New Me - My Road to Recovery Diary

Hi nb,

I broke the money side of the triangle by having no access to cash or cards for a long period.

My vice was fobt's, in the bookies therefore if i have no cash or card i cannot deposit.

My wife had my card and if i needed cash i was given some but on the proviso that i accounted for every penny by producing receipts.

Its what worked for me in the early stages and i gave up cash and cards for 6 months.

I have my card back but mainly leave it at home. If i need it i use it but still provide a receipt.

I appreciate your circumstances may be different but for me it worked.

Best wishes

Hi Balvaird, thanks for the tip, sounds a good idea. I think if left the cards at home and only took out cash I needed it it would definitely stop me in my tracks. Will start trying it out and let you know how I get on 🙂

Hi, nb,

The triangle is time money location, take one away and you can't gamble. It's a tool to help you, if you use it properly. So for SE and closing betting accounts, close every single one down and ask for permanent SE. For money, literally take the exact amount you need for lunch and travel and no more. It takes willpower to form these habits but better to use the willpower to keep up the barriers up, rather than to battle an urge when there's nothing to stop you acting on it.

Real life support is at GA, no hierarchy, a room of people with the same problem, who understand the problem and have a common interest in overcoming it. GC offer counselling as well. Again, going to GA when you're hesitant is a better use of willpower than trying to resist an urge on your own.

Hope you change your situation, for you.

CW

Thanks CW some really good tips i am going to take on board 🙂

Onwards and upwards as they say

nb

26/05/16
Back to double figures again, no urges which has been good. Off to London on Friday and going to take people's advice and just bring money for travel and drinks and leave the cards at home.
nb

29/05/16 - 15 Days
Off to see madame butterfly at the coliseum today, cannot wait, watching an opera was on my bucket list of things to do. Going to take Balvaird's and CW's advice and leave the cards at home so no temptations. Doing well this week with no urges which is great.
stay strong all and enjoy the sunshine!
nb

06/06/16 - 23 Days
Back to over 3 weeks gf! Work is keeping me busy to be fair but no urges and feeling positive this time round. Here is to staying positive and hitting the month gf mark.
nb

21/08/16 - 8 Days
Had a few relapses which is why haven't posted for a while. However, I'm hoping things are on the up...early days very much so...buy what I have done which haven't for a very long time is have the option to gamble twice two days in row this week and I have walked away and not even tried. I know this might sound silly to some people but like I say...haven't done this for a whlie.
I think my main issue is I was using the ris thrill to replace an obvious void in my life...so trying to keep busy and social so gambling doesn't even enter my mind soon!
Good luck all!
nb

28/08/2016 - Well had a slip over the weekend. Know there is no point moaning as done and need to move on but managed to re register and deposit heavy sums in a casino I have emails confirming self exclusion and automatic registration on SENSE programme! This was my main blocker as if cannot go in was main blocker to stop the urge! I have re requestep to be self excluded again and they have confirmed again....but should they have let me register again in first place? My ID and bank card exactly same used to register before...so they should of found me self excluded on system surely! Anyway...hopefully self exclusion keeps me away and going to only go into London as little as posSible now which should help lots and focus on paying the debt off slowly but surely
Thanks for listening
nb

03/09/16 - A week gf, still no news re above raised with them and they are still investigating. Not expecting anything so focusing on being gf. Thinking of picking up a hobby...any good ideas?
nb

27/09/16 - 17 days gf! Hope to keep it up step by step. Stay strong folks.
nb

03/10/16 - 22 days gf! And my birthday coming up. Feeling good and positive aiming for that month as that is a milestone for me!

09/01/17 - 16 days gf! New year and feeling positive about 2017. Didn't want to post prematurely...so waited a few weeks. 16 days and no urges that last long. Everything I think of how much I spent it makes me feel sick and like it was another person who spent all that with no return instead pating my debt off monthly for possibly rest of my life. But I have come to turns with it whichanges I think has been my turning point. Good luck all for 2017 will check in again soon.
nb

25/01/17 - 32 days gf! Going strong. It's been a long time since I was 32 days gf. Over the month hurdle and feeling positive!

04/02/17 - 42 days gf most been for a very long time! Here is to my first 50 days in quite a few years. Stay strong all