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...
How do you all deal with feelings of depression? I had clinical depression straight from 2008 through 2012, and it was awful. I finally recovered in 2013, but I'm starting to feel it again since I quit gambling (day 45).
May I ask how you recovered in 2013? Keeping that in mind might help this time around. Also, have you tried antidepressants? I'm kind of unsure of them (even after 10 years! Ha) but they have helped me and others I know.
To answer your question, I like to run and ride my bike. Exercise is a common answer to depression but it really does work. I also like to paint, craft, read and write. I'm reading a book that talks about how "happy" behaviors are behaviors that give us present (while we do them) benefit and future benefit...Like eating food that is healthy and also tastes really good. Gambling would be one that's "hedonistic" meaning present benefit but future detriment. Anyway, I'm sure you already know this in some way, but it's helped me to keep in mind. What are some things you enjoy that are positive now and will have positive effect in the future? Do those things as often as you can. I also try to get 8 hours of sleep whenever possible!
I say all this but like I said, I'm struggling with it myself. Keep me posted and I hope you feel better soon!
I too have used exercise, staying present in the here and now, and volunteer work as methods to ease my depression.
Some of what we Compulsive Gamblers go through is attributed to the chemical changes in our brains.
I was using lots and lots of dopamine while gambling, as we all do, dopamine is a pleasure chemical in our brains that gambling makes us produce much more than even cocaine use does.This chemical is a big part of why gambling is so addictive. It takes a full 90 to 120 days of abstinence to get these brain chemicals back to normal levels. It takes our bodies some time to produce dopamine in natural levels. Exercise helps because it produces dopamine, and makes us feel better.
Therapy can help to get on the right track. I have to nip depression in the bud, when it begins to creep into my feelings and be proactive by doing something that makes me feel better. Keeping a gratitude diary daily helps we almost as much as exercise. Finding a place to volunteer where I feel useful and can help others is also helpful.
But just getting through another day is sometimes all we can do. Hang in there in another 45 days, you should feel much improved.
In 2013, I recovered from depression by seeing a therapist, reading every self-help book I could get my hands on, journaling, trying every method I could, and being patient. I was depressed starting in 2008, and it was a loooong road for those five years. A very dark time in my life.
I was hoping I could get through this time without as much trial and error. Though I don't feel nearly as depressed -- most days. The day I wrote this, I was very sad.