Great post Charles – I had a great Christmas and am looking to the new year – I find myself a little overwhelmed with invitations at this time of year – it might sound silly but I always feel I am letting someone down .
On the plus side I have a comfortable amount of money at my disposal, I have savings which I have ensured I cannot touch – and yet I find it a struggle to stay gamble free – and I find myself often feeling fearful of what the future might bring . I know I really can’t hold a credit or debit card – that might be forever ! I know I can’t do online banking – that might be forever . I know the urge will always resurface – that might be forever . I know I sometimes feel powerless to resist – that might be forever .
What I can do is make it impossible for me to gamble. I can make my barriers so high I cannot gamble. If I decide to leave a door open I have to accept that this is my addicted brain planning for a future gamble .
I feel for my friends on here who are really struggling – especially those who feel they have run out of energy to try again.
Life does get better – a lot better! An example is I had forgotten about letters and calls from credit card companies until someone brought it up in group – this removes a lot of stress .
We are all different – Charles you like to shop well in advance -what I loved about this Christmas was i could go out just before Christmas and do all my shopping because I didn’t have to search for bargains ! I love shopping close to Christmas and dropping into a nice old pub for dinner – I had forgotten how good that was .
So the new year will bring good and bad – it is highly improbable that I will no longer have urges to gamble – I just need to make sure I cannot act I those urges .