Hi BW honesty is the best way forward. It will help in the long run. This is a massive step. Good for you.
Hey hey hey BW!
What a fantastic update! ☺
Soooo proud of you and hope you're too!
It will get easier in time, keep to your guns & don't let anyone bring you down!
Well done again, one step at a time!
S&B xx
Thanks merry go round, thanks SJ!
Yes I am actually quiete proud of myself I think I built this all up so much in my head and because of how I was feeling anxiety, guilt and just generally being so low having actually said it out loud to all those close around me has really allowed me to let go of atleast half of them feelings. I no longer wake up in the morning and await that dreaded sinking feeling of how iv ruined my life and living with this big secret. I now wake up and think ... everyone I care about knows. And everyone is still here. No more secrets!! It really has made a huge difference. I'm now more focused and motivated than ever. And I can't thank all of you enough for really helping me through the most difficult time. I really have no idea what I would have been like without this place.
I'm really missing popping into the chat room! I hope it's sorted soon.
Bw
Well done on telling those close to you. It really is a difficult thing to do.
Gambling is not something most of us feel proud about so to have to face our family and friends and admit to our problems is personally one of the hardest things I've had to do.
I wish you continued success and happiness in abundance!! X
Thankyou little miss lost!
Truelly the hardest thing to do. I'm 80 days GF now. Really do not want to gamble again although I struggle with the thoughts of it every day. But I never want to go back to that place again and not only that but I'd have to face the disappointment of everyone I told. Don't think I could handle that. So I have to stay strong! Good luck on your journey.
Bw
81 days down.
My mind is so much clearer. I can focus on conversations and I feel like im slowly coming back into reality bit by bit. Not sure if anyone else feels the same but I completely mentally isolated myself due to gambling. I couldn'tthink about anything else. It made me so anxious I couldn't even concentrate in daily things. I sometimes felt I wasn't really here mentally. Iv always been a strong character and it changed me so much. But I feel some of myself returning. It's going to be a long journey but I'm slowly getting my things together and focusing on myself and my future. I still remember that quote someone wrote to me on here
No matter how far down the wrong road we have travelled we can always find our way back.
Thankyou so much
Bw
83 days down!
Really missing popping into the chat. That was a massive help to me when I first found this place, I hope it's all sorted soon for the new comers soon. I know gamcare will be working really hard to sort it out.
No gambling thoughts yesterday, keeping myself very busy.
Bw
Hi BW ☺
Look how amazingly you're doing! Well done!
Yes, I miss chatrooms too but sure GamCare is doing everything they can to get it back and running.
I am so glad you have found this site. Most importantly - you found the courage to open up walk the walk . It is easy for us to talk (& we can talk a lot) but walking the walk is completely new territory. You're doing it! Be proud!
Ps. Next time we speak, I want to hear all the news...but maybe not in such manner as last time where I had heart attack in every sentence lol)..it still makes me laugh remembering those 🙂
Keeping very busy is good..but don't forget the downtime for your body & mind.
Look after yourself
S&B xx
Lol SJ! I know iv had so much going on! I nearly had a heart attack lol!
Thankyou so much for your continued support, honestly youv been so helpful to me when iv been so low.
I'm 86 days gamble free!
Still going strong.
Telling others has helped me so much, so thankyou for your encouragement to all!
Speak soon
Bw
88 days gamble free.
I'm beginning to find it very difficult to stop thinking about gambling! And I hate it. I won't give in but I keep thinking about it. I think now everything is out in the open and everyone has been great. But not mentioning it anymore them thoughts are creeping in. And I don't want to gamble again as I know I have no control and I would feel terrible and disappointed after everything iv put myself through so I know I have to stay strong because I don't want that life for myself! Some days it makes me feel sick still yet I think about it. It's just crazy. Any tips?
Bw
Hi BW
Well done on 89 days GF, the days are racking up. You should be really proud of yourself. When I look back to how you were when you first arrived on this site, you truly did sound like your original username. Now you have acknowledged your problem, told your partner and been GF for nearly three months.
In terms of dealing with your thoughts about gambling I am not sure. We are at similar timescales of stopping and I also spent a lot of time having negative thoughts about gambling, it felt like I had some sort of poison in my mind. Recently, and I am only talking about the last few weeks, the thoughts have really started to reduce. It is almost as if the devil part my mind that wanted to keep introducing the idea of gambling and that it was not all bad has accepted I really do not want to gamble so has given up. I think if you keep up your determination that you are never going to gamble again and really mean it deep down, maybe your brain will eventually give up trying to bring it to the front of your mind? Don't know but I am going to try that! The only person bringing thoughts of gambling up is you, so we should have control of it.
Keep up the good work
Muststop123
Hi muststop
Thankyou for posting in my diary. When I first came here I honestly thought my life was over. I'd fell down into a very dark place and I really didn't think I was going to come through the other side. I can't believe how far iv come mentally, iv stayed strong and have really worked hard. I am really proud of myself. Whenener I'm even thinking about gambling I'm just trying to think back to the first day I came here. Lost and really struggling with emotion overload. I'm 92 days gamble free now! I really don't intend on going back. Just want to say to anyone really struggling to stay strong because it will get better and those feelings will fade. And to just come clean to anyone close to you because they will only want to help you, we're human, we make mistakes bit it's up to us to put in the full commitment to make it better. And aslong as we don't gamble and put in 100 percent we can make our lives better.
Bw
Massive congrats on 92 days and for remaining so strong, not far away now the big 100!
Wilsy
Thankyou wilsy
93 days, 7 more to 100!
Pushing all those thoughts away.
Can't wait to say 365 days.
I know I can do this. One day at a time. Keeping myself busy catching up with old friends. Working alot. Staying focused.
Bw
95 days!
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
