[dchoye]

Cg walks into a butcher shop and see steaks hanging from the ceiling cg goes to the butcher says ” I betcha money that you can’t reach those steaks” Butcher replies “I can’t accept that bet”. Cg asked “why”. Butcher says ” The stakes are too high”
That where I am in my life the stakes are too high for me
I’m a 47 yo married man with 2 young children and problem with cg The gambling developed over the past 12 years I estimate First it was day trading on the stock market and lately it has been online poker. I don’t like the hours I spend on the computer gambling and researching. I have been ignoring my real money problems and have chatted with many of you and thankful to find some support
Grant the serenity to accept things than I cannot change Give me the courage to change things that I can and give me wisdom to know the difference

[dchoye]

Hi everyone
I been off the bet for much off this year
Was tempted a few ***** last month
I remember in the height of my compulsion when i join GT a year ago.
I would feel compel to rush to the casino after work and even got many nasty speeding tickets on the way there.
Last month i had a day off work, and felt urge to gamble, to experience that thrill again
I drove to the casino, this time without speeding.
Got to the parking lot, didnt get out of the car , said a serenity prayer.
Then voice inside asked me "did you really need this?"
"do you need misery?"
call it my HP, or God or whatever you believe.
I answer "no…no I didnt"
The casino will also be there, will stay open 24 hours, to temp us.
There is no need to feel compulsion to gamble.
So after that i felt this internal peace.
My mind was settled and  my heart wasnt racing any more
I start my car and drove away from the casino
The rest of the day I enjoyed it with my friends and family.
 
 

[dchoye]

Be well my friends

[neva]

How wonderful! I know my Higher Power is there…I only need to be open.  That is a fantastic end to your story and a great reward to the end of your day. Thanks for sharing.

[paul315]

Originally posted by dchoye
… The casino will also be there …

Good morning DC,
Well done on your gambling free *****, and well done of allowing rational thinking and you Higher Power to have control over this addiction the past week. By using the help found in reaching out to our HP and taking the time to think you are right, "There is no need to feel a compulsion to gamble".  I had the exact same experience a few weeks ago, and I too reached the same conclusion. I was on my way to gamble again but when reaching the parking lot, a lot that held countless cars was full, so I drove off; an unusual intervention that overcame the power of the addiction.
As you have came to accept, during our passing through the shadows of this valley of death we need to lean on the staff that keeps us from slipping; the gambling industry will always be there and tempting us 24 hours a day. But we can overcome temptation, if it is their temptations and not us tempting ourselves; that temptation is brought abut by complacency and thinking that it is only "me" and not our working and following a program of recovery that is making a difference.
God’s speed. Stay strong. Keep being active in your recovery. Keep enjoying your family and friends, an immeasurable benefit of living gambling free.LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT,  "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.

[dchoye]

Originally posted by paul315

Originally posted by dchoye
… The casino will also be there …

Good morning DC,
Well done on your gambling free *****, and well done of allowing rational thinking and you Higher Power to have control over this addiction the past week. By using the help found in reaching out to our HP and taking the time to think you are right, "There is no need to feel a compulsion to gamble".  I had the exact same experience a few weeks ago, and I too reached the same conclusion. I was on my way to gamble again but when reaching the parking lot, a lot that held countless cars was full, so I drove off; an unusual intervention that overcame the power of the addiction.
As you have came to accept, during our passing through the shadows of this valley of death we need to lean on the staff that keeps us from slipping; the gambling industry will always be there and tempting us 24 hours a day. But we can overcome temptation, if it is their temptations and not us tempting ourselves; that temptation is brought abut by complacency and thinking that it is only "me" and not our working and following a program of recovery that is making a difference.
God’s speed. Stay strong. Keep being active in your recovery. Keep enjoying your family and friends, an immeasurable benefit of living gambling free.
Larry
Thanks to my Higher Power, My 3G’s – God, GA, and GT,  "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.
Yes LarryIn insanity,  I forgot that gambling bookies and casino will always be there .Certainly everyday if not 24 hours.When we are compulsive we lose our mind. False beliefs and irrational thinking.Take time to pray and meditateRealize and compose yourself That all God ask for you.Make a good choice rather than an impulsive choice.Blessing everyone.T

[dchoye]

Hi Friends.
Been over a year since my last update.
Happy to text that Im still gamble free.
One of the blessing of being gamble free is being able to participate in other activities that time consumed at gambling didnt allow myself
Im having better relations with family and friends.
I still have thoughts about gambling but it doesnt consume me as much as it once did. That is one of the reasons I dont come to this site as often any more.
There is hope for some of you still stuck in this painful cycle.

Continue to pray to my higher power gives me strength.
Blessing everyone.

[lizbeth4]

Congrads on your gamble free time.

[dchoye]

Hi friends.
Its been 3 years since I started this journal.

