So today marks a huge milestone in my recovery from gambling. Today marks exactly one month since I began my journey of recovery. One month since I decided enough was enough and I needed to stop ruining my life by gambling. One month since the beginning of the rest of my life.
It's not been plain sailing throughout that time. There have been a fair few downs, but just as many ups, and it's the ups that are keeping me strong on this journey. The support I have received, mainly from my wife (for which I am eternally grateful) and through support channels through Gamcare and a number of people I have interacted with regularly both on the forums and in the chatrooms has been invaluable to me. So far my urge to gamble again has not been there but I know it can sneak up on my at any time and for that I need to be ready.
This past month I have noticed big improvements in both my mental strength, my mood and, far more importantly, time spent with my family. Times where I would usually try and avoid doing things with my children to gamble are long gone and our family unit is stronger than ever.
My determination to succeed in this battle of wills with gambling is what is the driving force to my success so far but, as time goes on, other things will come to the fore. In 3 years I will be debt free and then I will be able to do things like take my family on holiday and take my wife away for a nice break just the 2 of us. That is just an added motivation and incentive to keep the fight going strong.
To everyone who has helped me on this journey so far, I can't thank you enough. Every positive that I document in this diary from now on will be as much for you all as it is for me and my family.
I've got this. 💪🏾💪🏾
Keep doing what u doing mate u doing really good 😊
Awesome job mate. There will be more downs, but they will be replaced very quickly by more ups. You are already clearly seeing the benefits of quitting. It's great isn't it! Make sure you treat yourself each time you reach a milestone. Doesn't have to be expensive. Nice bottle of wine, a new item of clothing, steak dinner. It's a tough journey and looking forward to a little treat can really help.
Sounds like you are in a good place so well done and stay strong 👍
Well done on reaching the end of your first gf month! That’s a massive accomplishment and definitely worth celebrating. Reading your reflections on the healing process and your conversations with your wife has been a very valuable experience for me. You’re in the process of building the foundation for a life without gambling, and I wish you success in that journey.
Great job, Jay!
Day 32 gamble free.
Today marks the first pay day for me since deciding to give all control of my finances to my wife. I was unsure as to how I would feel, physically having to send all of my wages (bar a bit to be able to pay bills that still come out of my account, i.e Step Change) to my wife but it was easy. In fact, I did so automatically first thing when I woke up.
Having been basically living in my overdraft for the last couple of years, to see my account still in the black once I'd sent the money, and knowing it will stay that way was a massive boost to me and was proof I'm doing the right thing.
Having had a course for work, and then a shift, my mind has been occupied all day and thoughts of gambling have not even entered my mind, whereas on pay day before, I would probably have made time to have a little bet.
Another day done. On to the next.
Day 35.
Still not gambled. Still not had the urges, which is great. Very much enjoying the seemingly menial things in life, that I wouldn't have appreciated whilst I was gambling, at the moment.
Today after work my wife, kids and I took the dog to a local nature reserve where we had a good hour long walk and picked blackberries. It doesn't seem like much but it's a d**n sight better than gambling.
Still fighting this fight head on. Another day ticked off.
Now those last two posts show what great progress ur making.....firstly transfering all excess funds to ur wife is a great move ive sent to my dad since 2018 and it works so why change ey......
Then also the time with the walk with ur family..... must have been a great way to celebrate ur payday....
Long may this continue......
Onto tomos games i firmly believe ive made good fantasy team moves but we will see over the weekend.
All the best adam
Day 37.
Still gamble free and enjoying the simple things in life, apart from the football results! Lol
I'm still feeling much better mentally, now I don't have the stress of this over me. Things are getting better with every day I don't gamble.
Still extremely thankful for all the support I get on my journey.
smashing it jay.....ur recovery and the fant footy!!!!!!!
Long may it continue for you apart from the fant footy lol
Day 40.
Still gamble free. Today was probably the biggest challenge of my resolve since I made the decision and started my journey to stop gambling. My wife is now back at work (she's a teacher) and the kids back at school and today I had the day off. So far on this journey, I've not had a prolonged period of time where I have been on my own, alone with my thoughts but today I was.
Before this would have been prime gambling opportunity for me. A day on my own where I could sit and play slots for hours on end but today that did not happen. Instead of gambling I took my dog out for a walk. Instead of gambling I decided to do some tidying up in the house whilst listening to a podcast. Instead of gambling I decided to read a book. By occupying myself I took away the opportunity for the urge to sneak up on me and get a hold. By occupying myself, I made sure I didn't gamble. I also had a call with my one to one, who told me they were more than happy with the progress I'm making and made the decision to move my next call to 3 weeks time, rather than the weekly sessions we'd been having previously. This is a massive boost to me.
I'm still done with it all. I don't need or want to gamble and I have shown myself today that I can be alone and not need to gamble. Big positive step for me.
On to day 41.
Day 43
Been quite a busy week for me this week. Working quite a lot of lates. Pushing for a promotion at work so picking up a bit more slack than usual to help me along. On the plus side, less time to gamble.
Today is my youngest son's 10th birthday. Seeing his face this morning when he opened a couple of presents he really wanted, and I'd been able to buy for him myself, was a proud moment for me. Spent the day building Lego, going for a pub lunch and going to do some high ropes and round of golf as a family, which has been an absolutely wonderful time. Really appreciate these things more now that I'm not gambling.
wow jay great to see......all the best adam
Makes me really happy to read people enjoying the benefits of not gambling. I’m still finding new and exciting things I can do now (mostly as I can spend a little now). Life gets better and better and the gambling takes more and more of a back seat. Soon it will be in a trailer behind, only nagging you once in a while, before it’s told to get lost.
Keep up the great work and happy posts.
Stay strong 💪
Day 47
Don't really have anything to report. My life is currently, for want of a better word, monotonous. Working mostly, ferrying the kids around to various after school clubs and no spending my time gambling. It's probably dull but at this stage of my recovery, I'm happy with dull.
Another day ticked off.
Keep staying strong all.
Day 50.
My next big milestone. Half a century of days gamble free.
Not really sure what else to report. My life has seemingly just been going through the motions in recent weeks. Working, spending time with my family and, really, just enjoying the non gambling life.
The continued support from my wife and friends is keeping me strong on this journey and my determination to succeed continues to drive me on.
Looking forward to the next 50.
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