It's never too late to be what you might have been

Nearly 2 years on from my last bet and life is beautiful, peaceful, fulfilling, exciting and all the other things it always could have been if only I hadn't gambled for so long. My story is on my diary thread if you want the back story but it was similar to so many on here. In my case 25 years of gambling and the last 10 or so being a major expensive addiction leading to debt.

Anyway it is all over. I have no urges or compulsion or even thoughts about gambling again and haven't had for a long time.

Here are a few things I wanted to share...

1) Don't expect things to change if you don't. Of course you should put all the blocks in place and if possible hand over finances to a trusted family member or friend BUT also make changes to your life style. Don't go to the same places. Get a new job. If you gamble on sport stop watching or listening to it. Find things to fill your time. Be active. Get away from computer screens. You don't get over an addiction by just stopping. You recover by creating a new life where it is easier to not gamble. If you don't create a new life, then all the factors that brought you to gambling will catch up with you again!

2)There are huge financial dividends to stopping. Every month I have so much disposable income which previously went straight to bookies. If my car breaks down I can pay to fix it. I can take my wife and son to Paris in March. I can support my wife with bills and other finances whereas in the past she had to shoulder all the burden My point is NOW EVERY MONTH FEELS LIKE A WIN. I stopped 90% of the stresses of my life by stopping. Now I have a permanent smile on my face and a healthy bank balance.

3) This all takes time so be patient. I have now come so far and felt such benefits and joy that I will not risk this. I could only get to this point through months of abstinence and leading a different life even though I was in debt and tempted to take the easy route and dive back into the addiction. How many times did I think if "I only had stopped after a big loss or win or whenever then by now I would have been fine and solvent." Well eventually I did stop and make that moment now. Carpe Diem! Now I live the life I knew was always possible because I stopped and looked forward.

4) Don't dwell on losses. Not easy but crucial. This also takes time. So for me I don't focus on the fact that I lost 0000s over 25 years because on the upside I now have 2 years of £ that I DIDN'T lose and things are only going to get better.

Best of luck. Make this your year. Life is a beautiful precious thing. Gambling nearly destroyed me and my family but it didn't and now every day I am a winner.