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Hi P,
You inspire me .
Regardless of what is going on in your life you are always positive and making the best of things .
Here is nothing worse than gambling P- it brings is to our knees .
Glad to hear things are a little better .
Maybe see u in group later
Xx

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I have had a busy productive day .
I decided to go out for lunch on impulse and then remembered I am working on my impulsiveness and laziness so I made a meal instead – for a fraction of the price !

I then tackled one of those horrible cleaning jobs and roped hubby in to help.
A little every day to make my house look normal.
I wanted to paint a particular part of the house but it is a huge job- so We decided less impulsive meals out and pay a painter .
In all honesty two or three of my bingo trips will pay for the whole job.
In fact I could have had the whole house decorated inside and out with what I gambled in the last two months – but it is what it is .
No looking back – only forward .
Tomorrow is day 11- almost two weeks .
I have addressed some issues which needing addressing for my child’s happiness – I am on a roll – I set up some good stuff for him today.
Today I can’t think why I ever bothered with gambling but I won’t be getting complacent. ( I am writing that just to stop the nagging people who seem to look for a chink in the armour )
God has given me another undeserved chance . I have done nothing to earn this – so I don’t believe the old unbiblical and human quote ” God helps those who help themselves “. I believe eGod helps us all and we can never fall too low for His saving grace. We just have to reach out and ask for his help and accept it when it arrives – as Charles puts it – grab the helplines he sends.
So that’s me for now –
I am happy , motivated , working on my housework laziness and generally being a productive person.
I like it !

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Hi Greg.
Well done on seeking help . The important thing is that you recognise you have a problem and you want to take steps to address this horrible addiction.
You deserve to be free from this and putting barriers in place can give you a bit of freedom- you can buy a gambling blocker for your laptop like betfilter or gamblock. You can cut up cards and ask someone else to manage your money for a while . You can self ban from all the casinos / betting sites and shops you visit . You can attend your local GA and get advice and support there .
There is so much you can do but you have taken the first and most important step . You have admitted you have a problem and you have reached out .
You are not alone . Check out the support groups on here and try make it to the new members one .
Hope this helps .

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Thank you Lisbeth and Kathryn
I am happy I got out of there instead of trying to make myself understood so that I ended up feeling frustrated and powerless. I think that feeling of powerlessness has often triggered gambling for me. Somehow when I feel small I think a big win will make me “bigger”. I guess I am more aware of my triggers and I am more assertive with people who threaten my recovery regardless of how good their motive is. Some people just do not know how negative they sound.

Today is day 10. I am in double figures . I am taking it day by day but also having a sneaky peek four days forward to when I will reach 2 weeks. It helps motivate me to keep going.

Life is good. I went to bed early and woke very early . I wanted to catch a webinar so am feeling quite pleased with myself . Still have quite a bit of constant pain and I am trying to stop myself from thinking that now that I have stopped at last , I hope my health doesn’t give up on me .
I am not a good patient …I don’t have the patience for illness .

Other than that all is good .

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There is another lady on this site who I think would be really great for you to talk to – she has a similar name to you – she is called “worriedmama”. I think you might find her thread helpful and you could maybe drop her a line on there – you will find her most helpful and you might even meet her in some of the support groups which will allow you to chat .

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*Sorry I should add an edit – some of my greatest encouragers have been those in recovery a long time – Geordie , Charles and P to mention but a few . They cheer when I succeed and they encourage me to keep going.*

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I need to write –
I am feeling so positive about recovery – I am on day nine.
And I have just come across a “but” person on another site who has decided I am becoming complacent and need the benefit of their put downs – sorry I think they said experience .
If I had nine years behind me I might become complacent – I have been fighting this for too long to become complacent after nine days . By the way that’s all I got to say “I’m on day nine ”
So I called This person out on their negativity immediately, told them I was trying to work the steps and one of the new measures I have taken is to not let negative people drag me down – I am working at this , clocking up my days – what’s to be negative about ?
They are every where – the begrudgers- and I have to say it but often I find it’s those in recovery who feel it’s their duty to remind us how weak we are .
In the past I would have felt deflated – thought what’s the point – and ended up back where I started .
Today I told this person I was calling them out on their negativety and discouragement – I told them they sounded critical and that I was logging off as my recovery is more important to me than people pleasing . They kept arguing and I simply logged out .

I don’t need straight talking , I don’t need to hear the things others decide I don’t want to hear – I need recovery !!!

