My Recovery Diary (last bet 22/04/06 )

Hi jamie

i dunno about advice but I can tell you the steps i have taken and continue to take to stay gambling free.

I try to take it just one day at a time, each morning i tell myself that "just for today i wont gamble".

I have self excluded myself from my local bookmakers..its good to be able to go into town knowing that i cant just pop into the bookies.

I remind myself daily of the hurt and damage i did to myself, my loved ones and my friends....i never want to forget why i stopped gambling.

i try not to go out with spare cash or credit cards on me....if i aint got the cash on me then i cant bet!

I try to keep myself occupied and enjoy the pleasures that life brings....there is so much more to life than betting.

I try not to become complacent about my gambling problem and never let me convince myself that one bet wont hurt...I know where that first bet will lead.

I read some of the posts on this forum every day.

i dont gamble on anything...not even a raffle. It might sound daft but it works for me.

basicly i try to put as many hurdle between me and that first bet as i can. the harder i make it for myself to bet the easier it is to abstaine.

give it your all jamie and believe in yourself...it can be done.

all the best

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

well tomorrow is my 8th month gambling free. I am feeling good at having got this far. there have been temptations along the way but have managed to resist them.

thank you everyone for helping me get to 8 months.

all the best

jim (last bet 22/04/06)

just to wish you merry christmas and a happy and peacefull new year you have helped me so much still gamble free now 5 months and a bit loza x

Jim, 8 months gamble free - I hope you feel very proud - coc you deserve to! A remarkable achievement! Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year - you deserve it.

All the best

Hatch

Well its christmas eve and i need you all to wish me luck cause i am cooking christmas dinner tomorrow as Jackie is working.

havent i put my family through enough pain over the years without infliting this on them!!!!

anyway, merry christmas all and thank you all for helping me get this far..

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

how did ur xmas diner go??

i am sure you cooked it perfectly!!

take care jim

today is a good day, adn i am livign every moment to my full potential

Well i got through christmas pretty much unscathed.

jackie came home early so although i had put the turkey in the oven and prepared all the veg, the love of my life finished it off for me..so christmas dinner was great!

Anyway..on to the new year gambling free for me.

all the best

jim (last bet 22/04/06)

everything still ok as 2006 draws to an end. looking forward to 2007 and beating the urges to gamble that i am sure will pop up now and again.

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

happy new year jim and all the best you have helped me a lot and your kind words raise a glass or two and say no more gambling heres to 2007 and a new start loza xx

alls well as 2007 gets under way. got through the boxing day and new years day racing fest without wanting to bet at all.

hope everyone is having a good start to the new year.

All the best

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

sounds like your year has gotten off to the start that you wanted it to be.

good to see that things are still going well for you.

today is a good day, and i am living every moment to my full potential

Jim, fair play to you for what you have achieved so far since April 2006. I really admire what you have achieved and how you are planning to keep that going.

Real example to others you are. I've read some of your diary occasionally since August 8th when I ceased (hopefully for good) and a lot of it I can relate to what I go through. Some of it has given me extra ideas/thoughts which I would never have thought of trying if I never read it, so thanks for that. Probably saved me squandering hundreds of pounds Jim.

Fair play & thanks.

Hello Jim

So good to hear the happy stories. Gives us a lift. Well done.

Best wishes for 2007

Rosemary

Hi Jim

Good to hear that you're still strong and well mate. Power to you Jim, as 9 months approaches I salute you!!

A fine man - congratulations!

All the best

Hatch

PS Thanks for all the kind words, encouragement, ideas and support you've given me along the way. I'm now in a much better place - cheers mate.

thanks everyone..your support really does help me in my continued battle to live a gambling free life.

although the battle does get easier as the days go by, I am only too painfully aware of the fact that the urges could strike me at any moment...thats where this site and all the people on it come in.

all the best

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)