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  • in reply to: I’m ready #203445
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Hello,

    I’m using voice to text so some of the wording might be a little difficult to understand. However, today is a big day for me because it is payday normally on payday the very first thing that I do is make sure my online gambling account is funded with a couple hundred dollars. Usually that couple hundred dollars has lost within the first hour and then I put more in and I put more in instead I woke up this morning, and I started to focus on my bills and started to pay off the debt that I have encouraged since well, the last 15 years of my life. I urge to gamble and add money to my account in my mind. I just keep replaying how even if I win I lose because I never take out the money and the time in the energy that I devote to watching the game or checking the score is not worth continuously losing my money over. I’ve had a good last couple days really busy with work a lot of driving but it’s been a lot of rewards as well knowing that I can get through certain times without having to place a wager I can drive without having to check scores and I can live my life without gambling and really be a better father husband I just wanted to check. I hope everyone is doing well and remember keep fighting the good fight.

    in reply to: I’m ready #203281
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Thank you for your kind words Kin. I have no idea what tomorrow holds. But I do know the more I gambled the more I became someone I did not want to be. And I believe I got to point my life for I want to be able to do the things and achieve goals that I have for myself, and for my family and gambling was really truly holding me back. Not only losing money, but also all the time Would cause me to be depressed after a loss or on cloud nine after a win. One of the turning points for me is even when I won. I never saw that money because I didn’t have the discipline to quit playing more more until it was gone. When you really sit back and think about it, what’s the point of putting all that time and energy into something when you know it’s a losing proposition it really makes no sense. Like I said, I don’t have this figured out. Tomorrow Maybe a failure or it might be successful. I’m not sure but I’m really just trying to stay in the moment and remember if my and the things that I want to achieve and for that today, I make a promise to you and to myself That I will not gamble !
    Have a great day!

    in reply to: I’m ready #203242
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Day 8 and things are going well. I know in the past when I would try to quit gambling. I would always have regrets that I didn’t do it earlier. and I believe that regret sometimes hindered me from moving forward with my quit of gambling. This time feels different mean I have it all figured out. But I have a deep sense within myself that I’m just so tired of losing money losing time losing myself in the whole process and I can’t change the past, but I can make sure Tomorrow is better than today. There’s only one way for me to be my best person. That’s not gamble. It’s been a nice eight days. I’ve passed a lot of mile markers. About 15 hours. The last two days were in the past I would gamble those 15 hours. I look forward to continuing this journey

    in reply to: I am done #202156
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Hi Kim,

    Like you, I’ve failed on my quit attempts over and over. One thing I found interesting about your story is you still have your priorities in line. You said you don’t gamble until after dinner, dishes are done. Emails are done. Etc. well honestly, as the addiction gets stronger you’ll soon notice those things won’t get done and all you’ll want to do is gamble. You won’t want to do the dishes. You will put off your work. If we don’t make a decision to quit today, no matter what happens in our life/ day, things will only get worse. It will not get better. I know you can do this. Quit now before it takes complete control of your life because it will.

    Craig

    in reply to: I’m ready #202145
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Hello,

    I hope everyone is doing well. I check in today and day seven without gambling and it has been a very productive week. The last two days have been very busy as I moved my daughter into college to start a freshman year, which is really exciting and to be able to do that without Worrying about a sporting event or a wager was absolutely incredible. Yesterday I had a long drive for work and normally I spend the entire trip gambling on a tennis match per se. But yesterday I was able to do the entire trip without even thinking about placing a wager Again and incredible feeling at a big step to my journey to regain my freedom. I hope all of you are doing well. Well, this is definitely not easy and I know their challenging days very soon. I do feel good that I’ve made it this far have a great day and I’ll be checking in tomorrow.

    in reply to: I’m ready #201992
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Here I am. Day 4. Day 4 was a little
    Tougher due to my job having me on the road for hours on end. Normally that would be my time to place multiple wagers while not paying attention to the road. Very stupid decision to be honest. Head in my phone while driving on the interstate at 70 mph while watching the scores of a tennis match. I’m lucky nothing ever came of those terrible decisions. I made it all day without placing a wager, mostly because I already know the outcome. My money gone! I’ll see y’all tomorrow for another day of no gambling!

