[micky]

I will deffo remember that Sad. I’m off to london tomorrow to visit my brother and his wife so i won’t be on GT for a few days, hope you keep well and gamle free. 🙂

[micky]

“Think things through” i like that one sad. I did get the urge again last night but thought it through (what if i lose was my thought and the repercussions). So im sitting here this morning very happy with myself 🙂 hope your doing okay too 🙂

[micky]

I did it, i got through the last 19 days with £19 ,a £2 tesco coupon and £5 from an old bank account yes £25 in 19 days , by god it was difficult at times but i did it, saying that ive done it countless times before due to gambling losses . But i have never felt so positive for a long time in myself even though i was struggling. Today i got paid and i didn’t gamble i paid all the things i had to pay . I think that with not gambling for the last 27 days and not drinking alcohol for the last 20 days has worked well as a combination, no alcohol means a clear head both at home and at work . Yes i got the urge once or twice but instead of thinking what if i win i thought what if i lose and all the repercussions that would bring , another thing i went to the supermarket and shopped frugally i didn’t overdo it just because i got paid. A long way to go i know, but i feel good about things at this moment in time , this journey is going to be a long one , probably a never ending one but im glad ive chosen a new path. 🙂

[micky]

Thanks sad and charles for the encouraging posts. Sad, i have had my fair share of hiccups big ones and small ones but mostly big ones, i’m drawing on all that experience to keep me gamble free every minute of every day so please don’t think i’m finding this easy because it sure isn’t 🙁 everyday i think about gambling again i’m just using my mind to answer those negative thoughts with positive ones, like what can i do with the money if i don’t gamble and LOSE it. All i can say is it’s working for me so far on my new journey and i hope you too can work your way through those awful urges to gamble ( i know you can do it ) 🙂

[micky]

After a nice day so far, weeding ,ironing , housework, surfing the net to find out what was eating my tomato plants (a hornworm) which i found hiding in a cane 🙂 i was sat outside reading my book, when i remembered the saying . “Life doesn’t have a remote you have to get up and change it yourself” . I thought of all the usual around 3 weeks ago , drs, ga, counselling, hypnotherapy, (which i have never tried , not yet anyway) oh and alcohol to blot it out. But i came to the conclusion that at the end of the day there is only me who can end the problem gambling and i have to want to . So although it’s only 26 days down the line i’m pleased to say i haven’t gambled and all is going well at this present time . 🙂

[micky]

Keeping focused isn’t easy as we all know it can creep up on you and wallop you have done the damage before you know it, so i’m thinking all the time i get the urge to gamble of the things i can do instead and what the money can buy . I have just been out for a walk to see my youngest son (50 minutes there and 50 minutes back) im lucky in that i live close to the sea and can walk along the coast most of the way. Great to see the waves crashing onto the beach and walls, saw about a 100 oyster catchers beautiful birds with bright orange beaks. Home now and enjoying a nice cup of rosie lee ( tea) . Life is good.

[micky]

Thanks kirty, i’m having to break down the day into smaller time slots, 5 mins , 10 mins , one hour etc to get the days in and it’s working that way for me 🙂

[micky]

It sure is Sad, ticking along nicely. I’m looking at my targets and aspirations and adding to them as i go along , keeping them simple but achievable be they short term, middle term or long term. Rome wasn’t built in a day goes the saying, like building a house you must lay solid foundations first and then build up or else the structure will end up falling down before it’s finished . 🙂

[micky]

Everythings going well in my recovery , i never thought it could have gone as well as it is . Just goes to show with a bit of self help, will power, barriers and encouragement from others what can be done in a short space of time. 🙂

[micky]

Hi Sad yes your bang on again rewards are earned through hard work, i’m making choices all be it small ones at the moment on “soft ground” so to speak but i know they will lead to me walking on much “firmer ground” in a weeks time so i can then keep going forward . 🙂

[micky]

Me too sad, money is a constant worry but you are bang on about sacrifices now leading to a better life in the long term. I remember a few months ago one of the lassies in the barbers who cuts my hair saying , we work all week, and focus on going out on friday, for 5 or 6 hours to spend our hard earned money getting drunk, having a laugh and suffering with a hangover all of the next day and sometimes 2 days , whats that all about ? makes you wonder doesn’t it !!!!!!!!!

[micky]

Hi Sad , i must admit it’s going well at the moment, when i went back to work on monday the 28th of july (after having my rest days ) i almost didn’t go but i’m so glad i did. I need stability in my life and to be honest work does help although i moan about it. it pays the bills and debts 🙂 . Like i said earlier for me i have to break ODAAT down into smaller pieces , hours , sometimes even 5 or 10 minutes and then they all come together to form the day . I like being in control and sober , thinking straight and all the benefits that brings with it. How are things with you? 🙂

[micky]

yes sad im working very hard at my recovery and it isn’t easy to say the least , it’s easy writing all my goals and aspirations down it’s another trying to remember them when i need to most . I will get there. 🙂

[micky]

Just been reading your posts Kirty, well done on the way you are dealing with everything , very inspirational. Looks like we have came to gambling therapy at roughly the same time. Micky.

[micky]

Hi sad, i really like that comment “they really understand the value of money” i think all of us problem gamblers do too. Unfortunately we only understand it when we have very little of it , like me right now budgeting on very little until payday . We problem gamblers i believe are masters at surving on very little money because most of the time we do not have any or very little due to gambling it away. So if we overcome gambling or limit our gambling we already know how to be frugal and careful with what we have left, so we can in time pay our debts and even save some money for a rainy day so to speak 🙂 And in the meantime live a happy and normal life 🙂

[Author]

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