My Diary - small steps to recovery

Day 7 = 1 week gamble free. 1 week nearer Christmas, a new Year and a new beginning far far away from this shadow of gambling that has enveloped my life over the past year. Determined to be strong, will not give into urges, keep on down the right path one day at a time.

Mo

welcome back mo

hope your ok with me commenting on your diary but well done for coming back

its not easy but make it count

stopping gambling is not easy but it is possible

keep persevering

tri

Thanks Tri am still gamble free and keeping going even though things, health wise aren't very good for me but I've realised When I couldn't sleep due to pain I would distract myself by playing slots but just replaced one pain with another type of pain so no more. I will persevere and get through each day one small step at a time.

Mo

Hi diary,

Still going strong 2 weeks 2 days. Determined this time not to let myself down. I have on the healthy eating, did really try but didn't get anywhere - will need to push myself more as see myself sliding away where I was years ago. I really don't want to do that as I have already lost self confidence since my disability has taken a hold of me. I know that's what's led me down the online slot path. No more, I must get my life in order, take control as I'm allowing it to control me. I know it won't be easy, will have bad days and good days on the health front and gamble front too. Urges seem to jump at me in the middle of the night when I cannot sleep. All accounts shut so I must make sure it stays that way. One day at a time....I know this time it's my time.....not a pound more will be wasted on online slots.

Mo

Hi Mo,

You are doing so well.

Every day things will get a little easier.

There are so many of us on here who addicted to online slots.

They lure us in with the free spins. Once we took the first spin we were hooked.

They are designed by brain experts who know how to get us addicted.

We have so many "near misses" which in our brains registers as winning.

We have to do everything in our power to resist those urges.

Nobody wins Mo.

It looks like they win that's all.

If someone wins 1,000, they have lost far more than that. Then they feel "lucky" and end up putting the winnings back in and more.

The stories on the New members logs are heartbreaking.

You are on the right site.

Between us all on here we have to figure out how to quit and stay away from slots.

Enjoy your Saturday night gamble free.

Sunday morning is so much better without a gambling hangover.

Take care,

Suzy

Thanks Suzy for your positive post to me. Well still gamble free, to be honest (though bit scared to say this in case I tempt fate) I haven't really had any gambling urges for a while. I know I can't afford to be complacent as my track record of relapses over the last year are in my diary but I feel I have entered a new period in my life. I deleted candy crush - another form of addiction taking up countless hours of my time needlessly like a slot machine. I'm once again over 1 month gamble free - one small step at a time towards a gamble free life.

Be positive, life can be hard which I know too well! life is not fair as I know too well! but we need to be thankful for all the wonderful family and friends that support us through one crisis after another in our lives. Ultimately we ourselves are responsible for our fate, the path we,choose to take and decisions made. How many of us would do things differently if we had our lives to live again but we can't we must accept we cannot undo or change past decisions and learn to move on. I am now faced with a lifelong debilitating condition that impacts greatly on my ability to function as a normal person and had sent me to the brink of suicide on many occasions but I keep going as i could not put my family through that. Life is tough but I try to put positive slant on it and say it's even tougher for others. be strong everyone,,with help and support we can become gamble free -'I did it previously and was gamble free for 16/20 years. I'm determined to get to this point again. One small,day at a time

Mo

......and so another week passes by, another gamble free week, surprisingly no thoughts of gambling but can't be complacent as that's when thoughts spring from nowhere and before you know it a new account is opened. I have taken steps to stop this happening as I no longer have a credit card I can use. It's getting nearer 2015, I so want to see in the New Year still gamble free, I know I will do it, so determined not to ever let gambling take over my life again. Life is still difficult health wise but am trying so much to make each day easier to get though, a small step one day at a time.

Mo

......and so another week passes by, another gamble free week, surprisingly no thoughts of gambling but can't be complacent as that's when thoughts spring from nowhere and before you know it a new account is opened. I have taken steps to stop this happening as I no longer have a credit card I can use. It's getting nearer 2015, I so want to see in the New Year still gamble free, I know I will do it, so determined not to ever let gambling take over my life again. Life is still difficult health wise but am trying so much to make each day easier to get though, a small step one day at a time.

Mo

Duplicate post

.......and as October ends I'm still gamble free and also healthy eating too. Health problems are here to stay but they are out with my control. What I can do is cleanse my mind of gambling thoughts (not dwelling on money lost over the last year), focus on NOW, try to get through each day as best I can within my limitations. Am counting the days to xmas and New Year and start of a brand new year being gamble free. One small step at a time gives us strength and courage to get through this. Be strong

mo

Hi Mo,

It's great to see you continuing to turn your back on gambling.

You are right to read up on the "truth" about slots....it definitely helps you understand how addictive they are.

Your Xmas will be so much better and what a great way to go into the New Year.

Don't get caught out with offers of "free" spins. Coming up to Xmas they will be competing to lure us back in.

It doesn't matter what the free spin offer is, we will not be able to stop.

When you say "no" to gambling, you say "yes" to so many other things.

You are doing just great. Keep going one day at a time.

Take care,

Suzy

Thanks Suzy

your post has actually saved me tonight from dwelling on an urge that's I'Ve not had for a while (never be complacent when you're a CG.). Reading your post and writing on your diary made me refocus - I will not gamble today or tomorrow.

we are livimg, breathing though life is far from perfect or normal but onwards and upwards we must go facing the demons and resisting any urges.

keep being strong, one day at a time to see in the new year and a new beginning

mo

.......and so as another week draws to the close I will be 50 days gamble free tomorrow. This week has brought huge personal issues which in months gone by would have been used as an excuse to go back to gambling and if truth be told I only momentarily had an urge. I don't want to be or sound complacent as that's happened before and as everyone on this forum knows no matter the safeguards in place if one wants to gamble they will find a means to. I feel I'm in a better place, reading 'the truth about online slots' really hit home and It's help me to deal with what I've done over the past year. Tomorrow I'll be 50 days gamble free then by xmas 100 days gamble free as long as I continue taking small steps at a time forward and not gambling today or tomorrow. Being part of Mr B's challenge has been a tremendous help and support knowing that I'm not alone in this fight against gamblimg. I'm also still keeping to healthy eating and already seeing the benefits of that both in mood, health and weight. All in all I'm more positive about life in general.

Mo

Hi Mo

Very well done on 50 days tomorrow, good to read you are more positive

Stay strong

Suzanne xx

..........51 days gamble free, feel good with healthy eating, healthy living which seems to be keeping urges away. Thanks Suzanne for your support, means a lot. In a very positive place.

mo