    in reply to: I’m ready #201930
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Here i am day 3. Still ready to take on the day without gambling. The more and more I think about my life, the more and more i realize it really impacted me negatively more so than I thought. Very recently i was to the point of gambling was the only objective of the day. I rarely accomplished much. My mood changed like a light switch depending upon the outcome of a game. I’m grateful for today and I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a change. Life is really short and I know when my time is up, I would have so many regrets if i lived my life with this addiction hindering me from my goals and dreams.
    Hello iamhere, yes my families knows of my struggles. Have a great day all!

    in reply to: I’m ready #201874
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Hello all,

    Thank you iamhere for your post. You ask a very good question and the truth is, I’m not sure at this moment. I put blocks on my phone in the past but I always found a way to still gamble (using my computer- i couldnt find any blocks for this google chromebook i use). I think it might be the case with most of us but whatever block we have in place is a good tool but if we make that decision to gamble we will find a way. Instead I am going to focus on all the positive aspects of being free from gambling brings to my life. I am going to remember how gambling impacts my life in a negative way. I’m going to remember all the tough times that have been brought on myself and my family are mostly directly related to gambling. I know this is going to be very hard, but I’m in a place right now where I know that this is exactly what I need. I had one of my best days in a long time yesterday and it was directly a result of not gambling. I’m going to do it again today. Thanks again, iamhere. One day at at time!

    in reply to: Struggle to let go #189848
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Hi!
    I hope you are doing well.

    in reply to: Start living #182894
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Hello all. I just wanted to post my promise to not gamble today. I have read over this thread and it just shocks me of the relapses. Man I sure talk a good game, but struggle with staying clean.
    Focus on the steps to freedom that’s what’s important. Focus on the process! Enjoy life!

    in reply to: Struggle to let go #182893
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Thanks for your post. Keep fighting the good fight.
    Awesome stuff brother!

    in reply to: Start living #182845
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Here for another day. Instead of focusing on the end goal of quitting. I’m going to focus on the daily steps that allow me to be gamble free each day.
    Focus on the process and the end result will take care of itself.
    Hope all are well

    in reply to: Struggle to let go #182821
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Thanks for sharing. 3 through 5 very very true to me.
    I know my brain is looking for the next addiction. It’s clear as day! Make it a healthy addiction!

    in reply to: Start living #182803
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    Good day all! Thanks for your post, Charles. A lot of good suggestions to help make it stick this time.
    I have asked the sports book I use to permanently ban my account but they will not do so. I spend too much money for them to look out for me. They have told me they will close it but will open it if I ask.
    As far as the blockers. I have gamban downloaded on my phone. That has been helpful in the past.
    I am here today to make the pledge to not gamble. The more you put into something the more you will get out of it. I believe that. So as I was reading yesterday, I came across something I really want my wife to do. Write me a letter to tell me how my gambling has hurt her. I think this is great for me, to actually read the pain I’ve caused her. The complete truth. I also feel it will be great for her to express herself with no interruptions.
    I hope you have a great day!

    in reply to: Start living #182760
    CraigMac6
    Participant

    As most of you can imagine, I have been gambling. My gambling is out-of-control, and it is impacting my life negatively in so many ways. It’s impacting my marriage it’s impacting my job, and it’s impacting how I even take care of myself. Some of the most simplest Daily habits of life are often times rejected because I want to follow a match. I wanna place a bet or I want to win some money. Gambling has really gotten to a point where it is no longer fun, well, it really was never fun to begin with as it was an addiction . I’m really here just a Post that I want my life back. It’s been so many years, so many wasted hours, so many wasted moments just logging into my phone to check a score. I’m not sure how I got to this point, and it’s a tough pill to swallow, but I know I don’t want to live my life this way. I have so much to live for. I have so much to be thankful for. My mindset completely changes when I’m not with gambling. I’m thinking of how to self improve. I’m thinking of goals. I’m thinking of earning money. I’m thinking of happiness thinking of family , all those things run through my mind when I’m not with gambling but when I gamble the only thing on my mind, is that next bet.
    Today will be my first day without gambling in months.
    Let’s keep fighting the good fight!

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 196 total)