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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newlife67 12/04/2017

11/22/17 was the day I got my life back. I am a few months behind on my bills however I am calm, because I know now I can dig myself out of debt and not into it. Last Friday was the first Friday i can remeber in some time in which, my paycheck was mine. What a great feeling. Although I owed every dollar, it was still mine, and the casino didnt and couldnt get to it first. Now i am looking forward to Fridays, getting my pay and coming out of debt. Treating myself to something small like starbucks once in a while.

In 12 days, I find myself focused more than usal. In 12 days, I seem to be laughing more than usal, doing a few things around the house, over all having a life. When I talk to my family member who gambles, I have other conversation and if gambling comes up, I change the subject becasue i dont want to hear who won what at the casino. I work a part time job and i am looking forward to that paycheck to be mine as well. I still have to pay my bills, but not having money after all the bills are paid is a much greater feeling that not having money after you left it in th casino. Its a much happier feeling.

In the 12 days I get the urge and laugh to myself becasue I self excluded, and no I wouldnt risk arrest. I dont believe my mugshot would be flattering. lol. Arrest scares me more the finaicial ruins that gambling has gotten me into, thats why self excluison was best for me. When my over due bills come or I get that call, I want to run down and hope to hit big, knowing I would put it all back in plus. But day by day, my urges will pass gradually. I will stay strong and I will not gamble today.

12 days and counting,

Robin-Mc 12/04/2017

You’re sounding very positive, it does feel good to abstain and watch your life change for the better.
Today I will not gamble

kssnewlife 12/04/2017

Today I will not gamble. I am moving different things and people from my life that were triggers for me to go gamble. I started and stopped going. I recently started and stopped again. I realize that the only way for me is to take one day at a time. Glad that you are sounding positive.

Sickofmyself 12/04/2017

Love your life or lose it...Pickled tink that you got your life back...know exactly how that feels been there doing that every day...Keep Loving yourself with all your might...There is an old children's song with lyrics something like "he's not through with me yet"....well we can both say we are not through with ourselves yet....Ain't going to gamble today and It is one day at a time

pennyluv 12/05/2017

I got that 'feel good' feeling while reading your post, the one you get when reading about someone's success that comes from hard work. I know exactly how you feel. Skip told me I sounded relieved in my last post. I didn't even realize I felt that way until he pointed it out. You sound that way, too! All my best to you. Take good care.

newlife67 12/05/2017

Thank you so much for your comments. I do feel good although I am completely bankrupt and little to no money at all but Im getting my life back. I am going to live in the future and not the past because I don’t I will be miserable and just me although I am self excluded I could find a way to gamble. Therefore in order to live I must remain positive and get rid of the negativity that plague my life. it is awful, destructive , hurtful. and i robs us of more than money, it robs us of our lives.

Therefore I am raising an imaginary glass of champagne and cheers to all of us who are working to beat this disease.

We will not gamble today

joycatcher 12/05/2017

ALL the benefits of putting this addiction down. You're living them.

I read you are ready to look forward, start w/ plans, visions, and creation of a great future. Excellent.

Might I suggest you write out a bit about the past, write out what has specifically happened because of your gambling. How out of control you were. The destruction to your spirit, your future, the risk of financial security, the relationships lost or damaged, the esteem lost.

You MUST have this to refer to when urges do come (and they will, often at strange times). You will have the words to remind yourself of the REALITY of this disorder. Over time I notice my memory fade out, especially fade out w the bad stuff -- rumination of the positive end lasts -- and over time I find it helpful to go back and read about the truth.

This is also a strong GA concept. Newcomers come in destroyed (as most of us did) -- and hearing their stories reminds me of my own past. Also helping a newcomer keeps me on track to remember what I need to do to keep this gift.

SOOOO glad for you. Please stay "on the beam" ;)

Qwit4Good 12/05/2017

Well done newlife! As awful as your gambling experience may have been, writing it down can be a wonderful tool. My non-GA counseling had newcomers write out "good-bye to gambling" letters. One of the most effective urge fighting tools I have!

Sickofmyself 12/05/2017

One thing that comes to mind about reminders about where we have been is to write yourself an email if your email application has a delayed send feature or on your calendar or reminder application set yourself a reminder on the day before payday and on payday with auto repeat....anything to jog your memory that hey I don't want to go through this hell again...We all have appointments that might make stopping at the casino so easy...stick a hey dummy don't do it note with your reminder....few ideas that comes to mind ....ain't going to gamble today and it is one day at a time

Qwit4Good 12/06/2017

My first six months gamble-free I had sticky notes on lots of my things. Inside my checkbook, inside my wallet, on the bathroom mirror, by the front door. Most were affirmations that I liked, but some were things I wanted to buy or do- that I would need to save money for, all were effective reminders. I began to realize I would not ever feel good about myself or have anything and I would be doomed to poverty for the rest of my life regardless of my income, if I did not stop gambling. I won't be gambling today!

Getting_Out 12/06/2017

Congrats hun !! You sound so positive and its rubbing off on me too. It will be 3 weeks this Friday for me and I feel great !!! I'm not waking up to that awful feeling of how much I lost last night. And like you said even though you don't have money, its better going on bills than going in that bloody place. Good for you and good for all of us who are on the right road now !!!!! :)

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