Gambling Addiction & Recovery Support Group

@happy camper, that's terrific that you have been 7+ yrs sober, thats amazing. If you can do that then you can beat this gambling addiction. I also made the decision today that I must pay some of my bills this week and have a few $'s in my wallet, I can NOT lose my paycheck again no way and mind you my paycheck this wed will be $1093 less since I'm overdrawn in my account from my last paycheck - how sick is that? I have barely survived the last 2 weeks -I think I gained 10 lbs from eating the worst food these past weeks - used credit at CVS to buy crap cereal, candy, junk cheap food.....so disgusted with myself. On top of that I have been so down and keeping all this in, my struggles, money - depression - weight gain, it sucks! This is no way to live, I'm really over it. I know it will take day by day - for a second today I thought well if I take some of money to see if I can make more to pay more of bills this wed night it maybe worth it- BUT it never is, 99.9% of the times I have lost - I think in the last year I left twice with money - so it never worked out all those times, so statistically I will NOT make money to pay my bills!!! I being realistic, its not even the thrill anymore, the thrill will not even cut it anymore, if I get myself deeper into debt I won't be able to get it, its mounting real badly where last month my electricity was cut off - I thought they would never do that, well I was 4+ months past due and missed a payment arrangement - they got fed up, luckily I was able to pay $50 same day and they re-connected, however how pathetic is that!!!!!!!!! That's beyond low, here I make $***,**** and my electricity was shut-off - if anyone knew they would have been in shock!!! No more of this shit, enough is enough!!!!! Life is so much better without gambling!!!! I have to convince myself, we all do!

To Joe100 - Poker has taken the majority of my money especially the last 2 years...its a crazy game...skill - all my skill can't give me the luck!!
I think I was trying to justify that its not really gambling, but of course it is, I'm risking hundreds of dollars on 2 cards from a deck think someone else also said that on here - 2 cards from a deck putting hundreds in a pot, that's gambling more than anything of course it is. No longer a fun game when your streak is a losing one, or even in my case there were times when I got to a $1000 that wasn't enough so they I ended up giving that back and then another $2000 - I have decided I'm way sick of it - sick of that feeling - sick of losing - sick of being the fish at the table - enough is enough!! I agree with your statement total waste of time as well!!!

Yes i agree it is socially acceptable and therefore can keep recovery at bay. I remember telling my friends and family i felt I had a problem gambling. They would laugh and tell me it was okay one day I would win big blah blah blah.....If I had said I was having a problem with drugs, alcohol, or a number of other addictions they would have been supportive rather than tolerant.
I have been gambling free for a few months now I guess. To be honest I have lost count. I gave it up in March sometime and some days are rough others not so bad but I am eternally grateful that I have my life back. I was even able to take my three girls on a trip to Mexico last month!

Nikki: I was addicted to Video Poker game, I suspect that in recent years they have changed the formula, no matter how you play SMART, the 4 As just don't come as easy as before, don't even mention about Royal Flash... even 4 of kinds is harder to get. So forget it, It's always a loosing game.