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...
Today is my second week not going to the casino, I'm afraid to be weak, but determine I will success.. thank you all for your post it been helpful.
I am right behind you.
Let's beat this demon together one day at the time.
I did quite a bit of reading once I was getting clean, mostly because I was astounded and baffled as to HOW could I have done this? Gotten in this trap? and been seemingly UNALBE to stop, or stay stopped?
It was mind boggling.
In the action, and gambling so much, I had re wired/re programmed my brain to this addiction. To this stimulation. To this new reward center formation. And it was SO POWERFUL.
Gambling was ALL I WANTED. Everything else that used to bring happiness just faded out, I did not get the "reward". Thus the gambling just became the be all end all. End all alright!
So Please continue to give your brain a break. It WILL rewire. It will form new pathways and other things will become pleasurable again. The pull for gambling wills start to dwindle. Then you'll have a day where, "wow, I didn't crave it".
It took me 3 months clean to be able to really start thinking again. White knuckle thru, keep doing what you can to interrupt the use. Call people, go for a walk, go to a GA meeting, start a new craft project, do a good deed for someone in need, go to the library, volunteer at a pet shelter or human shelter. Anything to take mind off it.
After this last 1.5 year w. out gambling the strong pull isn't there. Now and then the thought comes but I see it for what it is --- something in my life is not right, I need to look at my life and resolve what is driving the desire to escape and learn a new way.
Best to you and keep it up! It's worth it.