My story :-)

Hi Athena!

Once again well done for getting through payday unscathed and Gambling Free! Really well done, so pleased for you!

On our Challenge, we've had some bouquets and one or two brickbats - but that's all part of it!

I'm thinking that our first 'proper' rollcall will be on Sunday. I'm happy to set up the stats, post them to you, and then you cut and post them the Challenge thread with any wording you fancy? What do you think - I'm more than happy to talk you through it.

You'll probably read this on Saturday, so I wish you a fantastic GF day ahead!!!

All the very best, Mixer

Hi Mixer

Thanks we are both doing really well getting through payday! Yeah that sounds good to me Mixer - I'm new to it so let me know if there is anything you would amend after!

Roll call sunday sounds good though

Have a great sunny gf day

Athena

Morning Athena!

Here are the first rolllcall positons; what do you think of the layout ...?

Please feel free to copy and paste the details below into a post on the Guru thread, and add any comments you'd like; it's YOUR update 🙂 A couple of points worth noting; there are 18 of us, RubyBaby has been 'promoted' to STRIVER, we have 7 new members and Degenerate hit the 150 day milestone a few days ago 🙂 . If you need to discuss anything just drop me a post. Meantime have a great GF day today 🙂

GURUs

Places Available!

ELDERs

Degenerate - 152, Abstainer - 108

STRIVERs

ItMatters - 86, Sars27 - 86, Kadiz1 - 85, MikeyNash – 22,RubyBaby - 30

NEWBIEs

LaurainSky - 17, Mixer - 16, Athena1991 - 12, Bornagain - 12, Xenedra - 11, Amt722 - 10, Chartom3 - 9, Raj - 8, Antics - 7, Moorey - 3, Sidney - 2

Hi Athena - I hope you don't mind, but I've posted a 'Rollcall' on the Guru thread just now; in case, for whatever reason, you were unable to do so today. I hope you're OK and will catch up very soon 🙂 All the best, Mixer

Hi Athena,

I hope you're Ok; hey, if you've had a slip-up no worries, you've got my support OK 🙂

Just hope you're OK, that's the main thing!

Take care, Mixer

Hi Mixer

Happy to report that I am on day 14 still gf! Sorry I haven't been able to check in or do the roll call I have had loads of family drama to deal with so have only had some spare time to myself now! Hopefully will check in on chat tonight to see how everyone is! I feel good and still gf! It's been 4 days since I've been paid and still have money - hallelujah! Planning some holidays to make the most of my new found money!

Have a good one and thanks for checking in Mixer- much appreciated 🙂

Athena

Hi Athena - two big 'Phews!' from me...

Phew!!!! - No.1 - you're OK, most important. (Don't worry about not being able to check in, do rollcalls etc. - we're a team, we pitch in when we can - sometimes life will get in the way - so no worries!!!)

Phew!!! - No.2 - you're Gambling Free! Fantastic - continuing to choose life over misery - Great Decision!!!

Enjoy planning your holidays and we'll catch up very soon I'm sure!

All the best, Mixer

Thanks for checking in Mixer its all been a bit crazy the last few days!

I am so happy that already I am on 15 days gf, and am beginning to feel like im getting my life back. I am really enjoying going to the gym in the mornings and doing more with my weekends rather than sitting around annoyed and bored because I was skint. I know that I will stay on this path and get even more benefits of being gamble free once my debt is paid off which should be a matter of months - how very exciting and feel priveleged to be on this journey with all of you.

Athena

Checking in for another gd days - happy to say tomorrow is 20 days gf and I am wo happy and made many positive changes.

I feel a litle bit rubbish today as went out on the booze last night (always makes me feel sad anyway) and for the first time I had cravings to gamble but didnt even try. I suppose even having the desire to want to has made me feel even worse than normal but no rest for the wicked! i am cleaning the house and have made a cake to keep myself busy!

I will be checking into chat tonight and hope to speak to some of you then.

Athena

3 weeks today! 3 weeks ago I had my final gambling splurge which will be the last one of my life! How amazing is that! My life is getting better and better slowly knowing that I am free of the stress and anxiety gambling brings me.

Athena

Congratulations Athena 21 Days GF and positive about your recovery . Wonderful how you support your GamCare friends whilst facing up to your own challenges . We're all together in this , it's the mother of all battles but we can come out of this victorious . The addiction is not going to give us an easy ride out of here but we can do it .....stephen

Thanks for your message Stephen - much appreciated.

We really are in this all together and is great having this hub of support in my recovery - genuinely dont know what id do without it!

Hi Athena :)). I saw your post in the guru challenge regarding your relapse which I'm sorry to hear about :((.

I just wanted to say that it took me a long long time to stop running back to gambling as there alway's seemed to be a trigger that would set me off again , anything would do it from a minor argument with a loved to a flat tyre on the car and I'd look to blame the world for being against me and that by gambling again it would all be put right and solve all my woes . I've got a bit of gamble free time behind me now and can now look back and see that it was nothing sinister going on , all that was going on was life throwing rubbish my way which it often does . It's all about dealing with those uncomfortable feelings and learning not to run back in the arms of gambling when something goes wrong , you can do this athena it just takes a few deep breaths and a little practice .

Well done on coming back here and fessing up , that takes some courage :))

Take care

Alan

Hi Alan

Thank you for your message it means alot and the support on here is amazing, ive been in a bit of a hole the last few days! But am ready to get myself out now and get back on track and am on day 2 being gf! Unfortunately, having a bad personal incident in my life stole all of the positivy and control I had built up and made me feel i needed to gamble as I was struggling to cope with my feelings, so i could just forget for a few hours and i did, but end up far worse because of it.

The new skill to add to my gamble free life this time, is building up a resiliance to not let my GF life slip despite whatever life throws at me. I'm practicing and know I can get there, and your support and message means alot so thank you:-)

Athena

Enough excuses for me - i have arranged a call back from the exclusion line. I dont know why I have put it off, i hoped that I could stay out through will power alone, but as per my recent relapse this isnt possible. They will call me back at lunch tomorrow and will check back on when this is done.

Once this is done, I cannot go into my local bookies which im sure will be the last thing to stop for good. Had i done this beforehand, i wouldnt have been able to relapse this week. Learning from the last week and moving on 🙂

Day 3 for me, but im back on the ball.

Athena