Josh..
I know exactly the feeling. I thought today I would break. I had the time..and just got paid.
It was SO tough..but went on the Safe Harbor site (another compulsive gambling site), posted a message and read one that helped keep me in check. Still tough though. Decided I would force myself to exercise and go to the gym. This is what I have been making myself do. It helps with feeling anxious and bored. I just do cardio like crazy!!
I purposefully made an appointment in the middle of the day. Honestly, I still could have done it after dinner. Decided to sit back with a glass of wine..and glad I did. I ended up getting phone calls for business that I needed to deal with. If I was "busy" at the casino, I could have lost money in more ways than one.
Try to keep busy. Exercise, make plans with friends, family...or just plan to go to the local coffee shop/bookstore and hang.
Whatever. Just keep busy! Apparently, the anxiety does decrease.
Lets keep on going!! WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Oh yeah...if I was at the casino right now..I couldn't be here posting to you...
another good reason :)

I finish work too late for meetings at the moment, by the time I get there, they'll have started already... Tonight, I will go bed early -- what will save me tomorrow?

I'll try to stick around here-- helps me as always to read your feedback everyone, love the fast replies it pumps me inside and give me strength to fight it away right away.

thanks all we can all fight our temptations.

I strongly recommend that you try and find out why you have gambled for as long as you have. If you are doing that, excellent. That is what helped me. The urges will go away over time. The longer you stay away, the easier it gets. Every day away is one closer to having it beat. One day closer to getting your life back. Open your mind to the endless possibilities out there now that you don't gamble.

The further you get away from it, the more you realize how stressful gambling really is. Just remember, if you gamble you have to go back to zero. It has worked for me for 2125 days. Any day of that first 6 months could have been the day I went back. Set a goal of 6 months and see where you are at that point.

I hope I get to the 2125 days one day! I'm at 25 days so far....

If you are at 25, you are on a roll. Think of how good it will feel tomorrow when you get paid and you don't gamble. You will fee great. Then think of how you know you would feel if you did.

When you get to 50 days, it will feel like it is in the rear view mirror. Keep it up, you can do it.

The urges go away, I promise. I used to gamble 20 hours a day.

I stay sober one day at a time!!

Thanks for the incite -and the 2,125 days is very motivating - - Josh, keep up the good work - 25 days is awesome - you can do it!
Smokeygirl

Replay the worst night of you at the casino and utterly devastated you felt..the self beratement..the never again..that is it...you win by not going on Friday...You have other thintgs you need to spend the money on...Be strong tommorrow..We will be with you in spirit..Meeting an awesome idea..You have a sponsor yet??..time to get one..Start the 12 steps and sit down and write your response to them...You have the tools..We all do...By the grace of God I will not gamble today....Terry K.

Been there a million times. A little high, a little excitement.....this is not you talking but the addiction talking to you saying it's all good come on back to me and forget your troubles. The only problem is it is a big fat lie. See this temptation for what it is. Everyday life can be high and exciting like visiting friends and family, taking a trip, going out to eat a good meal, just watching TV etc

Living only to gamble is NOT living.

I will not gamble today.

Josh..

How are you doing today?

I'm on DAY 10...and HAPPY!!
Lets do this, Bud..we CAN..
feeling great...don't want to feel crummy...
feeling strong..don't want to feel weak, angry and jaded.
WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT!!!

Please let me know how you're doing.

Don't do it! I joined this site only a few short weeks ago, and I relapsed already. I was really strong, and then "boom!" I am back to square one. My gambling is probably like a lot of people's--some boredom, but also my job is stressful, and I feel like I work 24-7. To "reward" myself, or get away from the stress, I always wanted to gamble. And then the bigger picture is I told myself I would have those credit cards paid off faster if I made money gambling like I have in the past. The opposite has been true, and I would be OUT OF DEBT right now, at this very moment, if I had not been irresponsibly gambling over the last several months. I estimate I have lost about 30% of my salary, at the very least. I am running, sewing, painting, and doing hobbies I used to find great enjoyment in. But I never want to sit down at a restaurant with my significant other again and hope that he will pay or not ask me to contribute because I don't have a dime to my name. Today, we are GF, and I am paying my bills ON TIME!!