Life With Sports Bets Only

Glad things are going smoothly captain.6 months will just be the start,

I missed that augero goal,the loser i was i had turned the tv off in disgust,couldnt bear to watch man utd celebrate,little did i know!

That goal ultimately sent me back betting bigger than before,couldnt tell my partner i had won a grand because i had given up,the secret money was quickly lost and much more.

The days are racking for me.gradually getting easier,but i have 1 confession,i still par-take in entering the super 6 on sky in my partners name,I cannot enter because im self excluded from sky.

Not a penny is gambled,and i think it has helped me cope with saturday arvo`s,any harm in this do you think?

I am an oddball. I am a loner.

I cant communicate with people face to face about subjects other than work. This affects me more at this time of year. The few social events I am invited to I cannot attend as having done so before I end up feeling lost, lonely in a crowd and have to get out of there at the earliest opportunity.

If I was doing stuff in my life maybe I could communicate better. But all the things in my life which were worthwhile talking about disappeared years ago. People dont want to hear that you do very little. I dont want to just listen to others. Others dont want to talk to me as the conversation isnt two way.

I havent always been like this but when I could converse it was because I was playing sports and happy to converse about them. I was happy to converse when I was going places, achieving something, when I had ambition.

But when I couldnt play sports any more and my ambition was no longer there, I just rolled into a shell and became an introvert.

Nearly six months of not random gambling but it doesnt change any of the above and never will.

I can hide in my own corner January to November. December will always be difficult.

Gambling didnt make me like this. Bad luck and loss of ambition did. Gambling was just the way of escaping from stress and boredom into another world. I really need that escape in December but the escape cannot be gambling so I dont know what it can be.

Maybe you`ve got to push your boundaries a bit more captain,get out your comfort zone if you want life to change?

You`re a keen on sports,why not take up a new sport? golf,pool,snooker,crib anything to get you out there.

Life wont change unless you do.

All things you`ve probably heard before i suspect captain,but a positive outlook does bring positive results.

Your on the up my friend,random gambling behind,the world is your oyster.

Captain

Fella a heart felt post that kind of left me feeling ashamed, ashamed that there is a fella out there like you, a product of modern society in my belief.

If you don't conform then you are outcast, for you fella it has been reflected here too.

Because you don't conform you have to fight the tide of folk questionong your presence.

Why don't you take the spirit you give your diary, your own self belief and convert that into the 3d world.

Is there really no interest away from gambling.

Music? reading? activities that don't need an outside influence but gift the forefilment that life if you give out, gives you back.

The list goes on of possibilities, from air fix models to bird watching I could think of an endless list of things that given more spare time in my life I would have a go at.

I love to educate myself, it brings enjoyment, I believe you believe in your recovery that is surely the most important thing about recovery.

Forefilment is something that comes from what you put in.

I just hope you find something to gift you yours.

There is a nothing wrong with being introvert, so long as you are happy.

Fella I simply wish you well.

Today your thread has gifted me again a valuable lesson, that I should not fear anything, I should find time to try those things I let my addiction take the opportunity to do away.

For it I thank you.

Duncs

Been really stressed for over a week now. Can't go on like this. Got a week of work to endure with everyone on a high before the holidays then off for a fortnight during which other than the mandatory Christmas day visit and trips for food and newspapers I will hibernate.

Random gambling has been my stress cure for about 25 years. I've had moderate stress since I stopped random 5 months ago and dealt with it but nothing as strong as this. People say yoga and meditation and stuff like that but I don't want relaxation techniques, I need to relieve the stress by feeling alive again and doing something worthwhile. An escape to a parallel universe of gambling worked for years. Without that stress relieving drug I am scared of how I may behave. I can't see this level of stress disappearing until mid January. That feels like an eternity right now.

Captain, I feel exactly the same way. Exactly (other than the sports part). In fact, I'm trying to plot my escape excuses from all Christmas related gatherings. If I could only press a button to fast forward my life.... Music helps me relieve some stress. Exercise does too, except I find it much harder to motivate myself to exercise than to put my headphones on. You sound very depressed, Cappy (takes one to know one?)... maybe you should see a doc about it? If I could force in us an intense desire to exercise, I would, because I do believe that is the best "prescription" for us. What is stopping you from playing sports again? ((((Captain))))

When you get really stressed you might try this...., turn out the lights, put this on and turn up the sound and just zone out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoYrLM5rGX8

Then try to force yourself to go for a walk (if you're not asleep).

Thanks Carla.

Yeh I know I'm not the only one who feels like this at this time of year and I know there are many worse off than me but it doesn't always help.

I do exercise to keep weight off 4 times a week and nothing stops that but it doesn't relieve the stress. I can't play sport due to permanent injury suffered 13 years ago.

I may be borderline depressed at times but it's mostly stress and frustration. I don't want to go down the doctor route.

Rather than avoiding seasonal events I'd love to be part of them but my circumstances don't permit. As I said in earlier posts you can't live a solitary life for 11 months and expect to have a great social calendar in December and you can't invent friends and family who don't exist.

Rewind 25 years and I was life and soul of the party and participating in competitive sports. I used gambling as a crutch and escape from a life with sporting involvement and social opportunities reducing. As they reduced more and more to virtually nil, the time spent gambling increased. I have arrested gambling issues now but the core problems remain and the stress at this time of year is unbearably high.

Hi Captain... I really relate to a lot of the things you have said recently. Stress and frustration rule my life but like you say, its worse this time of year and winter generally I think. I tried to be social last night but struggled and could only handle it through drinking to excess. The only reason I didn't gamble was because the gambling place closed at midnight. My core issues remain unresolved. Keep writing Captain, your thoughts help.. S.A

Maybe it would be ok to random gamble to get through stress of December and then quit again in January....

Captain tough it out

Hi Captain,

It looks reasonable on paper but, you know that for us, random gambling is not a harmless pastime. I totally understand you needing to distract yourself during this time but, you know that you cannot say for certain that you will quit come January. That's the whole problem right??? If I could stop whenever I wanted to I would still be going to the casino too... Don't do it. Find something else to do. -joan

Michael, Judy, thanks for responses.

I can find plenty of things to do Judy, its not about filling time. Its about relieving stress. Random gambling has been my only way of relieving stress for 25 years and my stress levels are so high at this time of year. I am struggling to come up with an alternative mechanism. Need something for 30 mins a day and random gambling has always met my need (although I appreciate the risk of the longer term consequences).

Hi captain,

Appologies for coming on ur wall, but just really want to say don't go there. You doing so well without random gamblng, why to ruin all hard work couse of low mood and stress this month? It's not worth it.

You can do smthing simmilar instead. It is stress, we all feel it more recently. You can ride it out.

You don't want to end up in that dark place. Try to avoid that merry go round. You will feel better for it come next month.

Stay strong cap

Sandra

Cap,

I always read your posts, and learn big deal of them. You taking different aproach in your recovery and it took some time for me to accept it. We are all different personalities here, i learn, i make mistakes too.

Keep going strong

Take care

S