Hi “AlwaysTheFish”… I´m not visiting these websites as often as in the start, so sorry for the late reply. I know that a lot of people recommend betfilters, but actually for me that hasn´t been right. I reacted to it by going into some kind of battle with myself: putting up a barrier, and finding a way to break it down. I realized there will ALWAYS be a way for me to gamble if I decide I want to, so I can´t rely on external supports. I decided i wanted to develop the internal strength or decision not to gamble, so if I´m exposed to a possibility to gamble I can say no. Ofcourse I make sure these situations don´t come up often, because I know I´m straining my willpower everytime I have to resist. Don´t walk into the lions cave if you don´t have to. I think of it as a form of self care, protecting myself. But I also think this is an individual choice, and not nessecearly suitable for everyone. It took me many years of self work to come where I am now. I tried to just stay away based on my will many ***** before, and not beeing able to. I remember that the gambling impulse was a lot stronger in me some years ago. I recall that I felt fysically forced to just do it. But then again it is interesting to ask the question: what did I do to enhance the impulse that strongly? Because I am convinced I have a free will, and that whatever I feel forced by is a result of MY unconscious, and something I need to get into my awareness. And when I think of that time when the urge was so strong, that was I time where I tried very hard to “hold the beast back”, say NO to the impulse. Set up barriers. I think that actually resulted in making the urge stronger. Today I have a different focus. I know that saying: “Don´t think about a pink elephant” actually makes me think about a pink elephant. Instead I try to distract myself, just move my awareness over to something else, or involve myself in some form of constructive activity that can sooth wathever uneasiness I feel. I have fallen down and risen SO many *****, so I just advice you to keep going “AlwaysTheFish”. If you try and try you will succeed in the end. And it is worth it. I´m soon 3 months in, and that´s the longest I have abstained. My life is improving all the time.
