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Thank you Jezi
still gamble free and it seems mindset is what works for me.
Pmused to describe it as the switch has flicked and that exactly how it feels.
I have no desire to gamble beyond a thought to do the lottery.
I am going to keep doing what’s works for me – sometimes I think support, and all that talking and thinking about gambling just keeps the addiction alive and to the forefront of my brain.

That’s about it – it’s good to have a bit of freedom from it all
Xx

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Thank you Lizbeth and Steev,

I’m not sure where the gambling urges are gone but it is nice to be free of them for a while.
I bought new boots last night and some lovely food in m and s .
I will have to be fairly frugal this month but it is nice not to be desperately watching money.
I am so tired today – I was up late therough no fault of my own. It feels like a much better tired than the ones after a night spent gambling. I think coffee will see me through the day.
I’m not sure if I hit rock bottom but I am happy to continue with my current brain shift. It occurs to me that the more I reinforce my new thinking the stronger those brain connections will be, so I need to keep really focused on reinforcing them and not allowing myself to be distracted or doubt myself .

That’s about it- this is probably the longest I have had gamble free since last summer, but as I seem to find it impossible remember as one gambling binge flows into another, I could read back and find I am totally wrong.

Onwards and upwards-I’ll take this freedom for as long as it lasts- my brain and my body need it
Xx

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Thank you Lizbeth and Steev,

I’m not sure where the gambling urges are gone but it is nice to be free of them for a while.
I bought new boots last night and some lovely food in m and s .
I will have to be fairly frugal this month but it is nice not to be desperately watching money.
I am so tired today – I was up late therough no fault of my own. It feels like a much better tired than the ones after a night spent gambling. I think coffee will see me through the day.
I’m not sure if I hit rock bottom but I am happy to continue with my current brain shift. It occurs to me that the more I reinforce my new thinking the stronger those brain connections will be, so I need to keep really focused on reinforcing them and not allowing myself to be distracted or doubt myself .

That’s about it- this is probably the longest I have had gamble free since last summer, but as I seem to find it impossible remember as one gambling binge flows into another, I could read back and find I am totally wrong.

Onwards and upwards-I’ll take this freedom for as long as it lasts- my brain and my body need it
Xx

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I guess I have depended on taking action and putting things in place for so long , that the minute one of these fail I am back to square one.
I think my brain needs to change .

I have noticed that many of the people who sustain recovery have had this “brain shift” and often it is brought on by hitting rock bottom.
I’m sure I am nowhere near rock bottom but I reached lower that I thought myself capable of , and if that is enough for me to stop wanting to gamble I will take it!

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Thank you Steev and Nick
I haven’t gambled this month.
I shocked myself at the level I could stoop to and I think it has reset something in my brain. Can shock reset your brain?

I had a few thoughts about gambling which I was able to dismiss easily because I found myself thinking I really don’t want to. Actually the thoughts were more about coming into money.

My life could actually be getting better.

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Well done Jezi .
You are making great progress.
Good to read the health scare was resolved .
Xx

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Hi Vera ,
I am thinking how differently your thread would read this morning if you had gambled. Well done on resisting .
It’s going to be a great week! Xx

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Hi Sherrie,
Hope things look a little better this morning xx

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Thanks Jezi and Monica

It feels strange to not want to gamble. It feels strange to not see gambling as a solution. It feels strange not to be fighting urges or counting days and hours. It feels good – I hope it lasts.

I did something new this week – I stood up for myself and despite attempts to intimidate me I stood my ground and let someone know that I found their behaviour unacceptable. They are probably still recovering from the shock but OMG what an instant change in their attitude towards me, which has changed from dismissive to trying hard to get into my good books !
I have learned that being respected feels better than letting things go to avoid conflict . What a shame I had to wait half a decade to learn this!

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Hi Monica
That is such good news about your sister.
I hope everyone on here takes note and checks out their PPI before it ends in the Summer.

I think Your dream is about regrets – despite all the good things happening in your life perhaps you can’t let go of those niggling regrets over something you could have done but didn’t? If this is the case I think you should remember that God will not let anything that is for you go past you.. And now I am wondering if I am talking to you or myself.

What did you buy in the posh shop? Were you pleased when you tried it in on?

Your post today is inspirational.
I think sometimes we forget that we have to surrender to God and let Him do his powerful work .

Hope to catch you in chat soon xx

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Thanks Vera and Nick

Gambling addiction is a progressive illness .
I am in shock at the sudden and steep progression I have experienced in the past week or so.
Shocked enough to take action and to find a new determination to stop.

It occurs to me that I haven’t really been determined to stop. I have wanted to stop losing money but I haven’t really wanted to stop gambling.

It felt suddenly that my brain has been completely hijacked – it couldn’t carry out any function except gamble.

For the first time I want to stop gambling . I don’t want to feel like I have no control over my brain or its actions. I don’t want to feel brainwashed and enslaved. I want to be able to release that knot in my brain that feels like muscle spasm and expel
all the gambling toxins.

It’s time.

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Haha steev – you are a hero ! Wow – imagine you saved a life !
You need to write here everyday so we can keep up with your adventures.
Did u get to eat ur chip buttie?

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Hi Steev I thought I would bring your thread to the fore .

You are most kind in posting on my thread and it is nice to return this (the new “I value myself more me” has given up writing to those who don’t value me enough to reply on my thread )!

How are your travelling plans going? Have you started on your journey?

Looking forward to hearing all about it .

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Hi Steev,
Thank you for your post on my thread . It has been extraordinarily helpful to me today. Much appreciated

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Hi Nick ,
Relationship breakups are hard – even harder when we can point the finger of blame at ourselves.
Who knows what the future holds but we can be ready when an opportunity comes along to build a relationship. Gambling certainly has stolen a lot from us all.

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