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Hello again
I think that you are going well, you are very brave and just take it day by day or hour by hour whatever you have to do to deal with what you are going through. This has brought you to a place where you don’t want to gamble anymore, this is perhaps your rock bottom. The serenity prayer helps me a lot ” god grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change, courage to change the things i can and the wisdom to know the difference”
Glad you are still posting trinity, keep at it, better times will come

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Well today is the 1st of December, a new day, a new season and a new reason to have a gamble free day.
No gambling for me today on this first day of a wonderful new month full of possibilities..

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Hello again and it is good you managed 24 hours… although you have started again don’t give up. use this point to be your stopping point. Just start over. If you are losing money via internet gambling why not try a blocker on your computer like bet filter or K9 i think its called? These will block the sites from your computer.
Start over, find some things to put into your day don’t just sit there thinking of gambling or not gambling as this only leads to urges, try to find some things to do. Do something you have wanted to do for a while but put off, clean, cook , watch movies, read, fix things, wash the car, go for a walk, talk to a friend, eat something really delicious, do a puzzle, crossword, go to the movies, watch a dvd, write a list of all the things you would like to do that don’t involve gambling. As soon as that first thought comes into your mind grab onto something else and start focusing on that. Urges will always pass, it just takes waiting them out a little. Put off the desire to gamble for ten minutes, it won’t hurt you.. then another ten minutes and so on.. Use this time now to try to stop. See if there is a gamblers anonymous meeting in your area. The days will add up and you will start to feel better. Hang on and don’t let go, if you fall down get back up but don’t give up on giving up….

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Congratulations on your time gamble free, i too find counting days detrimental, i try not to worry what day it is but more that i just keep continuing on without gambling regardless of the day it is. My only concern is not starting again so i just hope each day i don’t gamble and in doing that day at a time thing the days start passing. I have the date in my head of when i last gambled but i don’t count individual days. It used to be a big trigger for me. So now i don’t do it. Each and every one of us is different though and some people love to count days and that is great if it works for them. Find what works for you and looks like you already are. Congratulations on being part of the gamble free life. You are doing well.. life is so much better without that madness hey..

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Hi there just wondering how its all going, how is it going with the sale of the cottage, i really hope things are working out for you. Hope also that things are going well for your daughter and improving. Just really wishing you good thoughts for the day today and wanted to say hello and that i am thinking of you at this time from far across the sea..

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Hi there fellow Aussie..
Just want to say a big hello to you and i miss seeing your regular posts.. i hope your computer issues are all fixed soon. I hate not having a computer. I go mad. Well madder than i already am if thats at all possible. I hope you are having a good day and good week. I too am not prepared for christmas but then again i never am. I find a few days before i start to think of what needs to be done, mind you there are very few guests at my christmas table so i don’t have to prepare quite so much as others.
Hope all is ok in your world today and would love to see you for a chat again some day in the chat room

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Welcome to GT and congrats on looking for help. There is help available here and at Gamblers anonymous meetings, counselling, rehabs. You can ban from places you gamble depending on your area. Try to limit money you have available and don’t carry cards or lots of cash on you just the minimum.
When you get urges try to do something else and start getting involved in other things and adding other things into your day.
Keep posting here and recording your progress, just keep trying and you will get support here. Make recovery your priority, you have to really want it, and if you do then there is a lot of hope that this addiction can be put far into the background.
I hope you keep posting, glad to read your story. Keep going, no matter what just never give up trying. Theres all different stories here, some don’t get it straight off some do, whichever way you go keep trying. We have only lost when we give up on recovery.
Hang on to it just one day at a time, just get through today thats all you have to do.

