SadG wants to be happyG

Hi Sadg

A big well done pal on making the week it is a big acheivement just remember how much you used to lose in a week every day we stay of the gamble is a huge success for us all and dont worry about payday you can do it the best thing to do is open a saving account that either you have to go into the bank to lift money or cash machine only if you dont have a debit card you cant gamble online or your phone

I set an account up like this and also phone all my bills and asked them to change my direct debts to 1st of each month when I am paid that way all the bills where paid the remainer automatically got transfared in the saving account which made it harder to gamble I basically had no choice as I live alone and know how boring it can be sitting at home alone when you think one £10 will do no harm but it never ends at a £10 as we all know I guess thats the main reason I made it to day 75 but as the weeks go past I feel less and less likly to gamble it turns nice people into nasty ones, reliable people in dead beats and so on it is by far one of the worse addictions on this earth only when you see this do you relaize you need to stop and tread the path you are on now

So take care m8 have a great gamble free weekend and remember just for today I will not gamble

Hugh

Day 8

Thanks Hugh. Already done the savings account. Moved all of our money over to it last week. Finally I made a good choice. If I'd done that 3 months ago as planned I would have saved myself a shed load of money. What's done is done now. I do still have a few direct debits that come out in the middle of the month. It's a good idea to see if I can get them moved to the 1st of the month. Thanks for planting that thought.

Well day 8 is another easy day for me. I'm just about to leave for work. Won't be home till about midnight then will jump in the car and drive to be with my wife and kids ( I work away from them during the week-hence the boredom whilst away and the gambling).

Looking forward to spending the wekend with the kids. Got a party to go to with my wife and cinema with my little one on Sunday. Should be a good weekend. Keeping a close eye on the finances from now on though.

Good luck today everyone. I may not post till Monday depending on if I can get on here over the weekend. I will definitely try. It's become very important to me. Far more important than gambling. There will be none of that today. Not ever again if I have my way. Best wishes everyone.

Hi Sadg

Read your posts, what i like about your writing is that its straight from the heart, the strange thing is, i almost feel like i could have written your posts ?? you see we are like brothers tricken with the same bad spell ! good people really inside that dont want to be selfish/lonely/desperate and most of all not in this real world ! go outside now for some fresh air, take a deep breath and look at this great world we have been fortunate to be born in. Bear said something to me that has stuck ! our lifes are passing us by, lets start enjoying this life and all its beauties !! not stuck in this devils pit of anguish. Strength & Honour to you and all that are on this journey to freedom x

Day 11

Just checking in quickly. Couldn't get on here over the weekend but that's because I was having a great time with the wife and kids, out doing family things, and not having anything to do with gambling. The way it should be.

I've noticed my attitude to gambling changing daily. I'm the one getting stronger. Barely even thought about gambling this weekend. It's being moved to the back of my mind more and more. Payday next week still the big test but I'm getting myself mentally prepared for it this week. No gambling today. No chance of that. Will check in again later to see how everyone is and to give my support. Good luck everyone.

G

Hi Sadg

Well done m8 glad you getting your life back there is nothing more important than family and it is great you spend the weekend with them instead of gambling. If you keep this up next weekend after payday you should change your name to HappyG lol

Take care and just for today I will not gamble

Hugh

G.

Welcome to the forum fella, after reading your diary I can see alot of effort has been put into your 11 days of recovery and that of many others,for that I would like to extent to you a huge well done!!

Keep putting in the time my friend and for it I know you will keep on being rewarded.

You cannot change the past but for sure you can better you tomorrow by deciding today will be a gamble free day.

When payday comes follow with the same,simple bettering your tomorrow!!

"Abstain and Maintain" and gift yourself a 100% payrise for life,as at it I cannot win because I cannot stop!! Today by making the right choice G you will win! IRonic.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Hi sadg,

Thanks for the post on my thread, just reading through your posts again and your situation is very similar to mine, we can do this mate, remember all the bad times when we've lost all our money in the bookies and online, let's appreciate the things like our family and the smiles on our kids faces, gambling turned me into a horrible person and feel like I've let my son down, but let's look to the future a gamble free future, all the best mate

Simmo

Day 12

Off back to London tonight for work. 4 days away from my wife and kids again. Still getting myself mentally prepared for the weekend when I get paid. Being away from the family and payday is going to be a risky time. A time when I know I need to be responsible and get that money into the savings account asap so I cant gamble, and not feel any urges as I'm bored whilst being away from the family.

