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...
I have been a DS member since July 2010, it's incredible to me that I have been battling this addiction for almost 3 years and probably longer than that if I am really honest with myself.
My longest period gamble free is about 5 months and that was in 2011 while I was pregnant. I thought that once I had a baby I would not gamble any more but quite the opposite has been true. I started to gamble again regularly about a year ago and have easily blown through about 25K in the last year. I find that I gamble because I feel that I "deserve a break."
Like many of you I have found that I don't leave if I win and I don't leave when I lose. When I do win and actually leave with money I find myself back at the casino within days and then I lose more than I won in the first place. If I lose I feel like I need to go back to "win my money back." But I am NEVER going to win back all that I have lost....never....ever.
I am an educated woman and work in the mental health field so you think I would be able to take my own advice since I help people manage different types of addiction on a daily basis. I can't really figure out why I started to gamble or why I became addicted. It feels like it just happened, one day I played for fun and the next I played because I couldn't stop.
After another binge this week where I spent money that was supposed to be "extra" and put into savings I realized that I am going down a very dangerous path again and I need to re-committ to being gamble free.
So I'm back to day one...I have been here more times than I care to remember but today has to be different or I will never be able to live the life that I dream of.
Thanks for your support.
Hopeful
My longest period gamble free is about 5 months and that was in 2011 while I was pregnant. I thought that once I had a baby I would not gamble any more but quite the opposite has been true. I started to gamble again regularly about a year ago and have easily blown through about 25K in the last year. I find that I gamble because I feel that I "deserve a break."
Like many of you I have found that I don't leave if I win and I don't leave when I lose. When I do win and actually leave with money I find myself back at the casino within days and then I lose more than I won in the first place. If I lose I feel like I need to go back to "win my money back." But I am NEVER going to win back all that I have lost....never....ever.
I am an educated woman and work in the mental health field so you think I would be able to take my own advice since I help people manage different types of addiction on a daily basis. I can't really figure out why I started to gamble or why I became addicted. It feels like it just happened, one day I played for fun and the next I played because I couldn't stop.
After another binge this week where I spent money that was supposed to be "extra" and put into savings I realized that I am going down a very dangerous path again and I need to re-committ to being gamble free.
So I'm back to day one...I have been here more times than I care to remember but today has to be different or I will never be able to live the life that I dream of.
Thanks for your support.
Hopeful
I know how you feel. I often felt so stressed out and I went gambling because I deserve a break. I would always find an excuse and I found myself in the casino sooner or later. I just joined this site 4 days ago and I have been gambling free for 4 days now. I finally made that decision and I am glad I did. You are in the right place. People on here are amazing and you will get all the support that you need. We just have to hope that we are stronger than our urge to go the casino and take it 1 day at the time. We can do this together!
Ana
Good to see you back-I do understand all the emotions and feelings you expressed. iN fact your words spoke the truth , I would guess for a great majority of us. I wish I could pinpoint when in my life, it went from fun to "gotta have".
As Ana and the rest of us will say, take it one day at a time, and focus on the good that will come to you each day you do not gamble. We will help one another align the way, together.
And Ana......what beautiful encouragement you've provided. I'm excited watching you jump in with both feet. Keep up the good posts and replies!
Love Tagg
be well and stay strong
hugs,
Lisa
Welcome Back. I too have been here before. The most important thing is we are back now. Today is a new day. I look at how much money I spent at the casinos and it makes me SICK!!! I have decided that they are not getting a penny more from me.. EVER!!! This is my day 4 GF. We can do this!!!! Lisa
I haven't been posting lately because I feel very badly about my recent behavior, but at one time I had over 130 something days in, and I can do it again!!! Let's do it together - 'Day one. :]
Take care,
Smokeygirl
Keep checking in here daily. It' s the best inspiration you will get. There are some AMAZING folks here and the posts are food for the soul.
Be strong!