My story :-)

An update to say I've slipped but am going to get back up again! I haven't gambled much but I have given in !! In a moment of severe stress I went and gambled 10p stakes in slots just to get my mind off it! Didn't loose much but back to day one! I feel like I've learnt from the last time and am ready to put even more measures in place to ensure I kick it for good this time

Athena

Good morning everyone

i have done two weeks gamble free since my last slip up and feeling good and starting now to feel that I am on a good path! I have been ill with a virus so am currently recovering! Going to keep positive and keep going.

Always ys doing my best to remind myself I can't wait because I can't stop.

athena

I thought id check in as I haven't for a while, things have been really up and down and really need the extra support. Im hoping that the counselling will come through with a start date soon as I really want to get this sorted. It's payday tomorrow, which i dread as its prime time for me to make a mess of everything! Im finding myself being drawn back into places i haven't excluded from- any advice anybody?

Athena

Exclude from them immediately for a start & then download some blocking software. You got back up very quickly after your last 'blip' maybe because you didn't lose much & may have let your guard slip, just because you didn't do much damage last time won't mean you'll always get away lightly.

Phone the helpline, get back into chat, find a meeting, just do something as you have done coming here (well done) because if you don't, those wages are @ risk with you in this current mindset.

Don't let addiction make your choice anymore, you can choose 'no' - ODAAT

Thank you for you forum post ODAAT - I havent checked in for a while so as you can tell all isnt good! However, I finally have received my first counselling date for next week which I am really optimistic about. However, I will be trying to get back on chat tonight to get myself back in the swing of things. The last few weeks have been a blur but really want to start the new year on a positive and goot note to have a gamble free 2017.

Just a check in today after being to see the counsellor for my first sessions yesterday, i found it really helpful and was good at removing some of the lies I had been kidding myself with in order to continue gambling for this long. His approach was brutally honest, which is exactly what I needed. Feeling positive and looking forward to the xmas break, though money will be veeery tight.

A late check in after having a week off for christmas! Its all going wll an dhave excluded at more places, I have a big aim to make sure 2017 is a gf year! Lets do this! Feeling very optmistic and have another counselling session next week.

Following being on chat last night - thought I would update my forum posts. I have now been gf since 23rd December 2016 and am feeling better than ever, my counselling seems to be really helping me and am finally sorting out finances so I will be gf by the end of the year (providing i dont gamble). I am moving house at the start of feb and cannot wait to have a new start think it will help my partner and I. Having a little bit of a worried morning thinking about all my lossses to so thought it best to come on here rather than think about gambling! Anyway back to study as I have an assignment next week and an exam the following week! Keep GF 🙂

Good to see an update from you. Pleased to see the studies are still going well and a new house move so good positive reasons to stay gamble free. Did you ever manage to sort out SE with the SE line?

Athena1991 wrote:

Following being on chat last night - thought I would update my forum posts. I have now been gf since 23rd December 2016 and am feeling better than ever, my counselling seems to be really helping me and am finally sorting out finances so I will be gf by the end of the year (providing i dont gamble). I am moving house at the start of feb and cannot wait to have a new start think it will help my partner and I. Having a little bit of a worried morning thinking about all my lossses to so thought it best to come on here rather than think about gambling! Anyway back to study as I have an assignment next week and an exam the following week! Keep GF 🙂

Good luck with your assigment. I am starting my Masters this September, so I have it all ahead of me. I am pleased that your doing so well. I am only 8 days in, but feel I will be okay. Take care and have a great rest of the weekend. x

Another check in - never sorted the SE with the SE exclusion line as they told me it would be easier to go in an do it in store so thats what I did. I feel like i have enough barriers and support now to stay gf (fingers crossed). Another counselling session this week, and im feeling great. My head is down and focused on stufy as I have an exam next week. JL 35 - good to see you are starting the masters - All being well I will be finished mine in early August - Are you studying full time or part time. Off to town now to get some breakfast for "brain food". Have a good one everybody x

Checking in for another day gf - it is all going well and had a productive day at work! I have my 6th counselling session tomorrow ( i think its 6) and am really finding the counselling useful! i am adsapting to my gf life which was strange at first being as its been five years since my gambling problem began and im really liking my life without it! money to do things and to go out and am able to plan a holiday at the end of the year once my debts are paid! keep going everyone and stay positive - i will check in at chat in a little while.

Athena

Another check in - im finding it difficult to fill the "gap" gambling has left, I have been feeling very bored with everything and that life is very mundance, a kind of "is this it attitude'? That being said my counsellor has reminded me that it is a good thing and a natural human response, which is quite common. Really happy with staying g this long and feel positive to keep it that way

Athena x

Hi Athena

I do know exactly what you mean. Whatever can replace the apparent 'buzz' of gambling?

On the face if it, everything does appear to be rather samey and mundane without it. Yes; there might be a few an extra few quid in the pot, even after any debt repayments, but so what..?

The problem I found was that I had been so closed to anything else, because of gambling, I thought gambling and a humdrum life were all there was.

However, the more we look around, freed from this habit, day by day, the more we see.

I'm discovering the true value of money and how just a few £££ can go a long way.

Just imagine what you could buy with what you would otherwise gamble away. I take an interest in travelling now, short trips and actually socialising with friends more. My goodness, some of my friends I wouldn't see because of my gambling yet it turns out they're quite interesting actually, and well worth knowing!

I suppose my point is that, the more GF we are, the more opportunities will naturally open up as the brain seeks new impulses, and the gambling slowly - but surely - gets relegated in your brains priority list and starts to fade away..

You're already meeting a fine bunch of people in these forums and webchat who rather like you, too...

So any 'gap' in your life, to replace the gambling, is just starting to get filled already..! 🙂

Thanks for your message mixer.

I really am enjoying having some money to do the things i like, i must admit though at the moment it doesn't seem to be comparable to gamble, and still feel an emptiness inside of me.

Though id check in for another day gf, but so nearly wasnt, i was so tempted to gamble today but managed to talk myself out of it thank god! Home now so no gambling accessible and counselling session tomorrow so just got to keep going - I will be sure to check onto chat tonight.

Athena