Looking forward to day ten – feeling empowered!

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Ah but Monica , we know they never get their money back – if they did they would not be on this site – sure they may have it back for a while but it just keeps the addiction alive and they end up in ever deeper trouble –
We have become wise to that one!

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Hi worried mum,
I am from the other forum, but I am on here quite a lot and I noticed you have not received a reply. I have a gambling addiction but I am also a mother and I can feel your pain.
It sounds like your son is in real pain also – perhaps
Counselling wound help Him open up .

Members of f an f will reply to you soon but I think good advice is not to enable by giving him money .
Hope this helps

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Hi Monica , well done on taking the steps to help your health – make sure u avail of all free supplements you can get from your doctor and pharmacy. Also check out the pound shop for their ranges .
I was delighted to see you have posted some newer members and encouraged them. It shows that whether you realise it or not you are really in recovery mode .
You are taking steps to improve all aspects of your life – it is true what they say. “Take the body and the mind will follow”
Hope your flu gets better soon- and well done on giving up those cigs .

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Hi Monica ,
It sounds like you had something similar going on – maybe it’s a fear of not having enough but I think more likely it’s that we feel we don’t deserve those nice things .
Now I try to buy myself something whether I have gambled or not . I buy supermarket or sale clothes mostly but they look nice and fresh and I feel nice when I wear something that is not old or shabby . Last week I bought boots . Week before a top and today I will buy a top in a nice bright colour. All of this is very cheap stuff but it’s new !
The course I could finish but it is very intensive in terms of the work I will have to do at home and my child needs me at the moment . It’s one of those times I need to step up and be there. I need to make the right choice . As parents I guess we are always making sacrifices whether it is going out to work or being home when we need to be- I am possibly picking up the pieces after my years of gambing now but it is what it is .
I am taking each day as it comes .

I’m on day nine – well into week 2. I have as Vera says changed my mindset or as P says the switch had flicked .I am not going to analyse this change but just keep counting my days , posting and looking forward. I know when I get one full month behind me financially things start to really ease .
I have also set up a small savings account which will be a nice sum when the holidays come around next year .

My mind is clear , I am focused , I am hopeful , I make good choices.

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Thank you Micky.
I find myself making choices I thought I would never make .
I find myself making more permanent decisions .
I have always lived as if stuff in my life was temporary.

Take my house – I always complain about how messy it is but in truth I have always been afraid to make the changes which would make this housework for me – in case I want to sell, in case I decrease its value, in case I get it wrong …
Today I am thinking , two decades later , I am going to make this house work for me and my family not someone who might own it after me . Why had this taken me so long to reach this decision? Who was I preserving it for ?
I have been funded for a quite prestigious course- I have completed much of it – however my current family circumstances means it cannot be a priority for me but I am finding it so difficult to let it go. Why? There are so many things which matter more in my life . What will I really lose ?

Why do I find these things so difficult and can anyone else make sense of what I am saying?
I’m not sure even I can .

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Justonee,
Sorry I just noticed my phone is autocorrecting your name . It took me so many years to go to a meeting – couldn’t face it, afraid someone might know me , someone might see me go in , not really big into all that sharing , too intimidating – I had every reason in the world not to go . Three times I made it to the gate .
In the end , I went , I listened and I heard how people whose lives were in ruins have rebuilt everything . I listened to how they admitted defeat . I listened to how they have had wonderful holidays and beautiful homes – every single one of them has a gambling addiction.
I went , I didnt stop gambling the first week but I did text a wonderful non judgemental man who thanked me for helping him and then I got it – it’s the fellowship , the support , the non judgemental listening , the mutual respect whatever part of the journey you are on . There were no lectures , no orders , no “you should haves” , no interrrogations , no asking why you gambled , how you gamblerd , why you didn’t have barriers – just plain simple respect and a genuine desire to help others .

I have no idea why but after eight years I feel I am I finally starting to control this addiction .
Go the GA please – go and change your life – find one tomorrow if you can .
You deserve to be free from this pain. You deserve to have great things to look forward to – you can turn this around so fast you won’t believe it .
Hope this helps .

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Lovely to read all is going well for you Kin.
It’s nice to read success stories
Glad you are getting support

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Just a thought Monica – have u ever been tested for coeliac?
Causes all kinds of problems and many believe it is a hidden epidemic .
Not that Im an expert .
Hope u having a good day !

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