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Hi Debbie
Well done on not gambling .
Day three is really great – those first days are the hardest .
You could try free blocking apps to tide you over until you get money – netnanny is one- I used it in the past but it let some sites through its filters – still it is better than nothing.

Well done on reisiting temptation Debbie – and you are so right – once we become addicted we lose all winnings anyway .

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Day 53
Almost two months done .

Strange thing tonight which is making me rethink online groups.
I got really scared in house alone and messaged hubby to return home . He had just gone to local shop.
I find myself wondering how safe it is to connect with people world wide .
Is paranoia a withdrawal symptom?
Am I finally losing my marbles ?Nnb
Do I have reason to feel scared ?

Lots of crazies out there …
Lots of ok people too .

Maybe this two month old flu is dragging me down ..

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Something is telling me ur friend protesteth too much – cud she have a gambling problem?
Just a thought

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Aw Lizbeth , that is so hard.
Many people regret telling others .
I have ignored all advice to tell others.
Your friend may research gambling addiction a little and come back with a more supportive attitude . I think many people must find it totally incredible that we would throw our cash away in such a seemingly reckless manner . We find it totally incredible ourselves a lot of the time .
Addiction stinks – and unless you have got one, you don’t really understand .

I hope you feel better – it is hard when we confide and then feel let down .
Onwards and upwards Lizbeth !

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Johnny well done on noticing this and reposting.
I know Charles sometimes moves posts across so I hope we haven’t missed Jen
.
Yes a lot of us could identify with what Jen has written.
It is a senseless , mindless addiction .
I hope Jen notices that her post has been moved and continues to write on here .

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Hi Micky
Have a good night at the quiz .
Great to have another long shift over .

Quiz night beats gambling any day !

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Great news !

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Hi Tyler
Well done on starting a thread and seeking help.
Sometimes when we are in the thick of it we cannot think straight .
It sounds to me like you need to self ban from local casinos – then you cannot visit even if you want to .
This will give you a little space from the constant urges to gamble.

You can defeat this horrible addiction. It is so unfair how some of us get addicted when none of us plan to but it is something we have to live with .

You will get lots of advice and help on here Tyler – you are young – you can turn your life around quite quickly .
Keep strong and take action so you cannot gamble today when the urge to do so comes .

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Hi Jaykay,
Not sure what your post means but I hope you are ok.
It’s so hard to stop gambling but even if you have slipped you can straight back on the wagon .
Hang in there my friend !

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Great post Iquit
Nothing quite beats a family holiday and the debts will get repaid .
22 days is fabulous . I think I read you have betfilter – doesn’t it solve such a lot of problems .
It is great to have some head space from the constant call of the beast .

Well done and keep going – you deserve a great life

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Hi Kin
It’s hard to identify triggers
It’s hard to really notice what it is that drives our gambling .

Fore I know when I feel put down I want a big win to show them all.
I think that is why the straight talking some people feel it is their right to impose upon us all has never worked for me .

I have a nice group of friends on here who give me positive support – that seems to work for me.

Do you have encouragement outside this site ?
Do you have a good support network?
Do you have people who say well done Kin?

I get what you say about giving up carbohydrates being a good distraction from gambling . It gives you a different focus .

Kin you have been doing so well- I hope you continue to believe that you are worth recovery – and you are deserving of a good life .

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Hi Debbie
Well done on seeking help .
I have never been addicted to sports betting but maybe you do need to give up on it for a while . Perhaps in time sport will not be so closely connected to gambling for you .

Do you gamble online- I have found having gambling blockers on my internet devices have saved me a fortune – I use betfilter but there are free ones (like netnanny) which would tide you over until you get money to buy a proper gambling specific blocker.
Gambling currently costs me around a tenner a month (I think) for the blocker . It’s saving me thousands .

I hope this helps Debbie – could I also recommend The group chats on Mondays and Thursdays. I find them really helpful.

Keep strong and keep posting – you can do this and you deserve this

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Thank you Nick and Kpat
Nick I totally get what you say about the lottery – I find slots so addictive but yet I cannot imagine getting any joy from cards or football bets- we all have our own poison .
I can’t see me ever getting addicted to the outcome of grown men running around a field with a ball! I cannot imagine anything more boring !
Kpat it is so nice to see you back . Hope we get to catch up in group .

So today is day 52 – I think this is my longest ever completely gamble free time . It has not been easy .

I find myself thinking that if I gambled just one more time – I can control it now , I have a system, I know how to get the big win and now I have developed the control to cash out … and then I remember I have an addiction and that is its voice I am hearing.
It’s hard to stay stopped -but between barriers and a little will power – I am getting there .

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Hi Kpat,
It is so good to hear from you .
Sorry to hear you gambled – it’s really is a lifelong addiction.

I never really got it until quite recently – I have not gambled this year and am hopeful it stays this way- no think that is about seven weeks gamble free.

Yes when we are in the “frenzy” it is almost impossible to stop. It just takes over . I have been there too often . ANd yes we can do so much damage in such a short time .
How are your kids doing ?
Your son must be almost 20 now?
Time flies and gambling steal so much of it .

Well done on your gamble free time !

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Still gamble free- still got never ending flu.
I will be kinda glad to get home – not much fun being away when you’re ill

In the past when people gambled I found myself repeating to them about barriers and phone blockers – somewhere along the way I have realised that after the initial few months we all know this stuff and it is often annoying when people repeat it – maybe that’s what is meant about hearing the things you don’t want to hear but need to hear.
For me and most people I would imagine the things I need to hear are things which encourage me to be gamble free – not things that tear me down – like a well done ! It doesn’t cost much but helps a lot .

I have found it really difficult to stop gambling in the past – this site has been my main support and when people posted nasty replies it made me feel guarded in what I wrote -an. example ( and there are many ) was once I complained about something hubby did which was annoying – I can’t even remember what but it was helping me to write about it -and true to form the reply came to take the plank out of my own eye . There were so many other horrible comments – I felt monitored all the time !

Now I find I can write what I want to – and to be honest I find that now the defensiveness is no longer needed – my posts are no longer so negative – and also I am sustaining recovery

I like that I have so many positive people who help me on this site now- it is a good place to be and a good place to get help with recovery .
I know – I am doing it !

Onwards and upwards

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