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...
I received my 90 day pin at my GA Meeting last Wednesday night. I
started doing the twelve steps and step 4 revealed a lot of character
defects I have to work on. .I look back now and realize I was blaming
others in my life to have a free pass to go gambling. Gambling dulls the pain of deeper problems.
It is certainly nice to have extra money to pay my bills and catch up on bills I got behind on. This is a horrible addiction which can literally
ruin your life. I have started exercising, finding new hobbies and
paying more attention to my friends and family.
I am living one day at a time hoping to beat this addiction!!!
started doing the twelve steps and step 4 revealed a lot of character
defects I have to work on. .I look back now and realize I was blaming
others in my life to have a free pass to go gambling. Gambling dulls the pain of deeper problems.
It is certainly nice to have extra money to pay my bills and catch up on bills I got behind on. This is a horrible addiction which can literally
ruin your life. I have started exercising, finding new hobbies and
paying more attention to my friends and family.
I am living one day at a time hoping to beat this addiction!!!
congrats!!!!
One quick thing: I had heard the first 90 days were the hardest, and I set up high expectations for the ease of recovery after that, which turned out to be a disappointment. My triggers are certain types of social events, the holidays, health woes, and unexpected stressors. When faced with any of these, I want to run and gamble to take the edge off. That hasn't gotten easier yet. So be aware -- it continues to be a challenge, even after 90 days.
That said -- CONGRATS! Amazing and well done.
90 days is a huge milestone. Great job!
I know exactly what you mean when you say blaming others as an excuse to gamble. I totally do that. But who are we really hurting? Sure, the people who love us. But mostly ourselves!
It only gets easier after 3-4 months because our brain is no longer being over saturated with dopamine. I am not sure that it ever gets easy. There is no set time, set treatment, set recovery plan or silver bullet. Most of us have to continue to work at it every day and I have to attack it from multiple directions.
Continuing to engage in life and striving to be a better person, being an active participant in life, actively using my face to face support group, being honest with my friends and family and taking meticulous care of myself. In fact, learning to love myself and creating a life that is more peaceful, intentional and meaningful is an ongoing process. I may never actually "arrive" but each day I am GF I can see more in my life that I do not want to risk. One day at a time.
I am heading to the 90 days, one day at at time