New Beginning.

Hi Stephen, thanks for posting and your kind eords as always. Hope you are on the road to recovery and big respect for bouncing back. You have come a long way and provide care and wisdom for us all. Take it easy and have a lovely weekend S:)

A chilly good Sunday to all on the diaries.

Addiction is generally not good, whatever one's poison it can be soul destroying to have cravings for anything. As a compulsive gambler I have experienced shame and inadequacy which have just helped to fuel the addiction's hold over me.

It is often said we are our own worse enemies. Living in the grip of gambling addiction can blind us to everything, including the suffering of ourselves and our nearest and dearest. We make excuses and try to justify our gambling with all kinds of nonsense. Compulsive gamblers feeding the addiction might even claim to be trying to win money for the family.

Well I am not being pestered by the addiction today so I am feeling very confidant about my recovery. My chest pains and breathing are troubling me but that should clear up in a while.

Many on the diaries have remained gamble free for long periods.There is no reason I cannot do the same.

Twenty four days since my last bet. I am now on a mission. My promise is that I will not gamble today and hopefully tomorrow I can make the same promise. In the back of my mind is a target of 500 Days Gamble Free. If I can get to that I feel I will have cracked it.

Love and best wishes to all on the diaries.

Hi Stephen on this insanely blustery day, great positive post....I know you can do this! I have kept diaries for the last 7-8 years and can see when I started gambling. Sometimes I dwell on these but am going to buy a new diary today and have a fresh page/year for 2018. 24 days since your last gamble but you laid strong foundations previously so be kind to yourself as you have been to many others. Speedy recovery and take care S:)

Hi Stephen, Thanks for the kind words on my diary .... it really is crazy what we put ourselves through when we gamble knowing fine well what the outcome will be, still feeling pretty low after yesterday but words of encouagement & help from people like yourself on here really does give me hope that i can turn things around. Hope you are on the mend health wise,and yes you right there is no reason we cant go for long periods gamble free again.Keep fighting mate, we can do this.

Hi Stephen

I am very sorry to read you have been so unwell Stephen. I hope you are on the mend now, I am sure it was a frightening experience and traumatic time.

Be kind to yourself and don't be afraid to ask for help. I am glad to read you are again gamble free.

Keep going.

Matt

Morning diary. Starting to feel better in myself, a little improvement in my chest and breathing so feeling happier.

Thanks for the posts on my diary. I feel very fortunate to be amongst such wonderful people on the diaries.

Sharon. Congratulations on 270 days gamble free. Your approach to recovery has been brilliant. Whenever the addiction tried to break your resolve you just kept going. One day at a time you have shown courage, determination and compassion for your fellow travellers.

Chartom. Good to see you back on the road and resolved to try again. A blip might only last a few hours but it can set our financiel recovery back a few months so it's not good. No point beating ourselves up though, we just have to get our head round it and try again.

Love and best wishes to all on the diaries. Hope we can all find what we're looking for.

Good to see your feeling better, like your reference to travelling, it's what were all doing, all different paths, all with one goal, meeting each other along our paths and sharing stories of how far were going and with our own specific tips of how we do it and taking advice from others. No more slips if you feel like your slipping were coming back for you. Stay focused. 🙂

Evening Stephen and great to hear that you're slowly on the mend. Above all else, our health comes first. And it's great to hear, despite the wars you're going through right now, that you're still focussed on what matters; living the best life you can.

Meantime - take it easy! --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgHEmcJRx9U

"Take it easy, take it easy

Don't let the sound of your own wheels Drive you crazy

Lighten up while you still can

Don't even try to understand

Just find a place to take your stand and take it easy."

So long as we enjoy life, swerve the gambling, there ain't much more to it. Take it easy 🙂 !

Hey Stephen,

Great to hear that you’re feeling a little bit better and that your breathing has improved.

Much like our gambling recoveries, slow and steady is what is needed.

I can’t believe you’ve racked up so many days already after your last blip. You’re doing well matey.

Keep positive and keep posting when you need us.

Take care, Moorey

Hi Stephen. I'm really glad that you are feeling better and back on a pathway to hope, peace and happiness. This forum really does bring people together. Supporting one another with honesty and sincerity. A community of like-minded folk.

I know that you will reach Guru status and beyond. You have taken stock of all things in your life, good and bad and know what you want.

We must continually say to ourselves 'I don't need to gamble. I don't have to gamble. Life is better without gambling'!

All the best mate

Thank you for posting on my diary, the support and encouragement really helps.

Think I overdid it yesterday with a steam and swim followed by salsa dancing last night but can't lounge around indefinitely. Feel better but still pains in my chest. Appointment next tuesday at chest clinic and the day after off to my sisters to celebrate christmas with nephews and nieces.

Smashed. Good to see you really determined and getting further away from your last bet. Sorry about the parking tickets, I had three and each time it really annoyed me.

Mixer. Thanks for the Eagles message. Great meaningful lyrics which I have taken on board. I will follow your advice; "Enjoy life, swerve the gambling and take it easy."

Moorey. Really pleased with your progress. The fog's lifted and your seeing things clearer than before. Great to see your determination and positivity. Christmas will definitely be better for us without the gambling.

Changemylife. Always plenty of room for thought in your posts. Gives me plenty to ponder on when i'm trying to rationalise my behaviour and compulsion to gamble. Assuming the urges to gamble comes from within me, I don't understand why part of me is so intent on destroying me. It doesn't make much sense. I can see similarities with an unruly child who needs to be distracted from his destructive behaviour.

Anyway I don't gamble anymore and too much thinking gives me headache so i'm just going to focus on the simple fact that today I am not gambling.

Hi Stephen hope you're gently recovering and taking it easy. I can totally understand thinking too much about gambling gives you a headache. It'S really hard not to go over the same ground and beat yourself up mentally. Take care my friend and here's to the end of another GF day S:)

Hi Stephen your count says 30 days. That flew by. I do hope you're feeling better. My cg fell off his bike thinks he cracked a rib. He's just sneezed! You can imagine! These things are sent to try us. Here's a tune for you. Crowded house 'distant sun'. "Still so young to travel so far
Old enough to know who you are
Wise enough to carry the scars
Without any blame, there's no one to blame". Have a good day.

Thank you for the posts on my diary. Always good to get the support of friends. Appreciate the music siggestion Merry go round which I enjoyed. Hope your husband soon recovers from his woes. Great to see you on 275 days GF Sharon you really are a shining light on the recovery road.

Not long to christmas now which can be a happy time with it's message of hope and forgiveness. So much sadness in the world but I think we can rise above it with a clear conscience and desire to do the right thing.

30 Days GF which is heading in the right direction but need to look at my hopes and aspirations. Might think of a couple of resolutions to have ready for the new year.

"And I know if i'll only be true to this glorious quest that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when i'm laid down to rest."

Wishing everyone a good weekend.

Hi Stephen,

I hope you are doing okay. Resolutions are a good idea, keep them realistic and you will beat this.

Take care.

Matt