The Past Was Yours But The Futures Mine

Thanks for the continued support! 37 days today. Must say things are going well not really thinking much of gambling or having to deal with urges looking back I think the first few days are the toughest!

Managed to get two essays out of the way that ain't due until early jan which is great and just done a presentation that has gone very well this morning! funny how you worry about things but always find a way to overcome them. really want a 1st this year and think I can achieve that now I don't gamble.

Been a little stressed about debts I have but come into some money soon so just need to decide whether to pay them off at once or chip away at them not sure at the moment.

Anyway winning the battle. i will not be beaten this time!!

Hiya was nice to meet you in chat earlier.....well done on 37 days!!!

Take care

Jinx

Thanks Jinx 40 days and 40 nights today!

Christmas is cancelled as I'm working most of it but at least will give me a good wage for January and keeps me away from the bookies every year for the last 8 years i would say i have gambled christmas money running to the bookies on boxing day but not this year!

Thought I would add something to my diary going to start tracking my progress with paying off debts and see how things go over the next couple of months

When I stopped gambling I had the following debt

Credit card and overdraft 3800

2x payday loans 560

3x small credit card totalling 750

2x store cards 900.00

Parents 100.00

Which totals 6110.00

Debts as they stand now

Credit card and overdraft 3670

Payday loan x 1 340.00

Credit cards 680,00

Store Cards 800.00

Parents 0.00

Debt totals 5490.00 which is a reduction of 620.00

thought this may add to what i'm trying to achieve.

.iHi Stone,

Well done, keep goin stay strong, and slowly but surely those debts will come down, simply because you are winning every day you don't play

Suzanne xx

Thanks Suzanne 🙂

Must say i'm a little stressed at the moment and haven't been sleeping too well having money makes me anxious and so does the debt but i got myself into debt so I have to get out of it and learning to deal with money is all part of growing up and part of the reocvery process!

I think I will treat myself to a few nice things when I get chance maybe a weekend away and some new clothes or something as a reward for not gambling and paying off debts!

41 days today feels like a lifetime ago since i was feeding those horrible machines no thoughts around doing so really just wary of complacency and triggers but feel quite safe because of the barriers i have in place

Hi StoneRoses,

Well done on 41 days.

Keep strong my friend.

All the best

Ade

6 awesome weeks StoneRoses not to mention all that dastardly coursework under your belt before the due date, I hope you are feeling pretty proud of yourself right now 🙂

I get the anxiety around your debts but if you went back & started writing the numbers down as you got deeper & deeper into gambling when you weren't strong like you are now, I think you'd agree, this place you are in now is a much safer, happier one.

You are posting great advice, be sure to follow it & you will be writing a lot more zeros in the coming months - ODAAT

Oops, didn't realise it was before Wednesday...Don't read the above til tomorrow 😉

Reading through a lot of diaries and strikes me somewhat surprisingly that people still struggle with recovery even after 5 or 6 months or a year which shows how powerful this addiction is. Shows have to be wary of complacency and dropping barriers.

Also see that christmas is tough for a lot of people and i do feel a little more stressed and anxious than 'normal' but its better than being racked with all the worries, devastation and problems my excessive gambling caused.

So six weeks today what a great achievement feel proud at the steps ive taken to be a non gambler.

My next target is 50 days new years day and also to start running again and stop smoking.

Today i will not gamble. Today I win.

Thanks Odaat by the way definitely feels good to have got the uni work done i don't know how I managed first two years with a gambling problem guess it shows really we are strong and resilient but i know there are no limits to what i can achieve without gambling.

Today my best gift is the that of recovery and that's what i'm going to celebrate today!

Also for the first Christmas in years I have been able to treat all my family and friends to more presents than usual and it feels great giving to others instead of being wrapped up in gambling and selfishly only thinking about myself

Have a great christmas everyone

Hi Stone,

A very merry Xmas to you and your family.

Suzanne xx

Well...got quite drunk last night and ended up playing on a bandit in the pub so guess have to be honest and although it was only a small amount and they haven't really caused me any problems in the past its a form of gambling!

So back to day one only a small blip so not going to beat myself up about it.

good on you for the honesty

positive that you've got your head screwed on again so quickly

tri

Hi StoneRoses,

Admire your honesty, and I totally agree that you should not beat yourself up about this minor blip as you were drunk, and its a form of gambling that you have not had issues with before.

Keep going, one day at a time my friend.

Learn from it, and stay strong.

Onwards and upwards....

Ade

Boo but right on, it would be awful to give up a successful recovery due to alcohol induced complacency!

You don't sound like you need words of encouragement but as strong as you are, this is not an easy fight so gonna say it anyway - You can do this - ODAAT