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Hi there and welcome to GT
Its so wonderful you have posted this new journal. Congratulations on taking this step and reaching out for help. This is where you will find it. Also things like GA and counselling, banning from venues and carrying little cash all helps as well.
It is hard to ask for help sometimes and you have done it, glad you are sharing your story with us. We are all here trying to live a gamble free life. Some do it from day one some do it like myself over a long period of falling down and getting back up.
I have made recovery the number one in my life, it has to be for me and if that is there then everything else seems to follow.
Recovery from this addiction is possible I’ve seen it here, though i am not the greatest example i would like to say i understand what you are going through. I could not believe i got hooked on machines. I just could not comprehend it for a long time. I learnt through the progression and the pain of this addiction that yes i am a compulsive gambler. When i have urges i wait them out, i start doing something else straight away, and get my mind involved in something that will take my thinking out of that obsession. Ga is very helpful and supportive too and its great to go into a room full of people going through and have been through what we have.
keep posting, hang on to recovery, put the effort into your recovery that you would into gambling. Its a terrible addiction that ruins lives. You have come to the right place and glad you are on board here too. Its been a lifesaver for me here sometimes. Try talking to the one on one advisors they have a way of helping you unscramble your head some days.
Most of all, don’t give up. If you fall down get back up. Try to take it one day at a time, just try to be gamble free for today and not worry too much about tomorrow. Im excited to see another new member here and hope to see more of your posts

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Hi Jonathan
Its really good you have come to get help. I came here many years ago, my journey hasn’t been the smoothest but i have not given up trying. I have managed some good gamble free time with some relapses but mostly my life has really improved over time thanks to here and GA and counselling.
I was thrilled to receive a post back when i first came here. So i can do the same back now.
I hope that you continue with your journal here and record your progress. Just take it one day at a time or one hour at a time if you have to. Find GA meetings in your area, try to take only the minimum out with you for the day. Depending where you are you can exclude yourself from venues, you can give your finances to a friend or family to handle.. Any or all of these suggestions are up to you and only suggestions by what has worked for others.
For me what works is posting here, going to GA and going to counselling. It might be different than what works for someone else and now you are on this journey you can find what works for you. Congratulations on being brave and stepping into this little community of recovery. Its quite non judgemental and we all want the best for each other and we all understand because we have been where you are and trying to live a gamble free life the best we can. Find other things to fill your time with too, try to put off the urge when you get it by doing other things . Join in the chats and chat one on one with advisors, pretty much do anything to keep yourself in recovery. My number one piece of advice even though i am no miraculous recovery person I’ve had my relapses, but what i have found over years of trying and falling down and getting back up is the number one thing above anything else is to want recovery and to make recovery your absolute number one priority in your life. i try to put the same effort into my recovery as i did into my gambling !!
You can do this and you know coming here you are not alone.

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it was so nice to see your positive post today. It made me smile when i read it as i felt that feeling of happiness you were spreading with your words. So happy that things are going well for you. i really admire your attitude to life, you’ve been through so much and you stand tall today.. way to go!!

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Just for today i won’t gamble. I make this promise to myself from this morning till the sun comes up tomorrow i will not place any kind of gambling bet. Why? Because i want sanity.

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Hello.. sounds good, you even ate healthy at thanksgiving. Glad you are taking care of yourself its nice to see, us cg’s often neglect ourselves and its about time we cared about ourselves a little more, good example.
How is Ferris and the other one eyed furry friend. Haven’t heard of their adventures for a while. How are they getting along?

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Well.. just for today and hopefully the rest of my life day by day. I will not gamble today, why? Because i don’t want to. I don’t want to add misery and pain to my day. I don’t want to be back in that merciless obsession ever again

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Hi again Bettie

Hope you have a good day.. you have been in the wars with your health lately, i really hope that it improves for you soon. You always told me recovery would happen for me when i found surrender and i believe i have found it today 🙂

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Hi Carole

You amaze me how you go ahead with things in your life, i think its a credit to you. A new home, a new job, applying for another job, going from part time to full time almost instantly, being a donor. Wow my head spins at the thought. I just admire the way you have gotten on with your life, you have left an emotionally abusive relationship, often talked of but not often done by many. You did it!! So proud of your progress Carole… and, you are NOT gambling. Way to go and i hope you can see your amazing progress like i can

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