Hi Nick,
This is a forum where you post what you feel, how life is going for you and what’s happening .
I found your post about your girlfriend ‘s gift very honest and you should not feel the need to delete it. It was honest and opened up a discussion and has got everybody who read it thinking.
For me I have been trying for too long to stop gambling to risk it. I have always been weak in my recovery. People can say this is about honesty , but I know of many people who have been totally honest and still continue to relapse for years. For others , once they are honest they find recovery .
I know of people who are immensely relieved when they open up and I know of people who dearly wish they could go back and ignore the advice to be honest . I am so glad I have never allowed myself to be talked into total honesty – I met a dear friend on here who did and has regretted it ever since. It served as a grim warning to me.
There is no magic cure- you will know this from reading and chatting on here – not barriers , not honesty, not giving up control of money . This is a lifelong progressive illness.
I do however like the analogy that Charles uses- addiction is like a sleeping bear- if you poke it with a stick it will wake up.
Keep strong !