[marcusmaximus]

Spot on about the glass of water Kin. I will always remember that one now. Thank you so much for posting it.
All the best wishes.

[marcusmaximus]

Hi Rubenbowers and Kin
Thank you for the advice Rubenbowers. I have used support groups and also had some great advice on this site. If I feel the need I can join other groups too.
Good to know you look out for my posts Kin. I have found your posts to be highly useful as above. Thank you.
Looking forward to a gamble free Christmas. I have bought most of the presents that I need to.
I want to take it in this year and NOT be distracted.
Take things day by day still, keep on the right path, use my time effectively and properly, it can be done.
Hopefully relax a bit too. Things have been pretty busy. I am getting better at relaxing and switching off again. Doing simple things like reading or watching movies and tv.
Best wishes all.

[marcusmaximus]

Well done Kin. Keeping your focus every day is so important.
You can do it. When we don’t gamble we are much better people. Take care.

[marcusmaximus]

Thanks for those kind words Kin. Much appreciated.
Bèen 8 months gamble free now. I am very pleased to have made it this far but I am certainly aware that one slip takes me back into another downward spiral.
I am very much work in progress. Still changing my outlook on things, my habits and attitude for example.
Yes, the money and time I wasted fills me with regret. But I CAN and MUST move on.
Gambling again will not make everything better, it will only make things even worse.
Using what happened to spur me on, to make the most of my life is the way to look at things.
One day at a time. We can all get there.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by marcusmaximus.

[marcusmaximus]

Hi Kin
Doing a journal definitely helps you see things more clearly.
It gives a space to get your thoughts down and consider your actions, past, present and future.
Keeping a journal makes you more accountable. Reading what you have put previously can help during difficult times too.
Thank you for your comments on my thread. Keep posting. One day at a time.

[marcusmaximus]

Thank you very much for your message Kin. All the best to you too. Keep up the good fight. There is a better life out there.
I can see Christmas is looming large. Last year my Christmas was overshadowed by being in the middle of a massive gambling bender.
I was pulverising my earnings and savings. I was still able to buy some decent Christmas presents for people, but throughout the build up to Christmas and on the day itself my mind was whirring with thoughts of gambling.
I want to enjoy the whole time this year, take it all in. I can’t be too lavish with presents but I can buy some nice things.
If I gamble I could completely ruin things.
NOT THIS YEAR.
I want to enjoy it, I want to enjoy my life, that has to be a life free of gambling.
All the best wishes.

[marcusmaximus]

Very true that Kin. Thank you for posting.
The thought of the “big win” is very enticing and does make it very difficult to stop gambling.
I think we have to keep deflecting thoughts of gambling by doing something else that is positive, for example a hobby, mixing with people, those types of things.
Keep telling ourselves that there will be no gambling today.
Even if we just do something that means we avoid gambling that is ok, for example watching TV, listening to music, having an early night.
One day at a time. Best wishes.

[marcusmaximus]

Yes, you were right to tell your fiance.
So now is the time to take positive steps to recover from gambling addiction. It is a horrible addiction that takes our money and our time. We are so distracted when we gamble that we are a shadow of what we could be.
Definitely put as many barriers up as you can. As you said block bank cards, get gamban or similar on all your devices, self exclude from any local casinos/betting shops (you may not have visited them before, but if urges to gamble come, they almost certainly will, then you will not have access to them),
Get yourself on the support groups here. You will get great advice.
Try and look at why you gamble, when you gamble. Try and find triggers. You might need counselling here or keep posting and reading other peoples journals.
Finding other things to do is massive. Revisit old hobbies you have neglected, take up new interests.
There is much more but this can definitely help.
There is a much better life out there without gambling.

[marcusmaximus]

Spot on that Charles. Thank you for posting. It reminds me to stay on track, to keep putting the effort into my recovery.

[marcusmaximus]

Hi
You can access the support groups on here. Follow the links after you log in. I can definitely recommend them.
I am in recovery and I have also found reading other peoples posts plus getting my thoughts out there in my own posts very useful.
The early days and weeks are very tough for sure but it definitely can get better if you stay away from gambling.
Best wishes.

[marcusmaximus]

Many thanks CraigMac. All the best to you. Keep going, keep believing you can quit, keep doing the right things and making the right decisions.
Be ready for the times gambling can be triggered.
I have a few days holiday from work so getting away for 3 nights with my partner. Looking forward to some quality time together.
I have found I am enjoying simple pleasures again. Being out in the fresh air and stuff. I want to keep it that way. Not be consumed by thoughts about gambling.
Thoughts of gambling are slowly getting less, but I know they will always be lurking in the darkness.
No complacency, one day at a time, repeat and repeat ….
Best wishes all.

[marcusmaximus]

I am glad if the post was of use to you guys. We are in battle (mainly with ourselves) to recover and stay recovered from gambling addiction.
I know another thing I must guard against is complacency. Having money and time to bet has been my downfall before.
Right now I do keep myself busy but there will be days soon when maybe I sit at home and get bored, maybe there is a bit of money in my account. These times will be very dangerous. I have to stay on the right path.
I want to aim for improving myself in some way everyday. If I stay the same that’s ok. As long as I don’t regress again things can be good.
To reinvent myself, take forward what was good and rid myself of the demons and bad habits.
Onwards and upwards, one day at a time.
Best wishes, recovery is hard but a gambling spiral is much harder.

[marcusmaximus]

Been just over 1 year since my latest relapse. I really hope it is my last and I am committed to this.
Just over 6 months gamble free now. Have rebuilt things a little but there is much to be done.
What have I learned so far
1. Put barriers in place and keep them forever.
2. There is no such thing to a compulsive as “just a little bet”
3. Find SEVERAL other things to do. Don’t turn the obsession for gambling into an obsession for something else.
4. Eventually we might be able to let go of the lost time and money if we can turn what happened into a brighter, new life
5. Take in everyday, when we gamble life is passing us by
Good luck all

[marcusmaximus]

Thanks for your messages Dark Energy and CraigMac. Hope you are both doing ok.
Been a busy couple of weeks for me. All good though. It has helped me take my mind off gambling related thoughts.
I am in a better place mentally and physically now which I feel good about.
I feel I know what I have to do to stay away from gambling. That is always keep barriers in place, be productive and positive with my time, but also try and learn to relax sometimes. I must be aware of triggers and my old bad habits. I need to KEEP on doing these things.
There can be no more complacency, no slips, no just a little bet. No, no and no.
My overall goal is to create the absolute best version of myself. That I think would help me massively in my struggle to let go.
All the best if you read my post. Keep on going, one day at a time, small steps can lead to enormous distances,

[marcusmaximus]

Well done CraigMac
You mentioned thinking differently and making better choices. That would be a great motto for making progress away from addiction.
Keep going, one day at a time buddy.

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