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Welcome to the forum On my way. Have you thought about starting your own thread too? Where you can post your thoughts and journey and others will be able to support you there as well. Take care, Laura
What my eyes see tempt me. What my ears hear tempt me. The commercials are every where. I must turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. Avoid whenever at all possible. Keep at it Kin. You can do this. Each day is a new choice and a new commitment to be gamble free. Thankyou for helping others.
Laura
Having a quick coffee. Just finished stuffing myself for supper. I see group will be later tonight. Will try again after. ttfn
Hi IDI,
sorry, I lost touch for a week! I was busy enjoying my gamble free life visiting with cousins and aunts and uncles. Lunches out and girls night slumber parties with drinks and food and childhood memories. I was barely online and died every night my head hit the pillow. Quiet times here can be good, when it means most of us who have been here struggling are doing well. But we know there will always be someone else who will come by needing to know they are not alone. Enjoy that peace and happiness. Life may not be perfect, it will have ups and downs and anxious moments, but, look at you now 🙂 I should be around for group tonight if there is one at 10. If not I’ll try for the 11. Have a good evening xo
Hi Monica. I am home from my trip. Happy to be getting back into a routine. I’m trying to tackle the last bit of paperwork and clutter. A week or so worth. Then there is my entire basement full of clutter next. I’ve been on this journey for 11 years in total. I am so close to feeling organized and ready for the next chapter of my life. I plan on making the most of it. I think back to the beginning of my journey, that first year or two were transforming in so many way. I remember this as I am watching you go through these improvements in health, thanks to the improvements in job situation! You have spent quite a while taking some pretty hard steps before this transition. Stopping gambling. Getting help in many ways. Telling your family. Doing your piece for the film on poverty. I picture you having hung on a ledge, with little shifts upward. Finding a toe hold here or there, maybe a little twig of a branch. Those oh so hard steps. Now you are hoisting yourself up to the little foot path. You are climbing out of the valley of darkness into the light of the sun. You are reminding me of what a gift that vision can be. Keep focused on your recovery Monica. I’m so thrilled and proud for you. Wohooooo! Reap the rewards sister, you have put in the work.
Laura xo
P.S. I did a little post above in response to your post a few days back. You asked a question and of course I could not resist giving you my version of a possible answerPerhaps you felt as though you may not have enough and that if you could win some more it would releive the sudden pressure? I know when I have a lot of bills due and I’m feeling pinched I start thinking of gambling to pay bills. Not good to admit perhaps but I’d managed to win enough to pay a few things. But of course it was usually the reason I was behind. Feeling inadequate for any reason can be an uncomfortable feeling. But feeling that way in front of others where the consequence could be not getting called back for another contract is down right stressfull. Gambling was always a very comforting distraction. Unless losing of course. Which is usual. We just keep trying to get back to that place of comfortable distraction.
Hi Exhausted. Haven’t heard from you in quite a while. I had a lot going on or I would have checked in with you sooner. I hope you were able to talk with someone and get some support and help. If you happen to read this, let us know how you are doing. Praying for you. That you find recovery and wellness.
LauraIf the selfish voice led you astray before many times, with gambling and other acts of self abuse, then I would suggest you are right not to listen to that voice. Having faith can be very difficult. It means believing in something we can’t see, something we can’t question, something we can’t prove. I hope that your faith is rewarded. Laura
It sounds like your daughter is actually being half sensible about the move. She’s not rushing into living arrangements with the boyfriend. You gave her stability after the birth of your granddaughter. All you can do is be supportive without being a doormat and I think you’ve done a good job of walking that line with her Liz. I hope you have some pictures or a glossy travel brochure to tack up on the fridge too. So you are reminded every time you tick a day/week or month of repayment off you are that much closer to your trip. You deserve to make your dreams come true. Stay strong Liz. You are doing great. Laura
Hi Night Money and welcome to the forum. what you say would resonate with anyone with a gambling problem. Unfortunately it is a progressive problem that only gets worse over time. Once we become addicted to gambling we can never be responsible players again. I am not familiar with online gambling as it is illegal here. I never trusted the sites to be legitimate and above board. I was too instant gratification. I wanted any wins in my hands instantly. Only to be spread around in different gambling machines again. I have heard of a few online gamblers here using online blocking software. I’m not sure if that is something you could use to help put barriers between you and the online sites. One of the first things we need to do is stop the bleeding of money. With your large salary you could be comfortable again quicker than many. If blocking software isn’t an option than maybe you need to hand control of your money and bank accounts over to someone you trust. This gives you time to think. Time to break the cycle. Keep posting. Maybe seek out some extra help or counseling on the help line. This addiction can be overcome. Well done for reaching out.
LauraHi Daniel, so good to hear from you and that you are doing well. Gratitude in recovery and seeing what was right before us and all the blessings in our lives seems to be the theme running through the posts tonight. You are right. Now is the perfect time to for you to see things in a different light and 36 is young to have learned many of the insights you now have. Some people will live their whole lives not learning these things. Please do give yourself some little rewards along the way. Things that give you pleasure. Simple pleasures even. I look forward to your next update. Have a good weekend Daniel.
LauraGreat to hear you are doing well Lily. Yes, good to have a line ready for when the thoughts pop up. Hopefully as time goes by they well get less. There can be trigger “dates” though so you may wish to be aware. I can’t remember them all but I remember the 3 months mark can cause urges. I think three weeks is one as well and maybe one month. Sometime times the details elude me! Have you had mood swings or are you pretty even? They can be a symptom of withdrawal. Even though it’s not a substance, it causes our brain to create its own. We still miss it when it’s gone. Enjoy a little reward or down time for your accomplishment. This is a big deal. Hope to see an update again when you have time. Take care,
Laura