Success Stories

[BriM]

Many of us have success stories in life and in managing our gambling behaviour.

Post yours on here!

[Bull]

Well I'm no longer out of control, discipline and hard work go hand in hand with this sort of stuff. Glad to say I haven't gone above and beyond my limit (I still gamble) for some time now. What's my story? Well I guess I am lucky to have people who know me well and flagged that playing poker was taking over my life. Soon enough I realised it was, and with a supportive bunch of friends and family they really got me through. The most important thing for me was realising that there were other things to do other than sitting around a poker table. Not having alternative activities really was a problem for me so I started going out more and socialising. It wasn't easy at first but it got easier as time went by.

[Angelina.]

Thanks for sharing Bull. It is wonderful to hear your efforts, you are doing a great job : )

[Chris2]

Angelina (facilitator) (27/02/2013)Thanks for sharing Bull. It is wonderful to hear your efforts, you are doing a great job : )

Im no longer out of control as well. I liken my efforts to the latest quitting cigarettes commercial "never giving up giving up!". I had quite a few relapses in the last few years but this year I feel stronger and more aware of the consequences, triggers and my motivations and continue to self talk and work on myself. For me education about my gambling has helped me in understanding myself. Supportive friends and being able to stay open and honest to myself and them has helped me keep it real. So far I feel great knowing I have abstained for over 5 months and I have to say self exclusion for me has been a great decision in helping me adjust.

Chris

[Angelina.]

Hi Chris,

I am not sure why this was never responded to, but I would like to please re-open this discussion as you have raised a number of very important points:

1. Self-exclusion can be helpful for some, particularly if you are gambling at the same venues over time.

2. 'Non-punitive' support from family and friends has consistently been shown to be a central factor in successful recovery for many addictions.

3. Lapses are not the 'be all and end all'...they can provide us with useful information about our internal processes and behaviours.

Thank you for sharing and it would be great to hear from you

Warm regards ,

Angelina

[Dave68]

Will be a long while before i can claim any success, but the 100th day was Friday, and i am still pokie-free. My financial situation will require a rebuild of Marshall Plan type proportions, but to at least now cut out the massive weekly drain blowing money on pokie machines hopefully will see things turn around. One good thing is that i am finding my desires of playing the pokies have receded a lot, i was playing this free pokie online link regularly where i'd play Panda and other aristocrat games for free, and i haven't even loaded it up for a couple of weeks.

At least, something is changing and after 16 years of being a mad pokie addict, they look like being expunged from my life. Good riddence i say!

[Hopefull]

Well done Dave, congratulations on 100 days and hopefully to many more pokie free days.

Paul

[Jon
]

I am lucky to have people who know me well and flagged that playing poker was taking over my life. Soon enough I realized it was, and with a supportive bunch of friends and family they really got me through. It was not easy at first time but it got easier as time went by.

[Liz37]

I have achieved 108 days pokies free! But I should say I owe my success to this 100 day challenge site and to self-exclusion. Although I don't visit this site much just knowing it is there helps me. I know there are people out there succeeding in giving up gambling. And people doing it tough, so good luck to all!.

[pamela]

What a great achievement..be proud of what you have done and how far you have come..reading these success stories gives me all the incentive I need..I hope to reach 100 gamble free days..