[sam.sam]

After a long time in waiting list, my starting point was last month. Unfortunately I had started gambling again, and missed the appointment. The good thing was that I quickly contacted them and explained my situation(that I am interested to attend and apologising for wasting their time) they send me a letter saying I would have to Waite for maximum of six month for the next appointment.
I was very angry with myself. But in my surprise they gave me another chance to attend their group therapy, in few weeks time.
Last night was the first session and it was for 2:30 hours. The first half was to feel a form, and the rest of time we had in the group. From now for 8 weeks we will have 2 hours group sessions once a week.
We were around 16 people, and two member of staff.

We got to know each other and talked about our past..gambling…,
we had a hand out(balance sheet, to think about ” what I like about gambling” “what I dislike about gambling” . And also a home work to write about: What I like about not gambling, and what I dislike about not gambling.(I find it quite a good question)
On the hand out which was given to us at the end of the day I could see the following:
Motivation and stimulus control, Goal.
Taking away the availability of gambling, reducing the opportunity to gamble.
And also some advice about how to self exclude and internet and how to block the gambling sites. gamblock, k9webprotection, netnanny.

To sum up, I can say that for the first session I felt quite good seeing myself in the road to progress in recovery. Hopefully every week it gets better.
Until then, watching my thought and behaviours.
Take care all.
Sam

[sam.sam]

After a long time in waiting list, my starting point was last month. Unfortunately I had started gambling again, and missed the appointment. The good thing was that I quickly contacted them and explained my situation(that I am interested to attend and apologising for wasting their time) they send me a letter saying I would have to Waite for maximum of six month for the next appointment.
I was very angry with myself. But in my surprise they gave me another chance to attend their group therapy, in few weeks time.
Last night was the first session and it was for 2:30 hours. The first half was to feel a form, and the rest of time we had in the group. From now for 8 weeks we will have 2 hours group sessions once a week.
We were around 16 people, and two member of staff.

We got to know each other and talked about our past..gambling…,
we had a hand out(balance sheet, to think about ” what I like about gambling” “what I dislike about gambling” . And also a home work to write about: What I like about not gambling, and what I dislike about not gambling.(I find it quite a good question)
On the hand out which was given to us at the end of the day I could see the following:
Motivation and stimulus control, Goal.
Taking away the availability of gambling, reducing the opportunity to gamble.
And also some advice about how to self exclude and internet and how to block the gambling sites. gamblock, k9webprotection, netnanny.

To sum up, I can say that for the first session I felt quite good seeing myself in the road to progress in recovery. Hopefully every week it gets better.
Until then, watching my thought and behaviours.
Take care all.
Sam

[sam.sam]

Hi P. Sorry I haven’t been in touch.
Here I am again among you with the hope that this time I am more open to the changes that I want to make in my life.
It is very nice to see your message here P.
See you soon my friend.
Sam.

[sam.sam]

Hi Vera. I am glad to see you here. I did not go. I was struggling with the addiction. I sank into playing machines again, losing money and time and consequently becoming depress.
I had my first group therapy in Soho centre yesterday eve. I will write about my experiences, opinion, in my journal soon.
I am already feeling better, being back. Never give up giving up. That is what my GP used to tell me about trying to stop smoking.
Vera, talk to you soon, hopefully in a group.
Sam.

[sam.sam]

I am glad for you sad63. I pray for you, we talk soon, when i am more permanent here

[sam.sam]

It has been a long time since I was here. I am back to stay. as simple as that. Wednesday 16 is my first counselling session with Soho centre. I am looking forward to that. any question that you my friend have will be answered truly . In time we can communicate so my mistakes bring some reassurance that, the only way staying clean is to follow what the staff in here are saying, no other way. love you all for being here

[sam.sam]

It has been a long time since I was here. I am back to stay. as simple as that. Wednesday 16 is my first counselling session with Soho centre. I am looking forward to that. any question that you my friend have will be answered truly . In time we can communicate so my mistakes bring some reassurance that, the only way staying clean is to follow what the staff in here are saying, no other way. love you all for being here

[sam.sam]

Hi Sad. It has been a long time since we last talked. I hope you would come out of those struggles and find calm and quiet time inside you.
Here not every thing is al right but I feel in control more or less.
Comparing with when i was in the game, now is the holiday for me.
You take care Sad, and take it one day at a time please.

[sam.sam]

Hi P. Thanks for your post. I am fine and safe. I am at the moment struggling with family members, and the way they think. It was easier for me when was not in touch and they also did not think of me as some one they can talk to. It seems they are the one who need support not me.
My dear P, These urges will go away if you want them to go away. we all know how to deal with them. for me is to avoid getting angry, or disappointed from my own actions. For some going to a short holiday helps. studying a subject you like in a college would really help. It is just the way we feed our brain. If you do not give it some thing to think about then it will think about what it likes(gambling…) make it busy P.
Hope fully Ill see you soon.
take care my friend.

[sam.sam]

Hi P. I am glad to hear that you are still positive and that you have made a strong cage for the addiction. We all know that is the only way. It does not go away, but we can just control it by not giving in his games.
One day at a time P.
All the best.

[sam.sam]

Hi P. I hope you feel good today. I was thinking about you and imagining you sitting with your coffee near the window, the cat is trying to attract your attention and your eye contact, birds are singing and you are watching the people in the park, from your windows…Life is going on and You are not gambling today, the air is full of hope, you breath in, close your eyes and here you see the future, yourself in the ideal world, confident, happy, stronger than ever. You say to yourself, I am a lucky person to have a healthy life, my flat, food on the table, my cat, so many friends in the forum, and my cup of coffee now. Why shall I risk them? I am here today, and sure that I am not gambling today, there for I should be happy and enjoy my time.
We all here are with you P.
I wish you a better day every day. One day at a time.

[sam.sam]

Hi Monique, Thank you for your post.
I just started writing and that is were I ended.
All the best.

[sam.sam]

Hi P. Thank you for posting. Hopefully I see you soon in a group support group. You take care P.

[sam.sam]

I have invited a friend from Wales who is coming to stay with me for 3 days. He is my childhood friend. I am quite happy and looking forward to that.

[sam.sam]

Hi every one, To all my recovery mates, who have been there for me, understanding my emotional needs, being there listening to me, advising me when I needed or just reading my posts, and admins, Charles, Janey, Katie, Velvet, Harry, Lee, Dave, Paul, Monique , Wayne, Richard, who have given their time and support and knowledge, and valuable experiences they have, to encourage us to look around us and within us, and see who we are really, and understand that we can better ourself without a need to gamble.
For me personally the journey of recovery started years ago when I went to Gordon house, and saw how 11 people were leaving together and helping each other through the difficult times of being far from family and closed ones. How they helped me when I was new and trying to make me understand my addiction better in order to control it. They used to call the Gordon house the “University of life”. And now I understand it why they were calling that a university of life.
I feel We could look at this website, support group and the forum the same way. I learned all that I know about my emotions, and addiction in here or by directions and links provided by members and staff.
I am grateful. It has been more that 4 months now that I have been clean. I can enjoy the sunshine, and a good weather again. I am more confident as I do not let people use the past against me and manipulate me any more. I am not sleep walking any more, I am walking and progressing to be a better me, for myself and others who are or come to my life.
Love you all, and wish you all the best.

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