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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Can you say SMILE

Leapyear22
Leapyear22
Whenever I go to a meeting, physically or on a call, I leave with a smile on my face, and hope in my heart. I won't lie, sometimes, I dread it, or I can think of other things I can be doing, but, when I go, I never regret it. Tonight was no different. Although I didn't share, I listened, and some of the recovery, the experience, the strength and the hope I heard, reminded me once again, I am not alone. Today is day 30 for me, and what a great way to end the day. I would always find a reason to gamble, I would go out of my way to gamble, I would spend hours, days on end in a casino. Today, I am choosing recovery, I am choosing to do whatever it takes, even if I have to go out of my way, spend hours, or days on end doing it, I will, because today, I have hope, and today, I FINALLY believe I am worthy. xoxoxox
Cherbear2012
Cherbear2012
Hi Leap, I was there listening tonight too and I agree completely. It makes me smile too!. I have a GA meeting in my town and going to the call in meeting makes me think about trying the live meetings again. It would be nice to do both. The nice thing about the call in meeting is the fact that there are long term recovery folks as well as some new to recovery. They stick to a nice GA format and they run the meeting so well. It's a beautiful thing. I know this will help me stay on track and I am so glad to have this meeting now every week. Thanks for joining me! HUGS! Cher
chargergirl
chargergirl
Leap you have all the reason to smile today. The milestone you have achieved today shows how committed you are to your recovery. I can't thank you enough for inspiring me to keep moving forward even if it is day by day. Two days ago I felt so hopeless. I hit my rock bottom and felt so guilty and shameful. This disease has no mercy. As I said in the telephone meeting I am back to exactly where I was 16 years ago. Thank you for being by my side during the start of my journey to recovery. xoxoxo Chargergirl
thenewway
thenewway
Dear Leap,

such an eloquent way to document the process
of recovery,
the thinking and feeling that we
go through as we abstain from compulsive gambling
and begin to realize a new and better life.
you are so helpful to so many others
as you maintain your recovery.

congrats on 30 big days.
thank you for all of your encouraging posts.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The meetings help me so much and sometimes that is the only thing that can get me out of the door. I feel renewed somehow after listening to people knowing I am not alone. I have the love and support of friends and family but they do not understand what it is like to live with this disease. I can see it on their faces when they talk to me almost as to say "why don't you just stop". If only it were that easy. The meetings give me the hope that I can recover from the disease like so many others have done.