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

Just a quicky to say that I have not gambled today or thought about it.

Just off to watch Torquay United take on rochdale..the first home game of the season.

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

Just got back from the game...another win for Torquay!!!!

It reminded me of how many games I have missed over the seasons because I couldn't leave the bookies. Still that is all behind me now. It is good to get back into the things that I really enjoy instead of wasting my life away stuck in some pokey bookmakers thowing my money and self respect down the drain.

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

Hi Jim.

Good to see you doing so well. Keep it going. As I've said in other threads, other peoples experiences on her are almost as important as my own to help me beat this. I'll keep reading:)

Ben.

PS..... it must be hard supporting Torquay:)

Nice on Jim, as Ben says, hearing about other people's successes is really important in our own battles.

Apart from at football, that is...unlike Torquay, Leicester have lost both games this season and are yet to score a goal!

Keep posting,

O

Hi Jim,

Kim xx

hi all

Just finished another long, hard day at work, sometimes I wonder why I became a zookeeper! Thank god tomorrow is a day off..a nice long lie in is on the cards i think.

Anyway, another day of non gambling, it might sound a bit repetative but I hope i can repeat it every day for the rest of my life.

I am feeling so strong at the moment, in a strange kind of way that is a bit scary because I dont want to get complacent again like I did last time after three years of abstinace.

I am sure that this site is helping me a lot, the daily writing of this diary and the daily reading of other peoples progress. It helps to keep my mind focused on what I am trying to do and more importantly the reasons why I am doing it.

Anyway, all is good..I have not gambled today and Torquay United are two games into the season unbeaten...of the two , not gambling gives me the greater pleasure.

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

Great going, Jim. Are you really a zookeeper? Sounds like a great job! I work in the NHS...see, it affects people from all walks of life!!

I remember your first post on here mate, and it's great to be able to track your progress (even whilst I screwed up!). I'm sure your experience of relapsing after 3 years will actually make you more likely to succeed than more likely to slip.

Best wishes,

O

Hi olly

The slip up i had has certainly made me aware that this gambling bug will always be with me and to beat it I must stay focused on the reasons I am giving up. that is where this site and everyone on it comes in. This is my constant reminder.

jim (last bet 22/04/06)

Hi Jim, so true what you say. We are lifelong gamblers and we have to choose not to gamble. Having one bet is not an option unfortunately, if we could control our spending it would be classed as a hobby but it is definitely an addiction.

As you say, stay focused and remember the bad times and focus on the good times ahead. Joy

Gully, I'm thrilled for ya, and there's nothing wrong with being happy. You deserve to be happy, your doing brill. Stay positive, and keep posting, I love reading your diary. I suppose I'm just nosey 🙂

End of another day without a bet.

don't know why, but i am feeling a bit down tonight. No reason to feel so really, it just came over me this afternoon, still it didn't tempt me to go down the bookies so I guess it's ok.

I suppose learning to deal with bad times without betting is just part of the giving up gambling process. So with this in mind, I guess it has been a good day after all, as i feel low but haven't rushed off to the bookies and further more..I HAVEN'T WANTED TO.

Feel better already.

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

way to go jim

its a good feeling to get to the end of a s**t day, and know that you have your dignity and integrity still in tack.

nothing in the world can beat that feeling.

sometimes u dont need a reason to feel down, it just happens. think it might be god testing us with his perverse sense of humour or something.

anyway, i have just discoverd a fantastic stress busting technique that i want to share with you, and one that i really do reccomend you try.

get a bottle of bubbles and blow tiny bubbles in the air and watch all your stress and tension, niggles, gripes, and negativity float away.

it works!!!!!!!

its a fantastic feeling of relief just to see the negativity all disappear.

P**f the bubble bursts and and with that you sense a feeling of freedom that nothing can match

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

Pulled a sickie today as I still felt pretty cr**. Spent all morning stripping all the wallpaper off the kitchen walls. I feel so much better now...It was very theraputic.

So, normal service is resumed and glad to have got through these last 24 hours without doing anything stupid.

not sure about the bubble thing carol-ann, my family will think I have gone mad...lol, on the other hand they probably think I am mad anyway so I might give it a go!!

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

gull

dont tell anyone

but

yesterday i was blowing bubbles at work because i was angry at my stupid bloody staff who didnt know what to do when i had a fire drill

so cross was i that i fond a bottle of bubbles and blew them till i felt better.

this morning, i went out to teh post office, and after posting my letters, i bought an other bottle of bubbles

i tell you

its fantastic therapy!!!!!

sorry to hear that you are stil feeling a bit low though, but i guess pulling wall paper off the wall works too,

but

buying a bottle of bubbles is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a couple of rolls of wall paper

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

Carol-ann

Don't worry your secret is safe with me..lol

Seriously though, thanks for your support, it has been really appreitiated. i am feeling a lot better this evening.

And the wallpaper needed coming off anyway...donkeys years old.

And so ends another non gambling day, another few steps on my personal road to recovery.

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)