I liked your last sentence – “I will take my recovery seriously and be compassionate towards myself for mistakes I have made in the past.”
Giving ourselves compassion – by remembering that this problem is a behavioural issue and it’s NOT the whole of who we are.
Also, taking recovery seriously. I only made real progress on my problem when I took my recovery as seriously as I took my gambling when in action.
I recognise some of your triggers as well. I tended to isolate myself and worked so many hours trying to keep up with debt repayments and then gambling when I had any time off.
Now I try and ensure that I keep in touch with people – coming onto this site every day helps … I am also tacking my stress issues – and finding other stress reduction techniques (walking really helps!)
Good to read your first post and I hope to read many more. Go well.