My story :-)

No he didnt just say that, otherwise it would have been a very short session. What he drew upon was the element of control we have, we just need to access it. For me, that was empowering - though im sure each individual is different.

Im looking forward to having more sessions. Is this something you have done day@atime? Would be interested to get others perspective on how they felt the consuelling supported their recovery.

Another day gf, yesterday I felt i had a good bet that I could have put on (which would have come in) with good returns on the football. However, I didnt even try to put the bet on and still enjoyed watching the football without betting - a big step for me! hopefully will get to the point where I don't even think about potential bets.

Today my day will be filled with studying, so will keep me occupied.

Have a good one everyone x

Hi Athena, thanks for your post on my diary. I had an argument with the Mrs so I decided to get on the tube and have a walk round Covent gardens. I ended up in Leicester Square casino and lost £1200. How you getting on?

Hi Chris - no worries. Oh really? im sorry to hear that! But you know that you can do it before youve done it before, time to start again. Do you go to GA or do you have counselling at all? How are things now?

Checking in for another day gf!

I get paid tomorrow, so should feel i suppose excited but im nervous about it. Firstly I am worried that I dodge the blocks i have put in place and gamble. Secondly, because of all the debt repayments coming out i barely have any money to myself after evertyhing is paid. I have managed to negotiate with one lender to settle at half the price of the loan+interest value, which was an excellent deal which i will need to pay tomorrow - This is good as will be another debtor off the list. This just menas however that I am even more short than what I normally would be.

On a positive note, looking forward to my first full month gf in 3 years! Keep strong everyone - will try and make the chat tonight.

Athena

Hi Athena, I tried GA but it didn't really work for me and I haven't got the time for face to face counselling. I used to gamble (nearly) everyday but since trying to stop I've become a binge gambler instead. Which is progress in itself really. My main block is making sure there's only the bare minimum in my current account. How about you? Do you go GA? Based on your user name I take it your Greek and from London? I'm not a stalker I promise lol. There's loads of GA meetings in London but like I said it's not really for me.

Fair enough Chris, I havent tried GA but feel i have enough support here and am waiting for counselling. I used to be a binge gambler, but before stopping used to gamble everyday it was all i could think of. Im really looking forward to start counselling, as the last year particularly has been so stressful. Although only just gone 3 weeks gf, i am already feeling better and have a clearer head. Suprisingly enough, I am not greek I am english but do live in the oustkirts of london.

So today, I got paid and I didnt spend gamble it feels good! instead i went to an italian resturant with a few work colleagues and it was much nices then sitting in a dingy high st casino for an hour (or maybe more). Feeling super happy today and got another debt paid off from my salary! Will try and make it to chat shortly also.

Checking in for another day gf... Got 1st year results today and got really good results so I am over the moon! Out to celebrate with the other half so won't be on chat tonight! Have a nice evening all

Hey Athena, well done on good results and the increasing gamble free days. Sounds like you are really on a roll, and you are only going to keep moving forward.

Good work!

RA

Hi Athena, congrats on your results 🙂 & soz I didn't say a proper hello in chat (you kept disappearing?) tonight!

I'm so glad you have signed up for the counselling...Right from your very 1st post it was clear that you were using gambling as a crutch. Lovely to see that you have had the strength to reach out & that your boyfriend is supprting you. I'm far from a young gambler but I had to turn my finances over & live like a child on pocket money @ the start of my recovery. Breaking the gambling (Time-Money-Location, remove one & you cannot gamble) triangle was vital for me! I didn't do my damage online & am excluded (I think still) from most of the shops in about @ 20-30 mile radius of my home, the old fashioned way (go in, spend every last penny I could get my hands on, self exclude)...Barriers don't stop us, but they buy us time when we need to ride out an urge. I'm almost loathe to tell you that I haven't had any counselling yet & have only been to one GA meeting but unlike Chris above who has given reasons why they don't work & continues to gamble, I will find time, for both if needs be, if I start to wobble. You have to put as much effort into recovery as you did gambling & just like gambling, recovery is progressive...Only instead of the more put in, the more you lose, with recovery, the more you put in, the more you get out!

Another massive well done on your 1st year results & keep moving forwards - ODAAT

Thought id chec in for my one month gf 🙂 Im very pleased, although I feel rather ill this morning - never mind!

Thanks RA, I feel like im on a bit of a roll this last year or so has been so negative, so im glad that the tide is changing slowly. Apologies about chat last night ODAAT i was on my phone and it keep disconnecting so gave up in the end! Yes I am in a really good place at the minute and dont want it to end, the only negative at the moment is that I have such little money to get by on each month due to debt repayment. For example, its my partner's birthday this month and know that i cant afford much, in reality i know that the best present would be for me to stay gf! Within a year I should be able to get all of this under control and live quite well so thats what i have to look forward to and need to keep that end goal in mind! Im looking forward to starting counselling as I feel it will help, as ive never really spoken in depth (other than on here) about the severity of the problem and the things i have done to gamble. It already feels like a different person.

Thanks for your comments guys and stay strong and gf 🙂

Checking in for another day gf - i have had a strange day today as in the car on the way back from a meeting at work i forgot i was gf and started to think about what i was going to gamble on when i got home (im very tired). In a few minutes i soon realised and adjusted my thinking - however thats made me feel a bit frightened.

A takeaway and an early night for me and hopefully will make it on chat later.

I havent checked in this week as i have caught a nasty bug and been bed bound all week! Hopefully I will start to feel better soon! good news is still gf, and not even thought about it to be honest.

If i can stay awake i will try and make chat tonight

Hi all

Starting to feel a bit better now though my body is tired and aching.

Mentally, however I feel amazing. Though only being a month and half gf, I already feel like I am changing so much and starting to go back to the very sociable person I once was. I feel that this is new beginning and paying back my debts and going to counselling is going to help support me through this journey. Im starting to feel like this is the NEW me - one i like a lot more, its suprising how much i disliked the person i was only 6 weeks ago. Must keep positive and keep going, got a house move coming up in the new few months to something slightly bigger which is incredibly exciting.

I will try and catch some of you in chat.

Athena

Just thought id check in to say all is going well and am glad to say i do not think about gambling all the time at the moment, it is not a daily struggle and it just feels wonderful. Weekends are much easier for me, whereas weekdays I pass so many bookies its hard to not think about gambling.

My partners birthday is the end of the month, looking forward to being able to buy a small present and going for dinner.

Always remdining myself i cant win becuase i cant stop.

Have a nice evening everyone