The serenity prayer has been very helpful to me.
Whenever I feel frustrated , I tend to want to takes chances.
Once I feel peace and serenity, I then find courage to change my habits.
Dont do it alone. Going to 12 steps meetings has given me the inspiration and courage to not only help myself but to help others.
Only by being free from the boundary of gambling addiction can one think clearly and achieve better wisdom.

Also notice that eating properly, sleeping well, and staying fit gives me strength to battle gambling addiction.

Often when I was a hard core gambling addict I would lack sleep/not eat and stay sitting at the tables. All these made me weak and soft and fuel the gaming addiction

[Dunc]

Hi DC

Great to see you back posting. But most importantly its great to read that your aware of the sleeping, fitness, eating… all the things that gambling often removes from us

Hopefully were hear more about your recovery journey, its been sometime so I’m sure there are lots to tell

Take Care

H

[dchoye]

Hi Harry, thanks for being kind to respond.

I miss the group there…Janey, Charles et al.
Since the website changed I have not been able to navigate into the topics sessions.
I think I like those the most.
They were very good for my recovery.

Yes, the journey to recovery has been paved with peaks and valleys, slips to hopelessness and finding courage to acknowlege my true self.

The journey has been enlightening and spiritual.
I had to read what I wrote 3 years ago to remember what I felt like cause I dont feel like the same person.

[Dunc]

Hi DC

The changes seem to have thrown a few people and were currently working on a new section for the front page to make this easier…

However to access the topics groups which we run 2 of Monday at 2000 & Friday at 1900 uk…

The link below will take you to a short video of how you’d access them now, but shortly were be adding a new feature (this method will continue to work), the new feature will be on the home page with a simple join button next to the group name
This link will take you too a page with 4 video’s, the bottom video shows how to access the groups.

https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en/members-user-guide-0

Take Care and please keep posting

H

[Anonymous]

ThAnk you DC for taking the time to share with us. It’s so good to read about people who have taken on this addiction and won. It great to know that life gets better and that the pain that gambling brings us becomes a distant memory. I attend quite a few groups and would love if you could drop by and tell us what worked for you.

[vera]

Has it really been 3 years, DC?
I remember meeting you in the groups.
Time flies!
Just think of the damage 3 years gambling can do! Well done on your progress. Stay in touch. We “stragglers” need encouragement!

[dchoye]

HI Everyone.

Hopeful your recovery has progress and for those who are in despair I wish you can find the courage to continue to seek help and attend GA for support.

For myself, Been doing well and GF for 3 years.
I been working hard on my 12 steps and today I wanted to share a quote from Timothy 6:10

“The love of money is the root of all evil”

While money is require for the world to turn around and neccessay , it is the LOVE of money , not money itself that is the root of evil.

One gets desperate, materialistic and greedy,.
These are all defects of character that can be overcome no matter how strong those feeling are.
Believe me I have felt all those feelings very strongly.

I think its important to make amends to myself and people around me who are hurt by those defects.

Try to recognize when we are wrong and admit to it.

God Bless

DC

[Dunc]

Hey DC

Thank you for posting, Its been a struggle for you to get here… but your here inspiring so many new members. Well done on your clean time, you deserve it

[dchoye]

Hi everyone.
Just dropping by and letting all the friends here know that I am still GF.
I no longer wake up thinking about making the next bet.

I have a more productive day.
I dream about family, friends, love ones, new and exciting endeavors for the next day instead of gambling.

When I read my posts from 4 years ago, it is almost like seeing a photo of myself as child.
It’s me but its not me.

Now , I know myself better
I know what temps me, what I need to avoid, where I go for encouragement, what I need to read for inspiration.

Those who wish recovery, I urge you to go local recovery meetings. Not to be afraid . Go for 30 days and then decide for yourself. What is the worse that can happen?

Best wishes.

I not going say “good luck” for your recovery, because it’s not about luck. It’s about being honest with yourself and being committed for self improvement.

Recovery is fulfilling when it is earned.

Recovery will come regardless of “luck”
“Luck” is for gamblers.

DC

[charles]

Great post Dchoye, thanks for the update. As you say, it is not about luck, recovery comes to those who work at it. You deserve your success.

[velvet]

Hi Dchoye
Thank you for coming back and updating – it is so good for F&F to hear about wondeful recoveries.
I have read and re-read your post and you have put a smile on my face that will last for hours – thank you
Velvet

[vera]

Your post is very inspiring, DC.
All your hard work has paid off.
I agree that “money is the root of all evil” when we make it into a false god.
The only “luck” I ever had when I gambled was “bad luck”
We are not lucky to be free of gambling.
We are blessed!
Keep posting!

[kin]

Hi DChoye

Thank you for the reminder!
Yes you are correct, the stake is too high for us.
There is too much that we can lose beside the money.

[Author]

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