the end of the road, a new start on the way

Hello ands.. and a welcome to the diary section. I also spent alot of time in arcades wasting my money. But like you say the lies and the hurt is even worse. Well done for making that committment not to gamble anymore and self-excluding from arcades and bookies. keep reading and writing it can help stay stopped... it has for me. All the best in recovery. One day at a time is all any of us can do... S.A

Hi Ands,

Well done for finding the forum and welcome, good to see you here. As SA has already said, try and take things one day at a time or ODAAT as some like to refer to it. Keep reading and posting and you will make progress I am sure.

All the best.

Weldy

Hello ands,

Good to meet you in chat last night. I remember thinking "I wish I had done something about my gambling sooner". I now Know I wasn't ready to stop any sooner.

Keep posting on here, it's a really wonderful way of controlling your reovery.

I wish you well ands................Jas x

Hi ands,

pay day can be tough mate, but it's just another day really, if you feel temptation take a few minutes to think about what your doing, your in charge. leave your card, cash at home just take out what you need.

be strong and soon pay day will be just another day of the month one to look forward to.

keep going and be strong.

green x

Be strong tomorrow ands, any time you get a craving, just think of your sons' faces. You are obviously motivated by them, as you mentioned them in your first message. They would be proud of the steps you've taken so far im sure.

hi ands, great way to start your recovery by starting a diary, i've said it so many times, this is the one place finally you can be totally honest and by keeping a diary plot your way through your recovery, i was suicidal when i started posting on here back in april but, i am coping, not out of the woods, temptation of course , but, i find if i post on here the moment goes, one day at a time really does work

Good luck and stay strong

G xx

Hi ands

Keep going and put lots of time between the now and your last episode. You will grow stronger as time goes by. For now just keep it in the day. Get to the end of the day and thank whoever you want for keeping you safe. Then next day you keep safe in that day. Tomorrow is not here and yesterday has gone. You have as much as anyone else on this forum. Try not to wish your time by in regards of "I can't wait until I am a year gamble free. You will grow stronger each day and in time gambling thoughts will diminish. If you have an urge you feel brilliant afte overcoming it. If you don't get an urge to gamble all the better.

Take care

Steve E

Well done ands,

Payday is very tough, and you've coped brilliantly. I dont think I know anyone who doesn't have the urge to treat themselves on payday, and unfortunately for us lot a 'treat' usually means hitting the bookies/arcade.

Each day, your confidence will grow. Maybe you could put a couple of quid in a jar somewhere everytime you beat a gambling urge and then use the money to treat yourself and your kids to a nice day out in the summer. Take loads of photos of you all having fun, and compare to how you would feel if that money had gone in a bandit.

I hope your confidence continues to grow, take care 🙂

Hi ands,

Good to see you here and posting on other diaries, keep up the good work.

Weldy

But a very worthwhile thing to do ands!

How are you getting on with putting those barriers in place? Have you sorted anything out yet?

Weldy

Yes Weldy, very worthwhile and something im going to achieve how ever hard it gets. Have got the help of a friend who,s even coming shopping with me on saturday and looking after my finances. I just cant trust myself at the moment, have self excluded from local arcades and bookies. Using my sons as my barriers and motivation to suceed, failure is not an option! one day at a time, looking forward to weekend and enjoying the company of my sons and not fruit machines.