It was all going so well...

Still haven’t gambled. Still think about the money lost every few hours. 

Pay day this week which will bring another challenge. But I’m confident I won’t go back. 

Hi

If you want to stop its about reaching out for all the help and putting blocks in place.

You cant do this by just taking a day to think about it. Its not about willpower alone.

Its about a born again moment when you finally accept it had you controlled in all ways. then you feel relieved almost serene to hand over control of your money to others and put the blocks in place.

RELIEF to be getting help and acting on it is the crucial feeling

Money is no good in your pocket until you are well into the mind healing process. You can never be complacent for the rest of your life...are you ready for that? Its not really a battle when the time feels right

The only way is up when your foundations are rock solid. If you dont see the light the only way is down.

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Coming from someone who has stopped for long stints and then relapsed over and over I feel your pain. Don’t let this relapse throw you off course. Yes you’ve relapsed, yes you’ve undone some hard work,  but just think if you start today a fresh again just think where you will be 3 more months down the line. If you carry on gambling just think how much more damage you could do 3 months down the line. I do not want you sound like a hypocrite as I am only on day 5 of no gambling. But each month I feel like I need to try one last time to win and  to at least be able to pay one debt off, but guess what I get myself into even more of a mess by losing that months wages too, and that’s how in 5 years I have got into 35k of debt. I now realise it’s like I’m on a bike and going backwards! if I stop gambling now each month will be tight paying off the debts but they will be going down at least and not getting bigger and bigger. You can get back on the wagon, don’t be too hard on yourself with this setback. Start on day one and as I hear the saying a lot.. as long as you have made all the appropriate actions to not gamble take it one day at a time. 

Much love 

Thanks for the posts. 

Still going strong. A month and a few days down. Downloaded gamblock (and whatever the other ones called) so that should add an extra layer of security. 

Still angry about my last relapse so can’t stand he thought of gambling at the moment. The struggle will come when the pain subsides...

what a t*t I was!!!

Just me checking in again. Still chugging along nicely. 

I’ve spent a fair bit of money over the last month. It’s crazy how much better I feel though, with it being spent on quality time with loved ones etc. Can’t believe I wasted thousands and thousands over the years... 

Just need to keep it up. I’ve got to say - looking on here definitely helps. Best of luck everyone.

Still not gambled which is good. Thoughts have crossed my mind but I would be an absolute idiot going back. All those months I worked just to put every penny into the bookies, ridiculous. 

Gambling really made me feel guilty for spending money elsewhere. It still looms over me. I feel awful because I’ve spent a lot of money the last few weekends. Need to keep looking on the bright side.. at least it hasn’t been on watching a roulette wheel animation over and over. 

I wonder if the regret will ever fade. Keep going everyone. 

Keep it up pal, you're doing really well. I will be 9 months GF on Wednesday and although it feels amazing to say that, like you I occasionally get the feelings of regret. Not as much, and trust me it does get easier, it's just working out how to manage those feelings. Personally I use those feelings to remind me how dark those times actually were. 

All the best bud!

Thanks mate, much appreciated. 9 months is a great achievement, keep it up and don’t get complacent! 

Its very true what you say. Maybe the regret is what keeps me on the straight and narrow... 

I feel like I just wish time away now. Which isn’t good. ‘6 months/a year from now I’ll be in a better situation financially..’ and just count the time down. I think I’m obsessed with money to be honest. Mad that I threw so much of it away. Anyway, think I’m about 70 days in at the moment. Baby steps and all that. 

Around 80 days now. Still have a long way to get back the savings I had before my one day of madness.  Years and years to get back what I have lost over the years. I’m still struggling to come to terms with it. Having mates that gamble doesn’t help but there is no chance I’m going back to this now (God I hope I look back on this comment in years time knowing I didn’t f**k it up).

Easy to say as a problem gambler but I would love gambling adverts to be banned and advertising altogether.

Stay away from those friends, good luck

Motivating to hear you are going so strong now! Day 1 here 🙂 

3 months down. Long way to go still. Thought of gambling creep in every now and again. I hope I never go back. 

Hi Theonlywayisup, 

Well done on 3 months. That is a great achievement 

Keep going and I wish you the best of luck 

Forum Admin 

Kay 

Keep your chin up Ford, we can do this. 

123 days for me now. Finding it tough going - my mind keeps trying to tell me a little bet won’t hurt. Or that I should try the stock market (something I haven’t before), or buy some scratch cards instead. I guess my brain just wants a fix any way it can.

Finances are looking okay at the minute but I still think about the money lost all the time. In a way it’s a good reminder but otherwise I wonder where the line is to unhealthy/obsessive. 

215 days down. Going okay... I suppose. I need to keep focussed because a bad five minutes and all this work could be undone. 

Keep thinking about stock markets, scratch cards etc. Hopefully that will subside at some point... but I’m confident I won’t go back. What a horrible horrible way to live. 

All the best everyone.