[monique]

Well done on writing your first post here. I hope you will soon see replies from other people who will support you and share ideas with you.
I just want to pick up on one or two points briefly… you are not worthless; you are a valuable human being, who has sadly made some unhelpful choices, but you have started to face up to those and to take responsibility for making changes. I think you have a sense of how your parents and sister might be feeling – these are the normal feelings of people, who don’t want to see you in trouble, but are confused, angry, maybe frightened right now. Try not to let it get you down – you have to work through your feelings and they have to work through theirs. The more they see you actively seeking recovery, the more likely they are to be able to cope with their feelings and perhaps begin to understand how to support you.
You don’t think you would do the same things again – it’s good that you now want to turn from gambling. I would say strongly, though, that it probably won’t be useful to assume that your will-power will just carry you through… do use this support here, including the Support Groups, the Helpline, etc. You may also find there is local help, eg a GA meeting you can attend.
So I wish you well.

Monique

[monique]

<

Hello and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you 🙂

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our
privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

[monique]

<

Hello and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you 🙂

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our
privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

[monique]

<

Hello and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you 🙂

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our
privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

[monique]

Hi, I have read your post here. It is good to have started sharing your experiences and that you are recognizing that it is important to reach out for support to change things around in your life. In order to get your own ‘thread’ set up and to get replies from others here, you need to write on the section My Journal. Click on ‘New Topic’ at the bottom left of the page and then start writing your ‘journal’. You can give it a catchy title that maybe sums up what you are feeling or hoping or just expresses something of where you are at. You should then receive messages from others, too, and gradually a real conversation can take off.

Best wishes,

Monique

[monique]

Just wishing you strength as you aim to stick with your wise decision tonight. Feed your mind with the ideas that sustain you in your resolve. Remind yourself of all the loss and pain that gambling brings and let this help you stay free tonight.

It is not unusual to feel anxious, when you are making big changes in your life. Your mind and body are wondering what is going on. Change can be disturbing, even when you know it is ‘good change’. But you will find you can adapt to these changes with practice.

Stay strong.

Monique

[monique]

It is now the end of Weds (at least where I am) and I hope you have had a good day – a gambling-free day. You are right that it is usually essential to find support to bring to reality your hopes of a gambling-free life. You are taking sensible action by excluding yourself and setting up barriers to protect you from gambling. Now here you can be part of a community of people with similar goals. You can read the experiences of others, share more of your own and also join in the ‘live’ Support Groups.
Do write more of your story, what is difficult for you, what has helped you etc.
Best wishes,

Monique

[monique]

<

Hello and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you 🙂

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our
privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

[monique]

You have come to a good place and please reach out and try to grasp that you are not all alone. Do speak to someone soon, when you find these feelings overwhelming you – the Samaritans, the Helpline, visit your doctor. And join in here with Support Groups etc. And maybe there are some deep roots to your sense of despair and the destructive urges to escape these; these might be alleviated by some regular counselling sessions.
Don’t give up.
Best wishes,

Monique

[monique]

<

Hello and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you 🙂

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our
privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

[monique]

Hi Seri. I think these feelings are sometimes just part of being human in a complex world. They are not comfortable, but they do not necessarily last and they do not need to take over your emotions or life in general. For some, gambling brought some excitement/thrill/risk etc – a buzz that seemed to make things brighter and more interesting and kept anxiety and gloom at bay; then came all the downsides, of course. So, when you are living a more safe and stable lifestyle, maybe the very quietness of it all leaves more room for the feelings of doom to play on your mind? You wonder about going ‘walkabout’ or ‘running across America’ – what are those thoughts telling you about what you might need just now? Do you need to find some new hobby, physical challenge or something like that? – something that would be good for you physically and emotionally. Also, when you have been through experiences that created pain and anxiety, those feelings have become familiar to you and can creep back up on you. But you are now in a different place.
Just my thoughts on reading your post. Wonder what you think?

Monique

[monique]

Glad to hear you have had some good news and some lovely food!!
Monique

[monique]

I hope this won’t sound superficial, but when I read about your deliveries, it made me think about the amount of real waste there is in the food industry – good food actually discarded by supermarkets and restaurants. Any chance you could get hold of some of that? Anyway, as you say, you should be in a better position by the end of the week and this experience might make you more than ever determined to stay away from gambling.
Monique

[monique]

You are really going through it just now, Geordie. I do feel for you. I hope you can get some help with the basics of life very soon and that you find the strength to cope generally and to stick with recovery.
Best wishes,
Monique

[monique]

Welcome to this site and well done for starting your Journal here.
Your second post illustrates something of the battle in your mind, but also shows that you can use wise thinking to overcome the addictive thinking and urges. Most people benefit from support in doing this; it can be a tough battle and it helps to know you are not alone. There are staff, volunteers and many other members here, who care about you and want to help you go forward.
So keep posting, so we know more about you and what is happening. Also read the stories and comments of the others here, join the Support Groups and discuss things in ‘real time’.
Learn about protecting yourself and your money – ie, putting barriers in place, so that you make it difficult to access gambling.
Wishing you well.

Monique

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