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Half way towards my target. Feeling positive about life and really am feeling a lot more upbeat. My Mum had mentioned to me over the weekend that I seem happier and I’m taking an interest when we sit down and talk. Not just a blank occupied mind like before I stopped gambling.

Still struggling to come to terms with this debt I’m in although it’s managable and I am paying it off monthly… it just seems like I’m going to be here forever paying it off. But I got myself into the situation and I’ll get myself out. Without gambling!!

I’ve been promised a pay rise next month too which really could help. Not sure how much yet but anything is a bonus.

In regards to urges and wanting to gamble… I’ve been surprisingly okay. when I look at my debt and when I feel like I might be short of money.. I can’t lie I think I can make that quick fix of 5K or 10K. I know deep down it’s not an option but I definitely still get those urges. But I’m learning to deal with these urges when they come. It’s not as bad as what it used was! I think it’s been key not having access to any money just for the reason I can’t physically gamble with no money.

50 Days Gamble free… Can’t believe I’ve already got this far!! Although it’s a long road so I need to stay focused.

Bring on Day 51.. One day at a time

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I’m going to set a new target/goal. But once I get to 100 days then I can reward myself again.. Not quite sure with what her. Going to treat myself to something nice. I find that it give s me something to work towards!

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Today is Day 47.. I AM NOT going to gamble today. Nearly halfway for my 100 Days. I can do this. One day at a time.

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Day 44 and gamble free.

Something really strange happened to me on Sunday. Somebody had stolen a jacket of mine from the bar I was at . Cost around £190 and it was a present from my birthdays. Few months ago. I was so gutted and pissed off with what happened. But it sort of made me think about things, before my gamble free time if I lost £190 gambling I wouldn’t bat an eye lid, I’d go on with my day and probably gamble some more. The jacket is replaceable yes, but i think it just proves I had no value for money.

I’m still gamble free and I’m feeling positive about moving forward towards my second goal of 100 days. But one day at a time. Spent abit too much money this week on other things and just general life. Paydays are every Tuesday so starting next week I’m going to carry on plucking away at the debt.

Hope everyone is well and staying gamble free!

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Day 38 today. Still gamble free.

Manage to pay back about 20% of what I actually owe. Although 50% of the total borrowed was finance on a car and not my own doing through gambling. So 30% left which is due to gambling, going to try and pay that off next with saving each week. It’s amazing how having no access to money helps. It’s frightening to see how much of my weekly wage went on gambling. I CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD TO GO OUT AND NOT WORRY!! Not having the thought about I need to win big this weekend to fund the month. Never happens. As soon as I’ve done the 30% which is about 3500 I’ll start putting some money aside to pay off the finance for my car. Slowly but surely I’ll get there… I know I can. By not gambling I know how much money I can save each month. It seems like it’s going to take forever but ODAAT. The thought of having this all paid off and being gamble free for that period of time is literally a dream at the moment. But I’m going to do it, no matter how hard it is.

Hope everyone is keeping upbeat!

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No gambling over the weekend especially with Cheltenham on and the football. Still gave my friends some tips and look at the race card but didn’t gamble. Didn’t even feel like I wanted too really. Had another big step over the weekend, I woke up yesterday morning feeling fine. Got chatting to my Mum Anne for some reason I just burst out with everything and told her all about what I had gone through and how I’m on this site telling my story, how I’ve been gamble free for 5 weeks. She was upset obviously but it was so helpful for me. Finally felt like that was the last person I needed to tell and to also get some closure on the gambling. We went through finances and and I told her the barriers I’ve put in place to make sure I can pay my monthly outgoings. She has all access to everything now I don’t have to hide or lie about these separate bank accounts. She knows everything. Really happy with myself that I managed to do it, although it was bloody frightening!!

Things are looking up, but have a long way to go!! Managed to book myself a long weekend away as a little treat for my Months gamble free time.

