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...
Today is day six of being free from gambling. Every single day.....numerous times per day I would crave the casino. I would hear a noise and instantly I would recall the sounds of the bells at the casino. Sometimes sounds would remind me of one (of the many) slots I used to play and I would literally be shaking because I wanted to go to the casino so bad. Sometimes I would tell myself " Just go up, spend 20.00 and leave." I knew that it was not only an impossible plan/thought but also an insane and very desperate thought. I turned it over to God and began to pray and ask God to remove this addiction. This morning for the first time since quitting I woke up not thinking about going to the casino. I didn't even think of the casino today until around ten when I heard a siren on the radio which was someone winning something. Then I remembered the casino but felt different. I feel very free today and very much at peace with my decision to give up gambling.
It is one of the most illogical addictions/compulsions I have ever had. I kept thinking I would win big but the amount of money it was costing me to keep that dream/hope alive was really the big win I already had. I was giving it away slowly and growing more sick all the time. Hmmm.....strange.
Anyway, hang in there friends today is a brand new day we can say we are free from our gambling addiction!
It is one of the most illogical addictions/compulsions I have ever had. I kept thinking I would win big but the amount of money it was costing me to keep that dream/hope alive was really the big win I already had. I was giving it away slowly and growing more sick all the time. Hmmm.....strange.
Anyway, hang in there friends today is a brand new day we can say we are free from our gambling addiction!
I've developed almost a pathological aversion to the casino now, only 3 1/2 weeks out. The random dings and bells in life used to awaken in me this tremendous desire to go and now they send shivers up and down my spine.
It's a lot like when I was a kid, I used to LOVE Hawaiian Punch. Then one day we went to a carnival,and I was stuffed full of carnival food, and about a gallon of punch.It was really hot and I kept drinking, and then went on this ride where I got spun around and around. Naturally, I got sick, it flew back on me and my sister, and I threw up and dry heaved for a good half hour afterwards. After that experience, I never had punch again, took me YEARS to even handle the smell of it again.
That's the way I feel about the slots right now. TODAY that's how I feel. The auditory and olfactory reminders make me feel ill. I was on that crazy ride on that crazy train too long, and although I was certain that I would not gamble again, I wanted to not WANT to gamble again. Right now, for this moment that is where I am. I don't WANT to gamble. Today.
I find whenever I would want to gamble I would just say Casino= death and poverty. You can replace those words with whatever works for you. Also, if you do win that big one...it is going to be worse for you because then your addiction will take a deeper hold and you will crave that again. No, there is nothing....nothing at all that can come from gambling but shame, guilt and more of the same. All the best!