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...
Well i never thought that i a 50 year old lady would had to fight an addiction to gambling, but i am doing a good job of it right now. For many years i would go to the casino whenever i could but after a Christmas casino run of course losing what little money i had . I said e enough. I had already banned myself from one casino back in july only to start going to another farther away. But then i found the oklahoma problem gamblers Statewide Ban and sent it in. I will not go because i wont be arrested for trespassing. And also would be soooo embarassed to be walked out of a casino if i get caught. But that last time there something clicked . I Want my moneyyyyy. I do not make very much and work to hard for it to throw it in the trash(slots) as i was. So that was my last time to put my cash in that slot. What a blessing to not gamble. My mother tells me i seem so much better mentally now than i was. I was so freaked out and stressed , I rarely slept and was a very miserable person. But right now i feel better mentally than i have in years. I spend the weekends with 2wonderful grandsons. Go to zoos, parks,movies and playing chase and wrestling. wow what a grandma life i have.... LOVING IT. I cant wait til i hit 100 dayssss. I dont know why i want that but i do. Good luck and lots of prayers to all my fellow gamblers. If i can do it u can toooo.
I am grateful for my gambling addiction because it makes all of the little things in life seem so much more precious to me. It sounds like you feel the same way. Keep on keeping on and keep us posted!
i didnt realize how much of my life was spent on gambling until i quit. i think that's why we can be happy with small things in life now! We can actually enjoy living again and finding our normals again. Today is day 60 for me! So we are celebrating together. Hugs.
Lisa
One week that I have not cross the line into Oklahoma.
100 days is around the corner for you. You can do it!
everyone have a great gamble-free weekend!
I will be sixty this year. I do not have children so no grandma for me. However I have 143 gamble free days and I am in the best mental health for me in years. (I also quit smoking cigarettes one week before I quit gambling.) Now, I hike, I bicycle, I am taking an on line Spanish course, I play on a pool team, I do artistic things with paint, collages and drawing, I take photographs, I diddle around with house plants and patio plants, I make play dates with friends. Counseling is what has helped me feel better about myself. Especially inner child work and group therapy with other women problem and compulsive gamblers. (As well at D/S)
Around 90 days, is when I could tell the dopamine and serotonin was starting to regulate and I could stop crying and begin to enjoy life as it is - not the fantasy I was hoping for. I have incurred a huge amount of debt and gotten in legal trouble. But I would much rather deal with the mess that I have made than be where I was 4-5 months ago.
Prayers and (((hugs))) - keep it up.