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.we made it through one more Friday night of no gambling.yay!!! Today we are gamble free, we do not have to face ourselves with disgust and shame. We did not deny who we really are and sell out to our addiction. It really is a win win situation!
I was thinking about how in the midst of my addiction I would sit and press a button like a zombie throwing my hard earned money into a machine that promises very little in returnwhat a 1 in 200 hundred chance of winning? Then when my money is all gone, like a zombie I would go to the trusty ATM machine and withdraw more money to throw away until I had lost so much that the shame and disgust set in and I drove home beating myself up for being so stupid.
Grateful for the freedom of being gamble free today.
I was thinking about how in the midst of my addiction I would sit and press a button like a zombie throwing my hard earned money into a machine that promises very little in returnwhat a 1 in 200 hundred chance of winning? Then when my money is all gone, like a zombie I would go to the trusty ATM machine and withdraw more money to throw away until I had lost so much that the shame and disgust set in and I drove home beating myself up for being so stupid.
Grateful for the freedom of being gamble free today.
You took the words right out of my mouth. Payday/Friday was always a trigger for me. It feels great to respect yourself on a Saturday morning for not gambling the night before, doesn't it?!! I'm so glad I don't have to beat myself up on the ride home anymore either!
We ought to start a Saturday morning I didn't gamble happy dance :o)
Have a great, gamble-free day!
I see myself so much in what you describe. I am so grateful that last night was a gamble free Friday night. For me tomorrow will be a hard day as my mom spends the day with me and we always went to the casino together. She has gambled her whole life but always only 20-40 dollars once or twice a week and leaving when she wins anything.
I am not like that. She has alzheimers and will forget if I tell her I am not going. I am praying for strength in moments of weakness and will think on your words, the support of the people here and this place. Thank you Rainie.
Here's a song that talks about addiction. I really love this song it really hits home for me. He talks about "spending beyond his means" and "consequences I have rendered"...see if you like it (it's hard rock which I also like, but even if you don't like hard rock give it a listen just for the lyrics):
Staind "It's Been Awhile"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1xdGTh-aWo
Awesome song, NoMore! Also, interesting album title, break the cycle...
Fridays were always my favorite night, now I try to make a point of making it a home night, try to make a special dinner (I'm a bit of a half assed chef, LOL) and just plain enjoy my night, my home and who I'm with, instead of the total opposite as I used to- be as far away from my home and my family/friends as possible...
Jay