My long journey

Well today has been really eventful, I have finally realised that for me to be gamble free I have to be honest with myself first.

So here goes.....

I will continue to gamble as I have the time when I am not working, so to rectified this I have self excluded from my two local bingo halls. This took a lot of courage from me as one is a small hall where everyone knows everybody. I spoke with the manager and he took me through the process of filling out the form I have excluded for a year (min 6 months) I got quite upset which he was very good and compassionate about.

The second hall was slightly better as this is a big bingo hall. As it happened the manager was in the reception area, she got the form which was in the machines area and it was a quick process. I again asked for 1 year but they said it was for 6 months.

For me this was really a last resort as I really believed that I could stop going but obviously I couldn't.....

I have told my husband who again was really supportive and I think secretly pleased with what I have done.

I felt very upset today it really was like that I was saying goodbye to a large part of my life. I know I have done the right thing but it still was very upsetting. I know at some point I will probably regret today as you forget how you feel when you are at a low point. But writing it on here will remind me.

So now for the next few months which I can honestly say I am looking forward to. I have finally been honest with myself and now looking forward to having money in my bank account to spend on nice things for my family and myself 🙂

Onwards and upwards

LG

Hi LG firstly welldone on taking that step it is a huge deal and you should be very proud of yourself.

Im only on day 5 and already can feel the benefits of a gamble free life, by no means do i think this is going to be an easy road for any of us unfortunate enough to have to walk it but putting these blocks in place to help us on our journeys is essential.

ive learned a lot from the posts on here and complacency is a one that crops up so many times which i think we all need to take heed of, its so easy to forget that this is an addiction and if you took an alcoholic to a pub and excepted him not drink you would be frowned upon, whereas we have money in our pockets on a daily basis and are expected to not waste that on gambling, its not easy.

I wish you all the luck and strength in the world

Jess x

Thank you jess for your words of encouragement.

So today I have received a letter of confirmation of my self exclusion from the major bingo club I played in. I am so pleased I have finally made this decision as there have been a good couple of times where I would have definitely gone down there.

I went out with my husband yesterday and I did broach the subject briefly and he said that as far as he was concerned that we should draw a line under it and look forward to our lives now our children are getting older. I could not have ask for a such a understanding husband and it makes me sick that financially I have put unnecessary strain on us. I am lucky that it is just a overdraft that I need to pay which shouldn't take that long, but we didn't need to live in our overdraft as we have if it wasn't for my gambling.

So I now have so much to look forward to , I know it will be a long journey but finally I have realised that to help myself I have to be honest.

Keep strong

LG

Lg

thanks for the kind words upon my thread.

I am so pleased to read that abstinence is serving you well, allowing you to make the right choices in life.

Self exclusion is a wonderful self gifted thing

For making that choice be proud.

Enjoy the rewards.

Like me it sounds like you receive the unconditional love of a partner no win however big money could buy

Duncs stepping forward never back

Thank you duncs for your post, I am truly blessed with a kind and loving husband.

I am still gamble free and have realised that for me to start this process you have to be at your all time low. So me sitting in the managers office last month at my local bingo hall balling my eyes out asking to be self excluded was my all time low.

So for now I am gamble free and a happy luckygirl.

LG

Still gambling free and happy!

The best thing I ever did was the last thing I wanted to do was self exclude. It has taken away that need feeling to gamble.

Payday tomorrow so I am looking forward to having a bit of money for myself. Last payday I was in the bingo hall losing my money and taking more out and losing that as well!

Keeping strong

LG

Still a happy luckygirl as I am still not gambling.

Working hard, but on days off I am not thinking about gambling as I have taken away my route to gambling by self excluding.

Self excluding was the best thing I have ever did and I really wished that I did it a lot sooner.

Looking forward and keeping strong.

LG

Hi LG

Great to see you in a good place and may long it continue (very long lol..forever indeed)

Recovery is bespoke and every individual finds their own way to move on and look ahead. With every day g free you get a piece of yourself back and ain't it wonderful!!! You are worth so many good things in this world and you are surely on a right track

Be proud and keep making the right choice. No looking back, upwards and onwards you go

All the best

Day at a time

S x

Thank you sandra for your supportive message.

I don't update my diary regularly but thought I would today.

I am still gambling free and feel really well both mentally and financially. I do sometimes have a moment where that gambling devil sits on my shoulder and whispers in my ear but I quickly flick him off.

My husband has noticed my mood swings have gone and that I am smiling again.

I am taking one day at a time and enjoying each day.

Keeping strong

LG