Gambling Addiction & Recovery Support Group

Compulsive gambling is an urge or addiction to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. A preferred term among many professionals is problem gambling, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others rather...

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indigopop 05/01/2018

I haven't gambled since 10:30PM on Sunday night.

Last night, I was able to walk into an establishment with slots and not go for them. Sat down with a friend, had a drink, left.

Today, I had an urge to gamble around 1PM (my usual afternoon time). Instead I went to the store and spent my money on groceries and kids' Christmas gifts. That's $40 that won't go into the machines and the urge has passed.

itsjustmeagain 05/01/2018

fantastic, dont tempt yourself ever, try to meet that friend somewhere else

proud of you!!!

Robin-Mc 05/01/2018

Early Christmas shopping, how fun and what a good idea. Great minds thinking alike, I was just telling my daughter that we should start buying a few gifts a month, or making them, we love home crafts.
Stay strong and steady, and keep doing what you’re doing, fighting this addiction can really pay off. It’s not only that financially you’ll be better off, you’ll also be emotionally and mentally better off.
Recovery is saving my life one day at a time. I’m noticing I’m feeling calmer and I’m less critical of myself and others.
Keep posting., we’re here for you.
Today I will not gamble

indigopop 05/01/2018

itsjustmeagain - there are no options for places without slots locally after 9PM. Only one restaurant I know of doesn't have any machines and they close at 9 (or earlier on slow nights). This has been one of my biggest hurdles! Even going to the grocery store requires walking past 2 shops.

itsjustmeagain 05/01/2018

oh ...where do you live?

NonstopSigns 05/01/2018

Try to spent your time on your work and don't think about gambling.

I use all my free time to grow my company- https://www.nonstopsigns.com/

Qwit4Good 05/01/2018

Good for you. It is hard when your environment is full of places to gamble but not impossible. Maintaining friendships, mild exercise, volunteer work, gratitude diaries, journaling, meditating, artwork, and therapy helped me to be calmer, more in touch with my feelings, and not just be busy to avoid gambling. I did not want to trade this addiction for new one(s) and I wanted to become overall more mentally healthy and form healthier friendships.

indigopop 05/01/2018

I'd rather not say where I live. I will say it's an area that tries to balance its budget by handing out gaming licenses like candy. There's no real restriction on the venues that can have machines, so they're in bars, restaurants (including "family restaurants"), strip malls, even convenience stores and laundromats. It's total saturation everywhere.

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