Hi all I'm at the start of my path to being gambling free, and I welcome all ideas and support to keep me on the straight and narrow. I've decided to keep this diary so I can keep you all posted and to keep reminding myself of the mission I'm on. I'm a 38 year old single parent to my daughter who is 16. Emotionally, I am absolutely pig sick of gambling and the lies and deceit that go along with it. I feel a big let down to my family and friends, and have missed out on alot of life since the addiction took over. The absolute end of it all came last wednesday. I managed to win a big amount of money at an amusements, but surprise surprise blew most of it the next day on gambling. I'm sick of this topsy turvy addiction, and want to rediscover all my hobbies and things I like doing. I am not a well person either, and I have got an ill mother, which I think is why I gamble to blot things out perhaps. I am going to a GA meeting next week and am shortly going to start counselling. We can all help each other with this, so lets do that and hopefully we will all be saying good riddance to bad rubbish.
Hi all for some reason I'm thinking about that bookies game I liked, so I'm writing on here to keep my mind occupied. I just want to wake up and have my finances in order but I know that will take time and patience. Baby steps will lead to giant leaps I hope. Goodnight all.
Garfield have a good day
Thanks John hope you have a good day too
Well done coming here to occupy your mind! It doesn't make you forget about gambling but it sure reminds you that it's not the 'FUN' pastime that the bookies would have us believe!
There's a lot of psychology behind addiction (I am just cottoning on to that now) & with being a single parent (demanding) plus coping with illness (both you & your mum) I think GA & counselling are a fantastic idea! I did reply briefly to your 1st 2 threads too. We are rubbish @ being patient but those baby steps are much easier to take than giant leaps & they move you forwards real quick - ODAAT
Good on you Garfield for giving yourself the chance to arrest your addiction. GA will be hugely beneficial as long as you enter with an open mind. There is no quick fix available at GA but there is plenty of friendship, experience & hope.
Give it your full commitment for 90 days & i would be surprised if your life wasnt already beginning to look better.
welcome to the forum garfield, I think there is an abundance of advice available on here.
Some things that have really helped me so far:
1) time/ Place/ Money - take one of these away and you can not gamble - Keep busy, self exclude, and minimise the amount of money you can get your hands on.
2) Keep coming to the forum as often as possible
3) contact gamcare
4) get some gamcare counselling
5) attend GA meeting- it is daunting - but actually a really nice thing to go to.
6) you have to give it 100%
7) Be honest with close friends and family - a problem shared is a problem halved.
Thank you guys for replying you are keeping me going with your advice, it is very inspiring to have support from yourselves so thankyou. I will probably be on here alot with my musings so I will try not to bore you all senseless lol. Keeping going and aiming to be gambling free is my mantra now. I want to permanently say goodbye to the nights on online bingo/slots, the bookies machines and the scratchcards. Also I would like to have a day out at the coast without going in the amusements. It probably all sounds daft but I am determined this time and have finally realised that there are people out there with gambling problems too who I can identify with. Lets keep each other going! No more excuses and living in denial.
Hi Garfield,
I am hoping to do something very similar to you. My main problem is online gambling so I will come here and post rather than going to gamble. I hope it works for both of us and for everyone else.
Stay strong.
Hi Will wishing you all the best and cheers to our journey may it be a successful one. Drop us a line whenever you want, take care
Hi thought I would check in and share my thoughts. I'm struggling slightly tonight, thinking about going on online bingo. I will not allow this to happen I need to get shopping with my money not waste it. Feel better for posting this, I'm gonna bed now, gonna keep my head down to stay out of trouble so night all
Night sleep tite! Great choice made...Well done you 🙂
Hi garfield, and welcome to the forum.
Online slots was my horrible partner in crime.
Taking one day at a time, keeping positive thoughts, along with making right choices for you every day, will strengthen your resolve to kick online slots into oblivion where they belong.
We can never win in them because we simply cannot stop whether we win or lose, it is such a waste of our time, money and of course our lives.
You made a good choice last night, make another one for you, just for today. and win.
Keep posting and keep reading it really does help
Suzanne xx
Hi Garfield how are you getting on? Think of that holiday you are looking for. It will sure come quicker if take the right choices.
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