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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Is this normal?

Charmed2014
Charmed2014
i really want to stop going to casino and finally to have a life back..

i just find it weird to realize that there is a logical and possible way to solve my negative finances.. if i don't go to casino for 3 months.. i would be able to be back in track.. no savings.. but no debts..

but then.. now that I am 5 days away from my payday.. instead of sticking to the 3 months to pay all my debts.. i have this urge to go back to casino and play.. so i can pay all debts.. all at once.. one time big time.. lol..

i know it is impossible to happen..

but then again.. i am having nightmares.. the roulette spinning in my head.. telling me that maybe.. i will hit that $9,000 again.. just like what happened before as my beginner's luck..

i have been struggling with gambling for four years now.. but this is really the first time that i have nightmares about roulette like for 5 consecutive days now..

maybe there is something really wrong with me now (?)
Leapyear22
Leapyear22
The something wrong is the addiction, I too have dreams, and thoughts of winning again, but that is what has sucked me back in, every time. Please don't go, please, don't go. I need your support here, so, stay with me.
Charmed2014
Charmed2014
hugs Leap

i myself don't know how to stop this.. but God knows that i really do want to..

thank you :) i will just be here.. i visit this site everyday since i first posted :) hope to see you here too :)

we can do this :)
Leapyear22
Leapyear22
well, for me, not only do I have to tell myself, I can do this, I tell myself, I HAVE to do this, or, I'm afraid it will kill me, really, I need to do this, I want to do this, more than anything I've ever wanted.
nature562
nature562
For me, the worst thing that can happen is a win..... For me, after a big win, it always turned in to a slow burn win that progressively ruined my life. GA meetings have helped tremendously. Recovery is arduous.
Bernie23
Bernie23
I always say winning big turned me into a compulsive gambler. I hit a $20,000 jackpot in Video Poker last May. Prior to that I know I gambled too much but could always stop. After that win I lost control..THEN I won another $20,000. All downhill from there. Now I fight the urge almost every day to see if I can win big again and pay my bills. Just something I think I will have to live with the rest of my life.
toey
toey
3 months? I need to stay away for 15 months to pay off my debts.

I hope you can do it. Roulette is my vice too, and it is just too unpredictable. Just remember that feeling of losing everything and walking away from the table, feeling depleted and lonely.

I hold onto that feeling to help restrain myself. I always tell myself I never want to feel that way again.
stopat56
stopat56
It is normal to still want to go gambling when we first try to stop. I have to ask myself: is it worth it? Even if I win big, I still lose because most of the money goes right back to the casino. that is what makes us different from other gamblers: the big wins are just means to continue to gambler. The dreams and urges are just part of the addiction, and every time we don't give in, we get a teeny-tiny bit stronger. I'm glad you all are posting your true feelings. Keep posting and sharing, it is a lot cheaper than going to the casino. None of us have all the answers, but together we can figure out how to grow in recovery.