Day 1, start of a new life.

Day 2 - I have woke up feeling good. I am not feeling a temptation to gamble which I am extremely happy about. I know it is still early and I am focusing on taking it each day at a time. I know I am going to have challenging days to come but I'm sure this site will help. I'm sure it will not take long for me to reap the benefits and look back and see how stupid I was.
Today is also my pay day, so I am going to cover all of my bills today and leave myself minimal disposable income.
Thanks!

Well done mate, I’d like to buddy up and help you if you do t mind, I see myself in you at that age, I’m twice your age but still make the same mistakes. The mood thing I can relate too, it’s not fair on them, already my other half can see how much more interested in her and life in such a short space of time.

It’s a massive road ahead for us, the days when you relax and money is fine arethe days you HAVE to be wary of mate, I’ve done this before and stopped, got complacent and boom the monster said ...go on just a little bet, £20,000 later I’m back, for the last time, no more chance for me.

Good luck, keep posting , we can do this mate.

I have never seen a story that looks exactly like mine apart from this one. I'm 20 years old, started at 17. I'm in 7k debt, a debt management plan thts paid off in just over 2 years. Last week I saw late to my grilfriends because I was at the bookies. She wasn't happy. We look to be in scarily similar situations. Best of luck to you sir. Today is day 1 for me. Imagine how better off you'll be in a few months. Each day as it comes.

Unknown L wrote:

I have never seen a story that looks exactly like mine apart from this one. I'm 20 years old, started at 17. I'm in 7k debt, a debt management plan thts paid off in just over 2 years. Last week I was late to my grilfriends because I was at the bookies. She wasn't happy. We look to be in scarily similar situations. Best of luck to you sir. Today is day 1 for me. Imagine how better off you'll be in a few months. Each day as it comes.

Lads it’s a long journey, the secrete isn’t always about being debt free, it’s about being gambling free as the massive trigger is having the money to be a gambler again, focus on the non gambling rather than the money, change habits and life style, be more involved in other things because believe me this can come back very quickly and you ain’t ever cured

Unknown L & holycrosser
Appreciate the support! Will follow you both along the way.
Unknown L This may sound a bit silly as I am only 23 but I wish I stopped 3 years ago at 20, I was in about the debt you are now but now it is double that. The fact you've stopped now is great and you can change your whole future now.
holycrosser Thanks for offering to buddy up that will help a lot! I am not going to tell my loved ones about the debt like you. This is because if I do not gamble I can still live normally and feel no reason to make them worry about me (I recently had a monthly pay rise that covers my debt consolidation loan). I also do not want my partner in particular to lose trust in me.
I'm sure we can all be successful and I am excited for the future, cheers!!

Didn't have a great day yesterday and thought about gambling a lot but did not gamble which is the most important thing. Even had dreams last night about it, which I find pretty sad and motivates me even more to stay away from it.
Nice day today, the suns out and I am feeling better.
Hopefully there will be a point where I do not think about gambling as much, would be interesting to hear what other ex gamblers experience with this!

Another day completed and a good days work ahead today!!

Still gamble free and feel I am going to be gamble free forever now. Today was a challenge, watched lots of football and my girlfriend is away so had lots of alone time. I can’t say I wasn’t tempted as I was. But I did not gamble. Thank god. Will have been a week since I have gambled tomorrow! 1st milestone.

9 days!! Over the moon.
The last few days haven't been as hard as the first few, I have been thinking about gambling a lot less.
This morning I watched a video of Paul Merson on good Morning Britian talking about his gambling addiction. He made some great points and it is worth a watch. One of the things I took from it was that he explained the money wasn't the issue, it was the stress of constantly thinking about your bets and checking your phone. He had hit rock bottom like a lot of us and it is great of him to speak out. Especially as he was someone who always seemed so bubbly on TV but he was clearly struggling.

Another good day ahead! Hope anyone reading also has a good gambling free day!

Great to see you're doing well mate. The first month is by far going to be the hardest. I've taken a break from my diary and I'm starting it back up on the 1st of April, trying to do it properly this time. Keep it up. Money will eventually come back, if we stay gamble free.

Devastated to say that I relapsed. Gambled for 2 days and lost a lot of money. Maxed out one of my credit cards again.
So dissapointed I can't even look at myself in the mirror. Cried myself to sleep 2 nights in a row, which is incredibly out of charachter for me, I am strong but when it comes to gambling I am weak.
Would appreciate if someone knew of a way to forget the debts and money and how to get over a relapse like this.
Got to 12 days which may not seem like a lot to some people but it was to be and then I lost the most I have ever lost over 2 days.
Would appreciate any techniques people have to stay away or any videos or inspiration.

Day 1 again, hopefully forever.

Thanks, Sean.

Morning SG95, sorry to read about what happened......now some harsh truths, have you self excluded from everything online? Use Gamban, exclude for 5 years, it’s the only way, find a friend you trust and get the cards and money away from you.

theres loads of advice on here, read my diary how I do it, you can’t afford to be bored, this is not easy but you can do it.