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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Sickofmyself 10/31/2017

I have noticed that usually there is from two to three new members a day that join this forum....That is a good thing but I'll bet that there are a whole lot more who don't join...If you are one of those, then from my personal experience I really didn't start down the road of recovery UNTIL I joined this group...The first time I posted was really, really difficult...I didn't even want to truly admit to myself that I had a problem, much less to share that problem with this group. It was terrifing...So glad that I did, can't believe how much support and insight you can get from people who have been there and done that...I don't believe that anyone who comes to this site does so by accident, you have a gambling problem or someone you love has a gambling problem..Be BRAVE and look past the fear and just maybe you can be someone who can start adding up the days and months and years of not loosing your life to a self defeating gambling addiction....Ain't going to gamble today....One Day at a Time

HOW716 10/31/2017

Thanks for your post. I believe you are right....there are lots of us who read but don't post. Today, I'm choosing to be BRAVE and finally post. I've been reading this forum for a few years and never posted or replied. After many attempts to stop on my own, I realize it's bigger than me. The most difficult thing is not being able to talk about it....this forum can help me and others with that part of it. Knowing I'm not alone is comforting.

Robin-Mc 10/31/2017

We’re not alone, just on different journeys to a better way of living and thinking. For me to have to put in words the way I’m feeling today, and the way I felt when I was gambling, is difficult but necessary to my recovery. I feel good today, so that’s easy to write down, but looking back honestly is sad and embarrassing: sometimes I wonder who I was really fooling. Looking back makes me feel like I should’ve known better, what the hell was wrong with me? I’m a compulsive gambler, that’s what’s wrong with me. If I don’t get a grip on this addiction now I know I never will.
Today I will not gamble

backinblack 10/31/2017

if you aren't ready to post to the public forum start by writing in your personal journal. Just to admit on paper that you are a compulsive gambler is a step in the right direction. We are all in this together....

Qwit4Good 11/01/2017

It is the admission to ourself that is transformative. But it is made real when posted or said aloud. We are more than the sum of our bad behavior.

joycatcher 11/11/2017

Another level of acceptance. Getting things done in the "dark" into the light.

This anonymous source is safe and provides some care and understanding. We've been there or are in it deep now.

When I was really ready to change I let the people close to me know about my addiction and the line I can not cross again. This accountability helps.

Gambling is "officially" in the psychiatric handbook as a core addiction.

We have crossed the line from normal to addicted. Perhaps you remember that realization and often it happens long before the quit. It sure takes much of the fun out of gambling when we see the damage, the toll yet still crave that drug.

They've proved via scans how the brain lights up for the addicts while gambling. My brain is not normal. If you are a compulsive gambler/addict yours is not either. I will not be able to gamble with this malady. If I do pick up after this time clean-- it is really a form of killing myself. How sad.

Chasing the pleasure knowing it was killing me, THAT was insanity.

GOOD NEWS: THERE IS A SOLUTION! There is a way. I've been very much helped by GA. Check it out. It is giving me the outline to live and live well. Not easy, but simple.

Have a great day today.

healing57 11/12/2017

This is a good post. I too feel coming to this forum was life changing. To read so many stories that were so much like mine. Me thinking no one would ever believe the things I've done and then coming here and seeing other people have actually done those things too. I have many forms of support but this is probably the best one.

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