Red Light then, Green Light now

Very first victory!!!

keep strong and focus!

Hi Jimmy - welcome and congratulations! It's great that you've come clean to your dad, and you are facing up to the problem through this site and GA etc.

I'm sure you know this, but I would suggest you need to stay very much on your guard over the coming days / weeks. You finished with a win - and this, in my personal opinion, is actually quite dangerous. At some point, perhaps when you least expect it - maybe on your next night out with friends - there will be a little subconscious bit of your brain whispering to you that you won last time and that can be replicated and hey, your money's in a better situation than it was and hey, you're 400 quid up remember?

I just want you to be aware of this horrible, niggly thought in your brain so that when it speaks, you can recognise it and shut it down. Because that voice is lying - you are not 400 quid up (you are £3,000+ down), and your previous win cannot be replicated - and when you lose you will chase and chase and chase to get the same experience as when you won £400, so you will put double (or more) that amount back in. And you'll be too ashamed to tell your dad about that, so the whole vicious cycle of secrecy and addiction starts again.

Sorry if that sounds bleak - I'm doing that on purpose so that when you get just that little, tiny niggle of temptation in the back of your head you can laugh at it, shut it down, and carry on with your gamble-free life.

Really good luck with it and keep checking in to let us know how you are doing.

Cheers,

Ross

Hi Jimmy

Well done on realising that you now have to stop. I agree with Rossco in so much that you have to be careful because you might when you next drink a lot think well I can just do it again. You have been given some financial help but whatever you do dont see this as a clean slate so you can start to gamble again because it will always end up with losing everything. This is not me being pessimistic - us CG's never stop till its all gone so it makes no difference whether we win or lose we will keep spinning till we have nothing left. You have a great chance now to do the right thing for yourself and have an amazing life gamble free!

I wish you all the best

Linda x

Thanks guys, i really am determined to knock this on the head. This is simply it. I want to forget about gambling like i managed to before (quite literally). I know that my next spin is my last (last as in i will end up in hell, not just financially but emotionally) - i do not even want to test the water on that! Please keep with my guys 🙁 I really need to stow this b*****d once and for all.

JimmyC - 10/01/14

Hi Jimmy

Just wanted to say well done in coming clean with your Dad - it is so helpful when you have someone to support you both emotionally and financially. If you continue to remain gamble free, you most definitely will reap the rewards it brings.

I wish you luck and strength to continue to do what you are setting out to do.

Take care and remain strong.

Feb.

Hey Jimmy,

Well done on taking these first steps to beating the addiction. I personally found coming clean with my parents the most difficult thing of all, and I was lucky that they were in a position to bail me out when I was at rock bottom, otherwise I too would probably have fallen into the ***** of those horrible payday loans company.

Having that debt to my father was more important than all of the other debts combined, and as it is family it made me more determined to work my way out of the hole I'd made myself. Keep taking these steps, and don't let gambling take any more than it already has.

All the best

Ryan

Feeling terrible today, really horrible dream(s) last night - nothing but gambling and disaster. I guess its really hit me hard this morning. With this low feeling despite my new financial position, I'm hoping to use it to my advantage. Whenever I get an urge to 'play' I'm coming straight on here and will be straight on the phone to the helpline. Work should go ok today, and plans when I finish are to buy my girlfriend something nice, tidy up my bedroom when I get home, and shove some cash in my electronic safe (to which I have no access - no P/w or key). Stay strong foe today everyone, just one day at a time. Do not bet just for today and repeat.

JimmyC - 10/01/14

You'd think being at work would serve as a distraction... My mind isn't on playing at all, its just raw anger at the gambling industry. I know its not their fault (to an extent) but I just feel anger toward them. Maybe I can use this as a crutch - you are not getting one single penny more from me!!

JimmyC - 10/01/14

Way to go Jimmy!

Keep up the good work and positive attitude towards remaining gamble free.

Take care.

Feb.

Morning Jimmy,

You're doing great, stay positive. Anger is fine - you can channel that as you say to make you even more determined. Unfortunately we are powerless to stop the gambling industry juggernaut - all we can do is not partake in it. Us gambling addicts give them a huge chunk of their profits, so just take great satisfaction in the fact that you will not give them a single penny more.

The gambling-filled dreams and the way it consumes your every waking thought - that passes after a while, in fact after not too long, so hang in there.

You are doing absolutely the right thing by tackling it now while you are young and have your life ahead of you. My entire 20s were defined by gambling and I consider the whole decade pretty much a write-off - sad really when your 20s should be time to just have fun and start establishing yourself in life.

So stay positive - you are doing well, you are taking all the right steps, you are staying strong ... just keep doing what you're doing, and when the temptation comes, come here (or GA).

Cheers,

Ross

Thanks Rossco, means a lot that people are spending time in their own day to help and support me. I really do feel that I can do it this time considering my position - plenty of money for tools at work and a bit for luxury, not ot mention debts cleared (or rather, owed to a family member rather than those gayday loans).

Even though the girlfriend is working late tonight, I am going to go out shopping for random things, maybe eat a nice big KFC 🙂 but at no point will I gamble, not even consider it.

Take care all and hope your day is going well!

JimmyC - 10/01/14

Interesting twist to the day... Whilst out collecting a van for work I was asked by a colleague to go and get the football coupons! Immediately I went tense as I couldn't say why I was uncomfortable with going in to a bookies. Its never been my thing to go in to one, infact that's the first time I've ever been in one!

Never mind, no gambling today. I guess the big man upstairs is testing me.

JimmyC - 10/01/14

So i'm having a drink tonight. I know this is dangerous territory as this is what has caused me problems in the past. However betfilter is on the laptop. Whilst it isn't 100% effective (some sites aren't recognised), i have found sites and excluded immediately after registering. This ensures no bets. Either way, yeah i've got urges now, but i know that is all it is. It is me under the influence and gambling going hand in hand. 100% NOT GOING TO BET TONIGHT - I WILL NOT LET MY GUARD DOWN. There is still the normal ME in here somewhere. So come on gambling industry... What have you got the throw at me tonight!?

JimmyC - 10/01/14

So another 2-3 hours have elapsed. So far i will admit i've had urges, ones that come on very quickly, but i have literally spoken out loud and said nope! not tonight, no gambling tonight. Think i'm doing quite well. Wish the best to everyone.

JimmyC - 10/01/14