Time to stop!

Cheers Steve E,

You're words of encouragement and advice are great, thanks. I think you're right, I keep thinking after a hard few weeks or months that i'm ok, that I can have a "little play/go". I have to learn not to fall into that trap. I know it seems somewhat a cliche on here but this time I really am only taking one day at a time.

I've started to go to the gym again (going to do the Great North Run in sept), hope this keeps me motivated and keeps my mind of gambling.

Take Care

Steve

Day 6.

Still going strong, going straight to work this morning, going to avoid the bookies on the way. Feels enpowering to me to be able to walk past without going in, anybody else feel this?

Mind you, this is how I used to start thinking that I had complete control over my gambling. Got to remember i'm not in control when I gamble.

Stay strong today everyone,

Steve.

Self exclusion is one of the best tools we have at our disposal in recovery. If you really want to put a block in the way you should consider doing this. Hope you have a good day because that's all anyone on this Earth has. Just one day. Take it easy.

Steve E

Day 11.

Got a bit of time to myself today. Can't let my mind wander and end up in bookies. I'm really happy that i've managed to be in abstinance for this long. Need to keep going.

Take care today everyone.

Stay Strong

Steve.

Day 12

Starting to worry about Friday. It's payday and I would normally have "a little play". Any advise anyone?

Steve.

Two photos and a self exclusion form filled i is a simple short term solution that will give you time to find other strategies and grow strong. If you don't, only you know, honestly, why you don't.

Maybe give all your cards and cash to smeone you trust.

Take care

Steve E

Thanks for the advice Steve. I've got time to self exclude myself today so i'm gonna do it.

Here's to day 13!!!

Stay Strong everyone

Steve

Hi Steve

I've been looking through the forum and most people post about stopping gambling. I think we need to think about starting to live and the gambling should cease as a result. Change our thinking round from a negative to a positive.

Take care

Steve E

Hi Steve,

You're probably right again!! lol.

I'm meant to be going out on Friday night for a work friends birthday, and it scares the s*** out of me. Not because I think i'll gamble (although there will be temptation), but because gambling has stopped me socialising in the last few years. I've got to turn this into a positive and see that it will probably do me good.

Steve

Day 15.

Struggling, but still not gambled.

Steve

Hi Steve, sorry to hear you are struggling, but well done on not gambling. You are stronger than the urges and the addiction. I hope you enjoyed the weekend. I too find social situations hard to deal with, probably because I had been so out of practice with these scenarios because of my gambling. But over time I am allowing myself to enjoy these occasions for what they are suppose to be, a bit of fun, and am easing into social circles more readily now. Like anything, it takes time to get used to unfamiliar surroundings again. Take care Steve.

Dee

Thanks for your post Dee. I've been working away recently so haven't had time to post. I've managed to resist the temptation for 35 days now. However my wife is away working and I have time and a bit of money. Gonna really concentrate on not falling into the obvious traps and pitfalls.

Keep going everyone.

Stay strong

Steve.

hello Yorkie.. and well done on your gambling free time! ... keep working your recovery just one day at a time.. thats all any of us can do. Regards.. S.A 🙂

Couldn't have had much worse of a few months. Loads of personal problems, so guess what reared it's ugly head, my old gambling addiction. The ability to go brain dead and keep pressing a button on the computer or machine at bookies and losing lots of money, time and sanity. Yeah that will make me feel better!! I must be so stupid for keeping on going back to this. Suppose this is day 1 all over again.

I've decided to stop beating myself up over this. I've stopped before so I can do it again. One day at a time. Time to put life into perspective.

Going to wake up tomorrow with renewed strength.

Steve

ps. reading Curly's diary really changed my mood.