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...
Hi there -
I'm new to this group and I finally, took it upon myself to go and do a self-ban at two casino's last night . One, is by my house and is for a one year ban and the other one is for 30 days for now. Everytime I get stressed, lonely or whatever the case may be, I go gamble. Granted, it's not like thousands, but it is still money that we have budgeted for our family. My husband works a lot of hours (he doesn't like to gamble) and I find myself bored in the evenings after work, etc. I've had a lot of stressors lately (medical), buying another home (good thing) and the usual work thing, and gambling has been my outlet. Well, I finally told myself tonight, after losing a few hundred, that it was time to STOP and ban myself (I've banned myself in the past, but just temporary) because I don't trust myself to stay away from them on my own. I also have OCD which doesn't help matters :-(
Thanks for listening !
I'm new to this group and I finally, took it upon myself to go and do a self-ban at two casino's last night . One, is by my house and is for a one year ban and the other one is for 30 days for now. Everytime I get stressed, lonely or whatever the case may be, I go gamble. Granted, it's not like thousands, but it is still money that we have budgeted for our family. My husband works a lot of hours (he doesn't like to gamble) and I find myself bored in the evenings after work, etc. I've had a lot of stressors lately (medical), buying another home (good thing) and the usual work thing, and gambling has been my outlet. Well, I finally told myself tonight, after losing a few hundred, that it was time to STOP and ban myself (I've banned myself in the past, but just temporary) because I don't trust myself to stay away from them on my own. I also have OCD which doesn't help matters :-(
Thanks for listening !
Jay
I found that that defence in AA and GA.
So will you.
Please try and find a meeting. I am not sure where you live, but AA is probably easier to find, and as you are admitting a drinking problem you will be right at home.
If you can also find GA all the better.
Best of luck and stay close to this site.
John
from what I've read about OCD,
the individual DOESN"T get a good feeling from doing the "addicted" to thing, be it washing hands, locking doors, neatness, etc.
whereas:
the gambling addict gets GREAT pleasure from the gambling,
it has to do with the serotonin (pleasure neurotransmitter) and the
dopamine (reward neurotransmitter)
and therein lies the difference.
what I am not certain about and neither are the scientists and doctors etc is just how it all begins,
the addiction first or the genetic/environment predisposition first.
whatever is seems that they are both like playing with fire,
and with gambling you stand to loose a lot lot lot lot MORE
than say the other compulsion, I would guess.
Read here and see what gambling does,
the GA meetings will be a life saver and eye opener.
So glad you are taking it upon yourself to
come here and learn and do something for YOURSELF.
keep coming and reading and
learn how to not ONLY ban yourself from the c - -- - - s
but also how to make certain you don't have the money to go.
Very important
and other ideas to make it IMPOSSIBLE to gamble.
this is the best start but there is much more work to do
to keep away from something we make a habit.
God Bless