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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strength2stop 10/04/2015

Been on and off the site for awhile. Failed miserably over the past month and am trying to quit one day at a time.

Are there more real time online support groups?

sosickithurts 10/04/2015

Sorry to hear that. There is hope and as long as you're breathing, you have hope. Online support groups will not help. In the end, it is up to YOU to kill that sin.

happycamper1963 10/04/2015

Hello, welcome back! I am returning as well after being out there in the madness for over 2 yrs. I was also involved with this group back then and I can honestly say that the ppl here have helped me a lot over the past week ... just reading their shares and 'friending' some of the members and the private messages has helped me get thru .. one day at a time.

Qwit4Good 10/04/2015

I am not aware of any online real-time chat support groups. It is worth going to a face to face regardless of any fear you may have. When I don't feel like going to my weekly face to face group, (not GA but run by the counseling center), I know there is a reason why I should go. Oddly the feeling of wanting to run away, is the red flag that tells me I need to run toward what is bothering me. Sometimes the face to face group is only way I can truly face what is going on within me. The dynamics of this kind of group do not transfer well to an online situation.
There are so many nonverbal keys to understanding each other fully, like tone of voice, voice quality, attitude and body language that phone conversations and typing to not convey. It is by making ourselves vulnerable in these kinds of groups that we gain strength.

strength2stop 10/04/2015

thanks for the advice and your time qwit4good, you're truly an asset to this site... I've been on and off this site for years as well happycamper.... hopefully we can both stay on track.

donice57 10/04/2015

This site has the most interactive, informative and supportive members who are truly empathetic.......we walk in the same shoes and wear the same shirts.....we have been there and done that more times than you will ever know...

islapoppy 10/05/2015

The only other online support group I had ever tried besides this one was Safe Harbor. If you google safe harbor gambling, it should come up and then you go to the Posting Board. Different format from here, no separate topics, a continuous posting. There are a few regulars there who have insightful postings and I believe they have a weekly meeting. The support group and format here seems better but, as someone noted, sometimes when you're in the worst throes of gambling addiction, there isn't enough daily activity. The other forum can supplement.

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