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 knew that the effects of my gambling would one day come and slap me in my face. Our bank account.....luckily that one was overdrawn and semi closed has been levied by the IRS. We have to claim bankruptcy and I am soo afraid that I am never going to be out of debt from gambling. I am irritable and I am trying to stop the "it is helpless" attitude and focus on the fact that I am stronger than what I was 4 weeks ago and I can deal with it, and I am happy that I am able to deal with it now... That the truth is a part of my recovery!!!! Thank you for listening.
Many times I felt like, why? What is the difference between my financial situation between when I was gambling and now? But, after like 62 days into being GF I finally started to see a dent in improvement. It will come to you too! Slowly, maybe very slowly, but surely you will see financial positives and a light at the very end of the tunnel. Just don't think in terms of Forever right now. Forever is such a broad and strong term, it can crush you with its Fundamental Power. And quite honest, One Day at a Time is much better, brighter and what actually creates Forever after all. Ask yourself: " If I give up and go back to Gambling right now, how may I improve my situation? Or what going back to Gambling may bring me in solving where I am?. Answer is: It will make your situation worse and No, it is definitely is not a solution. Yes, it will satisfy your addiction and will make you feel numbed, but for how long it can last??
Stay strong, my friend! And everything going to be alright!
And even if you will not see any progress certain days, its still a progress, because it is not a regress.
Stay positive, I am with you!
Vicky
Having gone through foreclosure of our lovely home, bankruptcy and the IRS payments we will endure for the next 5 years, I can say I truly know how you feel.
I fought it for awhile...or should I say I continued to try to escape with gambling once we filed. (even though it is strictly forbidden by the BK Courts)
Just got ourselves deeper into the hole. Here I am, having exhausted all resources, finally reduced to acceptance - Step I - and all that goes with it.
I will say that life is much easier once you get to this point - once you get to the 'other' side of the bankruptcy...no more harassing calls and letters...stress reduced.
But what is really making life easier is the acceptance of myself as a hopeless addict and working my recovery.
Hang in there...it truly can and will get better.
Love,
Paula
Some good stuff brought forth through this post. I can appreciate what you are feeling with bankruptcy , IRS liens , etc., having been down those very roads. I made the last payment of my 5 yr IRS "sentence" about 2yrs ago, and there is a lesson in each life experience-mine was, I do not intend to dance with the IRS ever again by running away from situations I created with my own stinking thinking/gambling.
You are taking a wonderful approach and disposition towards facing your reality (as are Vicky and Paula). I attended a GA meeting tonight and we talked a lot about the "freeing" feeling that comes with acceptance of our addiction. Once we do that, we are standing true to the belief that we can now employ the courage to change the things we can. We do this by putting down the shovels that dig our holes deeper and deeper (we stop gambling).
The healing process begins, but like Vicky mentioned, for some it feels to be moving very slowly and/or not at all. Paula's absolutely right....dealing with it is much easier than not dealing with it or running away by escaping to "the shovel".
You're doing a terrific job RS, and you are definitely not alone. Keep up the great work!
Love Tagg