The fight starts again!

Welcome back Phil...strangely, I was just reading through some of your old posts on 2015 challenge and your old diary.

Did you ever make it to a GA meeting? I know you were close last time but shift patterns made it difficult. There's a new meeting in Pensby on a Thurs night if that works.

Don't feel a fraud or a let down...it's been a brave move coming back.

Hi Bornagain... I'm in the same boat as you after a major recent blowout. I'll try and stick by you as we're at the same stage in recovery. May be able to help each other a bit. Take care pal.

Garyl1976 wrote:

Welcome back Phil...strangely, I was just reading through some of your old posts on 2015 challenge and your old diary.

Did you ever make it to a GA meeting? I know you were close last time but shift patterns made it difficult. There's a new meeting in Pensby on a Thurs night if that works.

Don't feel a fraud or a let down...it's been a brave move coming back.

Thanks for this Gary, I didn't know about that meeting. Sadly my shift pattern is still the same so the best I could do is 2 weeks out of 6. I think it would help me to give this a real go, so I need to try and find a way around the problem. Are you aware of any morning or daytime meetings or are they all of a night?

So its day 2 and a rare weekend off work. I'm just getting ready to go to a local football match and I have a busy weekend ahead of me which will keep me out of trouble. I also have a limited amount of cash on me which will keep temptation away. I will make a longer post at some point this weekend when I have a little more time. But for now its all about baby steps and taking this a day at a time. Getting through today gamble free is todays task!

Nice one Bornagain. Stay busy and you can't go far wrong!

Hi Phil I know Manchester has a Saturday morning meeting depends where you are in Liverpool if it any use but thought it was worth a mention.

Bornagain wrote:

[quote=Garyl1976]

Welcome back Phil...strangely, I was just reading through some of your old posts on 2015 challenge and your old diary.

Did you ever make it to a GA meeting? I know you were close last time but shift patterns made it difficult. There's a new meeting in Pensby on a Thurs night if that works.

Don't feel a fraud or a let down...it's been a brave move coming back.

Thanks for this Gary, I didn't know about that meeting. Sadly my shift pattern is still the same so the best I could do is 2 weeks out of 6. I think it would help me to give this a real go, so I need to try and find a way around the problem. Are you aware of any morning or daytime meetings or are they all of a night?

You could get in touch with the group Phil. Go on the GA site and look up the group. There should be an email contact. Might help to break the ice so to speak. Tri x

Oh by the way. WELCOME BACK 🙂 You've been missed

Thanks so much for the positive messages, it's been a gamble free day, many more hopefully to come. As for the GA I will certainly email the local group and I intend to give it a go when I'm off work on a Thursday.

Day 3 and after a morning spent out and about I'm now enjoying an afternoon of channel hopping between Open golf, Davis Cup, Tour De France and Test Match cricket. Gambling wise my heads in a much better place, no bad thoughts, but it's early days and I have to take this a day at a time. I won't be gambling today!

Good stuff Bornagain... I can't bring myself to watch any sport at this stage... so it's gardening and a few weights in the garage!

Day 4 and I'm back in work this afternoon after a nice weekend off. Since I was last on here a lot has changed. I was dating someone and I have now moved in with her and I'm going to be a dad for the first time. I'm over the moon about this and I can't wait for my baby boy to be born. My relationship is going very well and we are both happy. Despite this happiness I have still had the odd crazy gambling binges and at times they have just taken over my mind. Fortunately none of them have led to a financial mess as I have seemed to win big, splash out and then lose the remaining money. But I can't go on like this as the gambling takes control of me and its all I want to do. I have had many a day and night spent gambling into the early hours recently and even finding time to gamble whilst in work. I need to stop as I can't function like this anymore, I can't put gambling before my new family and my job and my general well being.

I'm self excluded from all the local bookmakers and all the sportsbooks I can think of. Recently I gambled because I found a new sportsbook to use. I am now excluded from that sportsbook. My finances are still managed by my mother and I will attend GA everytime I'm off work on a Thursday. These barriers are a help, but they are not fool proof, I need to fight the daily fight to ensure I don't slip up. Its in my hands, life can be so much better for me, it always is when I don't gamble, I won't be gambling today.

Just wanted to say congrats on the move and the imminent arrival! You always sound positive and it's good to read.

Its a hot sunny day, a little too hot, but I am spending my morning before work chilled out and with a mind clear of the mist that has been a constant for the past few months. I have a online sportsbook account that is on a short term exclusion and I am going to contact them this morning and make it permanent as I don't want to be able to use it again. Exclusion does work for me, but its not fool proof, I do wish there was a way to ensure no bookies in the land would allow me to play.

So day 5 and I will spend most of the afternoon and evening safely in work. Small steps at the moment, but positive steps and I have to keep this going!