the secret

Why o why didn't I keep with my 2017 plan I would be sixty odd days clean now...I need to get some positives from this buf I cant find any.....

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One comment from odaat really struck a chord with me "u need to find out how to live a life without gambling in it " its sooooooo true how can I. I can go a week, two weeks, even a month a couple of times a year without gambling but I then cant resist the urge. So what's the sec redret when I get these urges. I really need to know ? Anyone out there found out the key to living the gamble free life. I gues recovering alcoholics cant go in pubs. Does that mean I cant go in pubs to with fruit machines. Because as soon as i have a drink in on them or looking at people playing them

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Chopps, G’day mate, I’ve read a fair few of your posts this avro,

What stands out for me cobber is that you are all over the place friend, stop this here, start this here, commit to stopping this, failing in stopping that. I’m no knocker mate, but it’s all or nothing, stop completely, or give up – it is that simple; even if you were playing tuppences in a fairground somewhere, it would be 2p too much – those 2p’s will lead to 5p’s, then 10p’s, then pounds until you are right back where you were cobber.

There is no such thing as cutting down, there is no such thing as stopping this, but carrying on that. It is zero tolerance in every way, nothing else works. You want answers, you want to keep certain aspects of your lifestyle mate, but you can’t – it is all or nothing. I was the same as you, for a very long time, it took me a long time to stop kidding myself that there was any other way fella. Even after close to a million bucks, I still said I could throw away a few dollars and walk away with a smile, but I never could – we not only become the world’s best liars to others, but to ourselves as well mate, accept it fella, or face a lifetime making the same mistakes, over and over. Sorry friend, you seem like a good fella, that is why I am saying what I am cobber

Hi Chopps, listen to Mike...you know what the key is, you just don't like it. You know what your triggers are, you need to avoid those situations until you are stronger. No one says it's easy, depends how much you want to be gf.

thanks for the posts, I'm going to reread my diary's again tonight to give me a look into what I've been doing. I have to do the stop everything approach. When I stopped smoking I took myself out of tricky smoking situations for a month untill I was stronger and it worked. So I will do the same for gambling this time no pubs for a month......i will play football and tennis every Tuesday and Saturday and build up my confidence then in a months time start to try the pub again or stick to coffee shops... Thank you very much mike for ur input and for taking time to read.​

weekly update, ive not gambled but there is temptation everywhere. ive stayed in all week, worked extra hours on saturday and overall it has been a productive week. money spent on gambling zero horray. Friends all going to casino or playing online lots of winning going on making it much more tempting for me. I will however stay in next week and will save my hard earned money. Just going to football on tuesday night and apart from that will stay in saving up money. Really enjoyed my holiday a couple of weeks ago and hopefully this will start to being able to spend money on more of the same, holidays abroad. If im sensible for two years ill be able to more out of my parent house and get my own place again. Heres to what life can bring success.

Just read my diary's and boy am I all over the place. I'm sure I have a short term memory problem as each day or week I completely forget what my current aims are. I am at moment looking to stay in apart from playing sports and save some money by not going out socially untill at least pay day. I might write my goals for the month at the top of my profile so I can see them daily or as a screensaver on my phone.

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Day nine alls good

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Sorry to be harsh but I saw your post on another thread: "I'm the most honest person in the world and gambling makes me lie."

Whatever does that mean? That you're honestly the most honest person in the world, apart from when you're lying again because you're actively using again? Or that you're confused? Or that you're kidding yourself?

You've had a lot of sensible advice on your various diaries that so far you've skirted round and ignored. Things will change if you change how you do things. Not otherwise.

Your choices, would be good to see you making better ones.

CW

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Hi cw I just used to hide my gambling from my parents like playing online but not telling them that's all I meant. I am a very honest person and its the only thing ive ever lied about. If u don't believe me that's fine cw but id prefer not to have harsh comments on my diary however bad I'm doing I like to keep it positive. Well with that discussed ive had a lovely week and am looking forward to another enjoyable week ahead. I'm playing footy Tuesday, going out for a beer to meet an old friend ive not seen in a while on Saturday. Ive played poker this week in the pub but have only spent what I have budgeted for on my spreadshhet for going out. I'm starting my new diet tomo to lose weight and have still notsmoked a ciggerette since new years. I'm loving match.com ive signed up for six months today and will hopefully get some messages back from the ones ive sent out. Here's to a good new week.

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Hi diary, excellent week plus weekend. Where do I start, diet going well down to 13.4 2 pounds off in a week go mr. Not thought about smoking horray. Went to poker Monday doh and Tuesday and Thursday doh out lots this week. Went out Saturday and met my best friend had a couple of half ciders then went out for a mates birthday all in all spent 85 this week going out 35 more than budgeted. Nothing planned this week but walks to burn off calories and saving money for bank holiday weekend...

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Hello, so two weeks on and I'm up to the same stuff. Spent fifteen on fruit machines this weekend and went to poker Tuesday and Thursday. I'm going to change what I'm doing each day to start to meet different people and enjoy different experiences . I'm going to play poker Mondays , then football Tuesdays, tennis Sundays, then look out for new things to do and different people to meet. Ive had a mental relapse last week, started to hear voices in my head and see helusinations, so seen a doctor and upped my medication. I believed I could continue through work and managed to work all week. Ihave stalled on losing weight I'm 13.4 now up a pound on last time, just need to do more excercise. I'm still budgeting and have spent 400 a month so far through this year so far. So trying to spend two hundred a month.

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Hi chopps

Sorry to hear about the hallucinations. Sounds worrying. Glad you went to your doctor about it. How do you feel about the fruit machines?

Please keep us updated,

Forum Admin.

PS I think this thread would be better in Diaries rather than Overcoming Problem Gambling so I'm moving it.

Weekly update, casino Saturday unfortunately could have gone horribly wrong, spent seventy. Tomo is day one for me going to work and will update on progress next weekend. Medication helping along with continuing to go to work.

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