There is hope for a better tomorrow

Yep that is awesome will power, I accidently bought a scratch card after a month of not gambling and thought bloody hell didn't think of that for a minute and went back to square one. Well done uf doing great, hit up that book club. Ur doing fantastic adam

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Hi Julie

Just seen your posting for the weekend. Well done for being able to stop yourself at the bingo, it was the right decision and it's good that you felt comfortable with that friend to tell them and walk away from the situation.

I'm sad that your sad. You seem really bubbly with your postings and are a joy to see in chat, there are plenty of other things to get yourself involved in. My relief each week at the moment is my GA group, we have a great laugh and i learn at the same time. Other than that it's me, my wife and 2 sons and we don't have much of a social life.

Do you have support locally family wise or are they over in Dublin? Try and see if your friends can get involved in something else with your, like the book club

If you fancied a change and are free on a Tuesday, bob along to the stockport GA group. It's 2 mins off the M60 where the pyrimid is.

Hi jen lol (I'm sticking with jen now)

Well done on sticking to your resolve. As they say old habits die hard.
Would the group not compromise and go elsewhere?
You say you're disappointed that your life has changed but has it not changed for the better?

A life of just work is no life at all
You need to find a balance

Get your spanking new pink trainers on and go meet people.
A quick Google will reveal an oyster of things to do in your area

See you on chat
Deano x

Dan, your message nearly made me cry again...but I will be strong..Thank you for being sad for me. I am over it now. I just need to get out more. I work very long hours in mental health, with the most sadest topics of stuff that has happened to people in their lives. I think maybe throwing money at an FOBT was a release for me, a way to get out of that vibe....I know now it is a very costly way of doing it. I will give Stockport a think, but maybe over Summer when the weather gets a bit better, I am more than an hour away from Manc, but I regularly go down Trafford Centre, so it is do-able....I have been at the Pyramid so I know the Junction...Will give it some thought. Your set up sounds lovely, and believe it or not, I would love to meet someone, I was in a very happy relationship previously, and I am all for it...Unfortunately, I do not suffer 'fools' easily...By that I mean, that I have to feel it for someone, or it is going no where, lots of friends gained along the way, but I am very true to myself, and I know when it is right. I was dating a girl ffrom Sheffield a few years ago, and on paper, it was good, but my heart was like this isn't for me....I will know when the one walks in the room. It has happened once before and will happen again...I am sure. I don't want excitement and am so easily pleased, just I was looking forward to last night and the bit of banter etc. It isn't fair to ask them to change activities, they enjoy it, and don't have options to go out most of the time, with the little ones and it is just their thing. Not mine anymore..I left the most beautiful group of friends back in Dublin, that I speak to each week, and see twice a year every year. I miss them, but I left Dublin for a reason, it was no longer serving me...Gambling was no longer serving me...there is a theme here....Thanks as always for your lovely support...

Dean0...I shall always be your Jen....I work 40 hours a week, plus travel...I know life is passing me by, but I need to rise through the ranks at work, if I want to cut back...I need to change area's as well, because basically because I don't suffer fools easily, keeps getting me into trouble...When my manager is constantly b-s-h-i-t-t-i-ng me about how she is so amazing and all she does is push a piece of paper around a desk a week, no one else will tell her that but me, I have her measure, hence why I have not risen higher, I should be two grades above what I am, but I am not a yes person...I will do..I start my training in September and that will put me on a different road..I can see it, and know it is coming, just have to wait it out. My life has changed for the better, much the better. I was just P off and angry last night. I stomped my pink trainers, and stuck my bottom lip out and cried like a girl.....Hey ho, over now. I need to get out more, I need to stop talking about stuff and just do it...I am so optimistic in my life, and really try and focus on the positive....this gambling lark has really took the rug out from under me...But am slowly getting a grip!! I will get there..

I thank you both and everyone that has taken time out today to wish me well....I am over myself and back to normal service....Chat ya soon.

Julie

Thanks for dropping by. So proud to see that you stayed gf x not read all your posts yet but the bingo one is very inspiring. You could have easily gone in and you didn't. Also telling someone about your problem took a lot of bravery. No one except my OH knows that I gamble. They know he does but not that I succumbed after years of seeing him do it. Keep it up xxxx

Hi Julie, you mentioned a home learning package in chat. Can you elaborate please?

Hi JI,

You know what, we are kindred spirits actually. I,likewise, should be flying career-wise, but, like you, never brown-nose or compromise my principles. It holds us back, regrettably.

