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Hi Monica
Well done on being assertive with your sister .
It does sound like she could get by ok if she didn’t buy the scratch cards and booze. I am thinking wine and Gin must come to £30 a week and that’s without mixers!
Add on the scratch cards and yes you at way enabling some very expensive habits .

Your poor mum – makes u wonder what’s the point of the health service – when we are sick help is never available. In Ireland you mostly pay buy u get seen by your gp the day you want to be seen not an appointment two weeks later .

It a a good idea to get help – and better still help you know !
Your room will be great – u are so motivated about getting stuff done.

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Hi Nick
I think once gambling become compulsive it doesn’t matter how much we win – we will always lose it back.

I am glad you are thinking less about gambling . Another way of looking at your statistics is if you decided to save £10 for every race you would have saved £37,298. How cool does that sound ?

I am starting to se edgy some people get rich and some stay poor ! Lol

Keep strong – u are doing great

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Hi Kathryn I replied to you on my thread.

You never entered my head at all when I wrote that post . I guess I write it because I know that if I had one person who really supported me (in my offline life) I could have kicked this years ago – just some of us dont and I kinda get fed up when I am in groups and keep being told the same thing!

You have never offended me or anyone – u are a kind and supportive person and I am honoured you consider me a friend on here – so please don’t second guess yourself ot worry about people taking offence XX

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Monica , thank you for your lovley post on my thread – it has lifted my spirits no end ,

You are doing a clear out for your son to move in and I am trying to get motivated to do something similar for my son – his own hangout place . Once agin we are sync .

It sounds like your friend may Be bitter about her illness and is lashing out – no judgement as I imagine I would feel the same – however you much protect yourself and not be the fall guy for her issues .
You deserve friendships that lift you up – although I guess if it is just like this recently that’s different .

I admire Monica that no matter hwo your life if going you age so much compassion for others , like your son’s gran.

Hope we manage to meet in group soon – I too have been falling asleep early !
Xx

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Lol Tango,
And there will always be someone when you write how well you are doing who will say “but you haven’t …”. Ignore that too- as people with gambling addiction our self esteem can be fragile and it is easy to knock us off kilter- keep doing what works for you – keep remembering that criticism can be other people trying to make themselves feel better about who they are —it goes with the big shot mentality!

Keep strong , you deserve all the great things life has to offer as much as any other person on the planet !

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Hi Kon,
This is a hateful addiction and often takes more than one attempt to overcome – I feel you will be a great success story for several reasons .
1. You keep brushing yourself down and starting over
2. You are self aware and reflective
3. It is so obvious how much you value your wife and family’s
4. You have a supportive partner (so many don’t have this) who is not only willing you, but actively helping you to succeed .
5 . You are honest about your addiction

You have so much going for you – you will make it and you deserve to .
Well done on brushing yourself down and starting again.

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Hi Stephen
I know how poor the transport services are in Ireland – a car is such a priority for many people. Any chance you could get a cheap one on credit? Getting to work is so important but I think you are wise to let a death trap go .

If you can manage with the bus that is great – I often think people who use public transport are more disciplined – they don’t have the choice to sit and have “one more cup of tea “ because the bus won’t wait in the way your car will!

This is a blip – a little bit of penance I guess – I hope to read you are back in the driving seat in no time at all ! Well done on making a very hard decision .

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Hi Kin
Well done for sticking at the job And recognising that sometimes we need a day off to recharge our batteries. You are right when you say it’s important To settle your financial obligations – going to a job you don’t like is better than a gambling hangover anyway – I like how you put that – I will keep that in mind when I have jobs I don’t want to do .

Well done Kin – keep strong !

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Hi Tango
Well done on brushing yourself down and starting again- it’s not easy to do.
I do agree with your statement – there is always a way to gamble. I also understand what it is like to have no-one to hand your money over to, for whatever reason.

I feel you are doing really well despite this – to be honest gamstop proved to be a huge let down for me too and if the reviews I read on the internet are anything to go by – the same applies for many others . It seems casinos are already finding ways around it and it is so difficult to sign up, you can only put in a limited amount of details or the registration won’t go through and it seems crazily dependent on an email address, so I hear you loud and clear .

It is so hard to stop gambling so please give yourself credit for how far you have come – something which most people on here don’t agree with but has let me get that first few gamble free days is a temporary exclusion from sites . I guess it falls into the “I’m not saying I will never gamble but I’ll not gamble
For the next few days” category . I self excluded for two weeks from all sites . It has given me time to think , clear my head and put other barriers in place. I seem to be able to cope with this while permanent exclusions have had me searching for hours to find new sites to sign up to .

Monica nailed it – one solution definitely doesn’t fit all- and when I have tried to fit in with the solutions others force on me, I inevitably fail- find what works for you . Find the things that let you get the next little while gamble free and then keep doing it !
Take on board the advice that works for you and ignore the rest – this is your recovery and you must do it what works for you to stay in it !

Great to see you back!

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Hi Lizbeth
I feel it is something in us with gambling addiction that we want everything instantly !
Give the job situation a little bit of time .

It may be a long time since you have had a job have you have survived and learned a lot in that time – you have dealt with grief, worries , all kinds of situations and people and u have come through it. You will be an asset to any employer .

Hope you are feeling more upbeat xx

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Hi Laura
You weren’t too tough on me – you were very caring .
I have put extra barriers in place and I have cut off all access -I hope . I also feel I am Over the binge .

Sounds like you are having a really nice time and enjoying good company – that’s he way life should be – you are right -life is short and we should make the most of every moment .
Mega thank you for all your support of late – it helped more than you will ever know xx

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Hi Kathryn
I am so sorry to read about your niece – how absolutely devastating for her- children are such a blessing and I feel privileged every day to be a mum.

I will pray for your niece and for you and their rest of her family – why do horrible things happen to good people ?

She is blessed to have someone like you in her life.xx

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Hi Monica
I had a lot of catching up to do on your thread – sorry for neglecting our friendship.
I lend for the same reason as you – I hate to see people stuck for a few bob and to be honest I don’t really value money very much (except when I need it ) . I’m not going to give you any advice about the money – it is he’s to think of our family stuck for money no matter how they get to that stage.
I hope the natural therapy works for your friend – I feel this is so brave but even thinking about it kinda scares me – I guess I would feel safer going with conventional medicine but each to their own.

I am delighted you bought new clothes – look at you now Monica – who would have thought you would be back on your feet so quickly ?

I hope I catch you in group later . I am still gamble free !!

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Just had luckiest escape (yes a gambling one). Put the number up
Please – 4 random digits

Will tell u when to take down
Xx

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Hi Nick
Thank you for replying on my thread .

People who have been gamble free for a long time write about the urge to gamble decreasing .

I have never got that far.

However I do know we both deserve a better life than this – a life free from the pain of gambling .

Keep strong Nick and keep working on it .

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