Share your self care!

[Judes]

@Printemps i have had some minor health issues for several years so have decided to get that sorted at long last - not serious stuff thankfully! Since quitting pokies I have been walking a minimum of 5km 5-6 mornings per week; joined the gym and try to get there 2 days per week; am starting aqua aerobics next week as well! I have overhauled my diet, reduced my alcohol consumption and try to meditate daily! All helps in keeping the dreaded urges at bay!

[Printemps]

@Judes that is all seriously impressive! I clearly need to pick up some of your self-discipline! I imagine they would all be helping keep the urges at bay but also with your health more generally. It's amazing how changing our habits can have such a flow on effect in so many aspects of our lives

[Judes]

@Printemps believe me it is not easy as I am sure you are fully aware - had a friend who gambles on the pokies send me a copy of the payout ticket where she won $4000 on Saturday - I find hearing of other peoples wins is the worst for me. I congratulated her but also said I am no longer gambling. I know in my heart if I had won that I would have probably walked away with nothing! And the self-loathing for the next few weeks would have been almost debilitating for every other area of my life. AND my bank account would be empty. As gamblers we often don’t report the $$ we put in to get a win like that!

[Kevcollingwood]

@Judes i find what you are saying completely the same as what I do, I cannot walk out unless every cent is gone, had a relapse on the weekend, twice I said Lady Luck give me my money back and I will walk out, twice it did, walked out after every cent was gone.
What drives us to behave like this?
The guzzler machine, I give myself 10 out of 10 for finding this one at every venue I have gone to over the years, you have a feeling about it but no, you try and beat it.
What should have been a wonderful weekend away turned into a disaster, because of MY inability to control myself.

[Judes]

@Kevcollingwood For me when playing the pokies started to be about being able to switch my brain off and escaping from the stress of my job and my “normal” life and not having to think - I was totally lost to it! This became my only way to unwind and it didn’t matter how much money I won or lost as long as I didn’t have to think! As time went on I bet more and more and I felt no different whether I won $000’s or lost $000’s, so that then progressed to why walk out with money? I felt crap no matter what.

I had a good look at my life, left my stressful job and now I de-stress through exercise, socialising, travel, reading, self development literature, etc. It has not been easy and I was also worried that I had started drinking too much alcohol to replace the gambling … so am limiting that as well! I am at Day# 45 - and have kept the urges at bay so far - but it is a struggle - especially if I get bored or feel lonely - not so much re being stressed as of late! Just got to find a way now to fill up my days!

[Printemps]

Good morning everyone! It's Saturday, which means it's time for us to share our self care!

Remember, self-care looks different to everyone and can be small things to do to make our days brighter, or long term lifestyle changes!

Mine is more of a lifestyle change, I'm trying to reinvest in my friendships and be more present with people. By doing this I'm able to strengthen my friendships and support network as well as be there for the people in my life!

@Judes @Pea pod @Ultramarine @Jimap @Kevcollingwood @Anita44 @KAG @Dfs674 @yep123 @Menz199

[Judes]

@Printemps
Self care for me this week:
Am relocating in my van this coming week after being at the Sunny Coast for 18months. I am semi-retired so going to help some friends who own a country pub (no pokies there YAY!)

Am continuing with my exercise - walk 5-7km at least 3 times a week; gym 2x a week. Have also been looking at some activities to put more “fun” into my life - so started aquabike sessions weekly and “No lights No Lycra” - which is dancing with other people but in the dark! Was awesome!

I also want to get back into my photography and also do some hiking!

I am at Day#65 and feeling great!

[the_penguin]

Hey @Judes

You're a busy bee! I'm going on a google mission to research into aquabiking and dancing in the dark. I've never heard of things, and we're always on the hunt for fun activities. So keep sharing theses!

[Judes]

@the_penguin I am also always looking for different fun things to do … the aquabikes are like spin bikes but in the pool with only your head and shoulders out of the water; the dancing in the dark is call No Lights No Lycra!

[JinxyWolf]

Hi Guys,

So for me 5 years has gone by since I stopped gambling and I find that Self Care has become a habit for me now. When I first quit self care was celebrating the little milestones that I hit. Whether that be achieving days weeks or months of being gamble free. I found great comfort in my Art. It became my stress release instead of Gambling.

Another part of self care I found is important is forgiveness. We have all made mistakes and all have done things we are ashamed of in our quest to feed the gambling beast but these things we can't dwell on, learn from yes but not dwell. So once I felt I had done the work to make amends and apologize to those I hurt I decided that for me to continue moving forward I had to forgive myself.

So this week my self care has been to enroll in an art class and meet new people. It's awesome

Be well my friends and stay strong.

JinxyWolf