The Devil on my shoulders

Pwm101,

Glad to see you are still gamble free, still fighting the fight keeping the devil at bay, so much easier than spending hours on a laptop giving money away.

Any hope you are good 135 days on 15 mor days 150 then the next one 200 days that is in the bag you will get there.

Hope all is well stay strong.

Malc

Im new to this site and am fighting still for my first gamble free day. Had many ups and downs and its suprising how one little temptation can pull you right back in. Well done on your achievement, i have just ready your diary from start to finish. You have truly inspired me and given the many thoughts you had about having another bet and didnt, wow. Well done. Thank you for sharing your journey i know that it will help me on my journey of recovery.

Just checking in . 162 days GF. With the odd wobble . Keep going everyone it gets easier . Say to yourself I won't gamble today and get through the next 24 hours . All the best

So I've done it . Six months gamble free. Half a year. Seemed unthinkable earlier this year . I'm not looking for praise . I don't deserve and do you know what I don't need it . It's not what this is about . I don't post as often but appreciate how important it is . Particularly early on . I still check on reminded of the demons that haunt new and old posts , the devil is still on my shoulders . Do you know what I thought at six months . Let's celebrate and go down the casino !!!!!! Never my major vice that was on line . But isn't it amazing how our brain / addiction works . Here's your reward for not gambling ........ go and gamble . Ridiculous. The urge passed . Thankfully . There's a new football season round the corner - the back of brain knows it . I know it . The devil is there beware . I will stay strong . Too much to lose I've come too far . I have love and respect for all going through this from day 1 to 1000. Stay strong take each day as it comes its better in the long run . I promise you

Anyone else struggling with the new football season upon us ? Feels like gambling is thrust down our throats at every opportunity. Can't say I've not been tempted, but I've come to far to go back to day 1. Staying strong . Gamble free

Hi Pwm101, I am quite surprised that I am doing ok. I wont lie I was dreading it because football is very much my vice.

I have made things a little easier for myself by turning off goal alerts on my phone - this removes temptation with the games not on TV. I do go to games (I never really gambled while there so this isn't an issue), and I tend to only watch the matches on TV and avoid all the pre-match and post match chat. Good luck pal don't give in to the devil!

Thanks 'it matters more' appreciate the tips . Gotta let football take a bit of a back sit . It's just my mind trying to trick me into some nonsense bet. I need to remember even if I won one bet - that is the start of a huge slide . Best not to even start it . It would never be enough. We can't win because we can't stop

Checking in 233 days gamble free. Find my self having a lot of urges at the mo . Don't know why . It's like I've convinced myself I'm over it so why not give it a go again - I'll be able to control it this time - will I heck ! Aaaahhh frustrating . Need to re-motivate and remember why I'm doing this - because I was so low and because I thought happiness would be winning money . It only really bought me anxiety and frustration

Congratulations Pwm 234 Days without a bet .

" I count him braver who overcomes his desires than he who conquers his enemy ; for the hardest victory is over self "... Aristotle.

Hi Pwm . Hope the urges to gamble have passed . Just had a nice thought , when I reach the 235 day mark (where you are now), it will be New Years Day . You will have nearly a year gamble free in by than so it will be a happy time for us both ....stephen

On a sad note I think my thoughts this christmas will be for the sad compulsive gamblers and there families , whose christmas's will have been ruined by gambling .

Totally gutted I f up . Thankfully not online - blocks in place . It slowly crept back in my life . Lot of rubbish things going on that it’s easy to blame it on it ultimately I’m responsible . Aaaaahhhhh so frustrating. I’d done so well. God when you get back on that slope you can really slide down quickly . Bloody sports bets and casinos - I really am a loser and I need to wake up . Right back to day one just got to get my head down and away from the gambling again . It brings me no real happiness just fleeting moments of excitement. Pathetic really .

Sorry to see that you got well into the 200's and it came back for you, but start again, dont let it back.

To quote Frank Sinatra:

Now nothing's impossible, I've found for when my chin is on the ground,
I pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again.
Don't lose your confidence if you slip, be grateful for a pleasant trip,
And pick yourself up, dust off, start over again.
Work like a soul inspired until the battle of the day is won.
You may be sick and tired, but you be a man, my son.
Will you remember the famous men who have to fall to rise again,
So take a deep breath, pick yourself up, start all over again.

Thanks Smashed . Wise words indeed . So gauling to go 200+ and throw it away . But is a valuable lesson that this thing is never really beaten

Sorry to hear about the blip that after so many days GF.

Just reset and start again from today. Take the positive, how much better off mentally and financially you are by not having gambled for over 200 days.

Muststop123

Thank you muststop. I need to focus on the positives and treat as a blip and try and beat 200 + this time . I know the early days are the hardest . Thanks