friend....

Thanks for your reply on my thread mate.

Day 24 past and I can safely say no urges wages are all still in my bank we will beat this

Thank you for the post Mixer.

I'm shakily going well thank you Mixer. Trying to find the right path doesn't always sit well with my inherent inclination for dysfunctional erraticism.

Always enjoy reading your posts. Bringing back your upbeat unity.

I like it.

There's a Swedish proverb that reminds me of you Mixer: "Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief."

That's a good one.

Great to have you back on the forum my friend.

Hi Glint,

Thank you for your friendly and encouraging reply; it's appreciated. And I particularly enjoyed your sentence starting: "Trying to..."; fantastic wordplay!

The Swedish proverb is on point to; we are all friends here; anonymous perhaps but bonded by a desire to unconditionally help ourselves and each other. If that ain't friendship ...!

You're right, Glint, this GF doesn't sit naturally with us; it's like writing with the wrong hand. So we simply must improve our 'handwriting', by going GF day by day, until one day, we can write a message in the finest calligraphy and post it to the gambling devil with the simple but succinct message: "---- YOU!".

Ok; have a great day Glint and everyone reading this. Let's be GF today Ok - let's enjoy the day, do we really want misery? Let's just enjoy the summer!

All the best

Mixer

A quick post to everyone reading this. It's Sunday today (or tomorrow if you're reading this in the next 45mins).

Let's all give ourselves a treat. Let's go GF today. Let's, for one day, give ourselves peace of mind. We deserve it. Our loved ones deserve it.

Just for today. Go on; we can!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Mixer

Hi Everyone - hope we all are all doing well.

I am so happy to say today is going to be another GF day and know it will be for all of you if you choose it to be! Wishing everyone a good GF sunday.

Athena