Stuck on my own in London has proved to be a nightmare. I work in London because the money is so much better in my job but what's the point if I then go and blow the money and run up massive debts? Now I have to stay in London because I now need the extra money in order to pay off the debts.

It's day 12 and I'm feeling stronger as a person but every now and then I still can't help feeling the shame of what I've done addictively for the last 5 years. The sheer amount of time and money that I have wasted due to a gambling addiction. The way it took over my life. The sense of guilt is still very much there. I guess we all go through it when we're kicking this sick habit. All I can do now is be positive and look forward but I will always look back at this time in my life, and hopefully draw strength from it, and feel a huge sense of guilt and shame. I lost myself. I succumbed to an addiction. I thought about nothing but gambling. I think I will always need these quiet moments of reflection to look back on. They will make me stronger. I am now 40. It took me this long to admit to my sick addiction. I hope others can realise it earlier in their life so they don't waste precious time. Put the money to better use.

This theory that money won is just stake because you'll always be back for more, and you will lose it, is just sooooo true. It has made me accept that I have been beaten by gambling and there is just no point putting any more of my hard earned money at risk trying to dissprove a theory I know to be true in my case. This theory alone may be what I need to give up gambling forever. Sad thing is I've known it for years. It just seems to have more logic behind it now.

Well I have a busy day. Plenty to get done today. It won't involve any gambling. That is not for me today. There will be no gambling today. Have a great day everybody. I wish you all well.

G

Hi sadg, your jurney is one i relate to well.... i wish you strength during the next 4 days. I am here willing you on to continue debt free, your strength is my strength DarkPlace

You have my strength DarkPlace. I am soooo there.

Ahhh the testers that life throws at the ex-gambler. Last week I had to spend 100's on my car. Got that fixed then this week another problem. Another £260 spent today. In the past I would have been straight online figuring it'd already cost me 100's so I'd happily risk a few more trying to win that money back. I'd figure if it costs me a grand or I get the repair money back then so be it. Obviously once I'd start gambling and chasing it could end up costing me 1000's instead.

I am not a gambler any more. I am done with that life so I will accept the repairs on the car were necessary, if not unwanted just before xmas, and keep my head down moving forward. No urges to gamble at all I must say. This site really is giving me the strength and conviction to carry out what I mean.

2 days to payday and I think I have everything in place to get through it. Looking forward to a weekend with the kids. Wages will be transferred to the savings account if I keep my head together. I am getting a little nervous. This payday means more to me than any other has in years as it's my first as an ex-gambler. It's not about the amount but about how I deal with it and where I put the money. A nervous excitement is growing inside. Gonna need this site for support so will be constantly referring to it over the weekend. Get paid Friday but I know the bills and mortgage won't come out till Monday so going to have a tricky first weekend with all that money sitting there waiting to go out. I hope to post about my success come Monday morning. I know I will. I am strong and not a gambler. There will be no gambling today or any time this weekend. For my wife and kids I will do this.

Good luck everyone. I'm with you all the way.

Good on you mate, we can do this, we are ex gamblers who have to much to loose!!! I'm with you mate

Simmo

well done SadG , you really start to sound positive ! we dont need those feelings of despair back do we ? only happy thoughts or more accurate, normal ! keep it up my friend

Day 14

I hit the 2 week mark. Wow I can't quite believe the strength I've found in 2 weeks on this site. You people on here are truly amazing. You have helped in so many ways. The support is so appreciated.

Absolutely no gambling. There will be no gambling today. Good luck everyone.

G

Day 15

Nothing to report. Minor urges but nothing I can't deal with. Money sitting in the bank all weekend waiting to go out on Monday(Mortgage, direct debits etc). A test of my control and I'm winning big time at the moment.

I'd be betraying not only myself but my Gamcare family too if I gambled now. Have a very different mindset these days. Retraining my brain to hate gambling.

There will be no gambling today. Good luck everyone

well done have just read your diary.keep strong im finding this site so helpful in getting rid of my demons x hattie