Post Number Of Days Gamble Free

Bravo Geoffwinningdaily !

That 100 day milestone is a huge achievement and we're happy to celebrate it with you . It really does get better with every gamble-free day . Next stop - 6 months !

I fell off the wagon, lost 100k I do not have, and now I am back. Today is my 3rd day gamble free. Let's do this!

I am sorry to hear that Hank,

If you don't mind my asking, what caused the urge to make you place a bet again? I am sure many can learn from your experience.

This is a life long journey and we always need to adjust our recovery to make it stronger. I might have to try to find how you can put more barriers between you and gambling in place.

Hey Aries,
I know exactly why I relapsed. I did not seek out support. I tried to do it on my own. For six months I did not discuss my addiction with anyone or go to a meeting. I got too comfortable, had too much time, and had a bad day. I knew it was wrong but I did it anyway. I am trying to learn from my mistake. I went to my first ever GA meeting. Plus I started therapy. I am trying to give myself the best chance of success. So far I have 7 days

Well done on coming back here for support Hank . We're proud of you for that and we're rooting for you . Seeking out GA and therapy will provide you with powerful allies in this fight .

Almost 9 years ago I also relapsed at my 6 month mark . My addiction convinced me that my half a year of no gambling meant that I wasn't really an addict because I could quit for such a long time . That meant I could stop anytime I wanted to , right ?

So I decided I could just gamble " a little " - with a limit , only on weekends , leaving if I won X amount of money , etc. , etc. I made up a bunch of "rules" to gamble by . And honestly , it worked ....for a very short period of time.

When the downward spiral started , it escalated so fast I didn't know what hit me . Within a month I was totally out of control and I racked up more debt at a far faster rate than I had ever done in the prior 7 years of gambling . It was terrifying and stopping again was much , much harder than it was the first time .

If you find yourself struggling in the future , take my advice . Think back on the damage that was done by this relapse and tell yourself : The next one will be even worse .

That belief got me through a lot of rough times . I truly fear relapse now and that fear keeps me safe today .

You can do this !

Thank you for the advice. My last few days have been very stressful. I figured since I quit gambling I will be able to devote more time to my sales job. Unfortunately my sales are way down and I am struggling. In the past I would gamble to make myself feel better. It usually worked and it did not matter if I won or lost. That is not an option today. I will get through this. I need to find a new way to destress or unwind. Drugs, alcohol, and now gambling are no longer an option. Anyone have any ideas of a replacement activity?

I would recommend exercise. That is what worked for me!

I took 2 approaches to my recovery.

The first time, I just avoided everything gambling and all triggers. It kept me gf for 3.5 years and I thought I had it under control. However, after an unexpected thought, a tiny voice convinced me that I could gamble and no one would know. We all know what happens after that... that relapse lasted 3 months.

The second time, I really worked on my recovery. Blogging, reading, therapy, participating on the forum and I found this method is what worked for me. Being mindful of the irrational thoughts and squashing them as they enter my head. If these thoughts enter my head, I just think "No matter how bad your day is going, it can always be worse if I gamble". After a few moments, I am back to normal.

I am happy you are trying new things out hank and you are bound to find what works for you! Lets create a new gamble-free streak together!

6 years (and 3 weeks)

Congratulations Getting_Better !

That is an awesome update and we thank you for sharing it with us ! 6 years is an incredible milestone and it's a milestone to be proud of . I hope you're enjoying your well-deserved Gamble-free life .

It's been two weeks since my last bet and I am hanging in there. The past few days I have been really anxious. Even though I am going through mental and physical withdrawals, I feel a certain peace in my life. The chaos is no longer there controlling my every thought. I know I need to do something different this time. I am trying hypnotherapy which I heard works well for smokers. I am open to anything that will help keep me from gambling. Any experience or thoughts on the subject?