No thanks

So proud of you. I know you can do it. 

@gerard-g thank you so much. I appreciate your support. How are you getting on?

great, the urges are starting to go away. I just keep telling myself that it is all an illusion , the big wins simply arent there and i stay away

In the past week or so, I have accumulated a total of $80 worth of tips at work. The old me would have gambled that all away by now but not the 'new me'. Thanks to the support of this forum and people like you I am motivated to change and believe me the change feels good. I look at that $80 every day and say to myself, "which would you rather have, 80 or zero?" and I tell myself, by jiminy, i'd rather have the 80 !!! lol. When the time is right I am going to treat myself to a delicious steak dinner at a nice restaurant.

@gerard-g 

Hi

For me recovery was about my needs wants and goals.

In time I was in the recovery program because I wanted to be there.

By not wasting my time and money I then have a choice to reward myself.

By reward myself is nurturing and encouraging myself to do more healthy things with my time and life.

In my addictions and obsessions there were some very unhealthy painful consequences.

Having a healthy growth in my recovery I no longer beat myself for my previous unhealthy actions and words.

If we understand that we were very unhealthy and healing makes us aware of how much more we can achieve with our life.

Our we abstain it is important to become more and more motivated in our self.

It was no healthy for me to do nothing with my time.

I became more motivated yet not obsessed.

It is very nice and healthy to have more healthy choices today. 

In time we become more and more proud of or self.

That steak dinner sounds like a healthy choice.

Love and peace to every one.

Dave L

AKA Dave Of Beckenham UK

@gerard-g 

Hi

Saying it was an elusion was a way I did not focus on my feelings and my emotions.

I was in a way running away from myself.

In meetings I was not facing other people I was in effect facing myself and my emotional vulnerability.

Love and peace to every one.

Dave L

AKA Dave Of Beckenham UK

@gerard-g that's a great way to look at it. Having something rewarding to look forward to, little things like that keep us focussed. 

Even if you compare it to those 2p machines, no matter how many coins came out, they would all go back in the machine. It really is something that you won't win, whatever the win is irrelevant as it'll all go back in and the cycle goes on. 

Like you, I am feeling much better, I keep saying it's the new improved version of myself, making better choices and a healthier way of living. ? 

Well done on remaining GF. A word of advice is to not let complacency creep in, keep yourselves grounded and remember why you are here. I've been GF for over 4 years but I still visit this site multiple times per week to remind myself the problems that gambling causes and that it's NOT ok to have a bet as I am not able to control it. Wishing you all the very best.

@si_mon thank you for your supportive words, I have made that mistake in the past of thinking I was back in control and could allow myself to have a flutter but I soon learned that isn't possible. It's all or nothing and never end up being in control. I've signed on Gamstop for 5 years and I will regularly visit this site to make sure I never get complacent. Well done on over four years GF, that's something to be really proud of.