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Gamble free for 32 days and today is day 33. Feeling a lot more confident with myself and content. Not quite sure why this site isn’t letting me post onto my thread but it’s becoming very annoying and time consuming keep writing out the same bloody post!!

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I’ve been trying to post for the last few days and every time I go to post it keeps saying ‘Form of submission is incorrect please wait 45 seconds’ and every time I try it just appears with an error!!

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Things are starting to feel like they’re getting a lot easier. I’m finding that I’m being able to open up to people about the problem I was going through. Talking really does help, people’s advice and support does have a massive impact. I’m 24 days clean today which is the longest ever since i started gambling.

Can already see a difference with money. I get paid weekly and have managed to put over 60% wages into savings each week. Normally I would be struggling st this point of the month with DD coming out and everything. Losing all access to money has been the key part really, I’m just leaving myself enough to get by day to day.

I know it’s still a long road but even my mood is improving (Not in the mornings ofcourse). This week has so far been the easiest, not many urges although I’ve been working some long days so that probably helps.

Hope everyone is keeping positive and upbeat ☑️

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Hi mate,

Congratulations on your first day! Take it step by step and say by day. It’s not an easy process at all but it’s so worth it. By accepting your losses and knowing you can’t get that money back will definitely help your recovery.

You talk about the $50k debts, have you sorted repayments that are managable on your salary? What barriers are you putting in place to stop you gambling?

I would also recommend to ban yourself permanently.. because knowing you can log back in after those 30 days is just giving you temptation. Self exclude for as long as you can, you will thank your future self for this.

Hoping that today is still gamble free for you. Keep posting your progress!! Step by step you can do this

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23 days without a bet or any form of gambling! Will do a full update when I have abit more time tomorrow.

Hope everyone is bearing up under the strain

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Hi mate,

Look everyone on this site being a compulsive gambler has been in your situation at some point. You’re not alone. First things first lose all access to money again. No money = No gambling which I’m sure you’re aware of. You can replay the weekend over and over again about how much money is lost/debts etc but you need to accept right now that the money is gone and you can’t win it back. Starting from today you will earn that money back I know it seems like a long task but you’ll get there.

That little puppy is a blessing in disguise by the sounds of things. Every time you have an urge to gamble/bet just look at him/her and hopefully you can relate to how you felt that time and stop you from placing that ‘first bet’ again. Yes it’s hard but it’s the only option to help you. Do not gamble.

Regarding the debts… are they manageable? repayments? Credit cards are they interest fee etc?

Put things into place which can help your recovery. There’s a lot of people on this site with plenty of knowledge and experience that can help you step by step. Keep posting and share things you need help with. Trust me you can get through this!

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3 weeks clean today. No gambling, really happy with myself that I’ve managed 21 days. Bring on tomorrow

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No gambling today.

Really happy with the fact I’m nearly at 3 weeks. Lots planned over the weekend to keep me away from gambling so feeling very content. Still need to go through more finances but that can wait until Monday.

Hope everyone is well!
Best wishes
FISH

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I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to my thread , it means a great deal to me.

I sort of imagined that the gambling hangovers would stay around for a few weeks/months. But I’ll take each day as it comes, the last two days have been better and I’ve been in a much better mood. Not sure if it’s because the weekend is approaching! But overall I do feel in a lot better spirits and this site is definitely having a positive impact for me. Congratulations on also having a gamble free day, I wish you many more. Yes I agree i need to sit down with my friends properly and talk to them.. as they’re the only ones that know. I haven’t told any family still only because I’m still embarrassed and I know financially I don’t need there help, only if I stay gamble free. Which I will. I completely agree with you about the friends reaction part. When I told them at first they couldn’t believe I had been hiding it so well, I guess that’s what it does to you. Brave faces and white lies. But im hoping day by day these things seem to fade out. Our minds are our own worst enemy for sure.

Haha that would be nice eh!

Thanks a lot Geordie, I really appreciate it!

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