I too am concerned about the same things as the drive to get myself back on track is very strong at this point and easily overrides any desires to gamble. I keep myself in check by having little to no money available, especially on the days that I have down time, so that even if the temptation hits and I still go looking in the garage for a dead laptop and I bring it in and start it up, I have nothing to gamble with. I feel that all the barriers we put in place are great, but when does it stop being a life about not gambling? I guess, if we look at other addictions and people that are successful at recovery we see that it is always going to be about staying gamble free one day at a time, but it’s not only about that. It can sit in the background, like an allergy. A food allergy is something that you must avoid daily but really only affects you when you eat, mainly out of the house, because your home should be your safe zone. We will have times and places that are safe and others that are risky to our recovery, and we should be aware of the things that pose the most danger and avoid them. I know that electronics will always pose the greatest risk for a relapse so I will ensure that I cannot access any gambling on the ones that I use daily. Forever, if necessary. My safe zones are outside my house at this point, and I am going to strive to make inside as safe, but at this point in time, it is not. I am aware. I need to stay aware but that does not mean that my entire existence is going to be about being gamble free, anymore than a person with a food allergy or other addiction only lives to be free of their nemesis. I guess if you let it all be only about sobriety than you will lose all of those things that make life a joyous ride and gambling will still control your life. I will strive for balance. I have recently decided to start losing some if the weight I have gained. It gives me another goal, another purpose, and puts my mind on other things. I hope that you can find other things that bring you purpose and joy so that gambling is something that is at the back of your mind, something you become used to avoiding, something that may still nag at you occasionally, but something that is only a small part of a life filled with joy and purpose