However, we WILL have our moment in the sun because we know our TRUE WORTH and, one day, a manager worth his or her's salt will recognise this and we'll be where we should be.

It's frustrating, without a doubt. But being true to ourselves, and not using gambling as our crutch, will pay off in the end. I'm sure of it.

Hi Rhoda,

Basically what it was. I signed up a while ago, when I first joined on Gamcare for the Psycho-edcuation group. It was a weekly thing, and it involved webcam and working through execises with a facilitator and others. Now I thought this would be good for me, but I didn't like the webcam aspect of it. I know that seems strange, but I really value my privacy. I didn't like thought of people seeing my home live, and the other consideration, my flatmate lives here too, and I didn't want her overhearing....So I got in touch with the facilitator and she suggested this home-study programme. It is a course that she has sent me, and I work through a module a week. I have access to her by email for anything that comes up. It is basically looking at why I gamble, reasons and education around why not to gamble. It may work for me, it may not. It maybe better for some than others, If you feel that it is for you, why don't you go through Gamcare and see will they put you onto it. I am starting it tomorrow, it is self done, so you choose when to do it, which is good for me, with the hours I keep.

Mixer, we are kindred spirits indeed. I never lower my standards of what I believe in for anyone. Every patient/service user/colleague that comes into my professional day, gets treated exactly the same. I have not changed, will, not change. I will always treat people fairly and speak out when things are wrong. I find in mental health, things can be wrong a lot....I stress myself out sometimes, but I can always put my hand on my heart and know I have done the right and best thing. I know it will pay out in the end....I can see it and realise it. I am glad that I have found a kindred spirit. 🙂

Julie x

Just read through your forum after speaking in the chat room - what an interesting story but ovbiousuly very difficult. The home education stuff sounds great and hope your doing well and going gf. Lots of respect for you in your line of work, must be very challenging at times. Athena x

Jl

You doing good women?

Riley

I am doing good man, doing good. Just had a very relaxed day, house keeping, laundry, making a cottage pie, cleaning and ironing for the week. Came on chat earlier, but neighbours had blocked our darins again, dirty you know whats, they keep putting wipes down their loo...as if that is intelligent...anyways I was too distracted to be in chat, so logged back out. Hope your doing well buddy? Keep smiling. Chat in the week. x

Julie x

Thank you for your post!! Ha ha no longer in you youth..your only as old as you feel bab!! Glad your winning your battle so far...keep it going!! Urgh blocked drains...annoying!! Use that anger it's giving u to keep Mr G at bay 🙂 x

Hi Julie

Just thought i'd touch base after speaking in chat last night. Hope all is ok and your ok. All the best.

Dan

Dear Diary,

I am a mere mortal and I failed. I know, I know one should not use the word failed, but I did fail. I was 1 day away from 50 days and I couldn't do it. The pressure built up and up and up this week and I finally did it. I fed that money into that stupid FOBT machine. I won it back and more at one stage, but being a CG, I couldn't take it and walk away. I lost about £130 this evening. In the grand scheme of things, that is not a lot of money, but it is to me sat here tonight.

What do I feel, disappointment, worry, fear, sadness, failure, stupidty, calling myself names!!Yeah all of that. Why did I do it? I don't know, worry about money and not having enough, stress over my poor ill brother.....but as someone very wise is after saying to me, life throws up all sorts of problems, you cannot run to gambling everytime if you want to kick that habit.

I think the saddest thing for me, was having to come on here tonight and tell people I had given in to it...That made me feel ashamed. Not that I know anyone on here, as in know them if I met them on the street. But over the last 49 days, people have been so kind to me, watching out for me, kind words, thoughts! And I felt the same about them. I feel bad for letting the team down.

So what am I going to do about it. Now this minute, I am going to eat, I have't had an evening meal and I am hungry. Then I am going to have a bath. Then I am going to go to bed, then I will wake up tomorrow and start Day 1 again. I will not worry about what the future holds, 49 days ago I was at a very low ebb.....Tomorrow, I will start that journey again. I will give myself a break and be kind to me, cause you know something I did my best....

Julie

Not much I can say that I didn't in chat so I'll do my first every Gamcare song and hopefully it will cheer you up because I've added your name to it

Hey Jul, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey Jul, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jul, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah
Hey Jul, don't let me down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
So let it out and let it in, hey Jul, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jul, you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah yeah
Hey Jul, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jul
Even used your real name lol