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 wrote a post here last week and the week before about how I ended up in the casino. The last two visits allowed me to cover some of my prior blunders, but did not help get rid of the addiction that has taken over me.
It seems after a few drinks, hanging out with friends, i still dont feel like I am mentally satisfied.
Last night, I went again and this time lost all of the winnings from the last two visits.
The feeling of loss, emptiness and self pity has taken over my day.
I have been told by others including here that alcohol is my trigger and that I need to stop to help me with this addiction.
I feel at times that it is too much for me to handle. I dont know how I should stay away from alcohol since it is a big part of my social life.
I drink once or twice a week, and thats when this urge of gambling comes in to my mind, since usually i feel anxious to do something that will keep my mind occupied.
I feel like crap today and hate the feeling that I have right now.
I feel ashamed of myself, and dont like myself much. I dont know how I have become this person.
I was doing well with the Wednesday calls at GA but, have not been on there or here in a weeks.
I can already tell that sticking to the program and quitting drinking are my only answers to achieve the success I am looking for.
It seems after a few drinks, hanging out with friends, i still dont feel like I am mentally satisfied.
Last night, I went again and this time lost all of the winnings from the last two visits.
The feeling of loss, emptiness and self pity has taken over my day.
I have been told by others including here that alcohol is my trigger and that I need to stop to help me with this addiction.
I feel at times that it is too much for me to handle. I dont know how I should stay away from alcohol since it is a big part of my social life.
I drink once or twice a week, and thats when this urge of gambling comes in to my mind, since usually i feel anxious to do something that will keep my mind occupied.
I feel like crap today and hate the feeling that I have right now.
I feel ashamed of myself, and dont like myself much. I dont know how I have become this person.
I was doing well with the Wednesday calls at GA but, have not been on there or here in a weeks.
I can already tell that sticking to the program and quitting drinking are my only answers to achieve the success I am looking for.
I understand that alcohol trigger. I'm not that big of drinker anymore but I won't be drinking anything for a very long time. It makes me just say/think 'I don't give a ****' so that won't work.
I find that I have to stop & think about a lot of things now before I respond because I don't want to do anything that will stress me to the breaking point. Stress must be kept to the absolute minimum. That is my new mantra.
You can do this. I wish you all the best.
I have not slipped yet doing this.....because I do not want to start a new day one! So far ....so good! I am at day 43!
Good luck...you can do this! It bites feeling yucky in the morning and for a few days afterward. So much nicer knowing little by little you are getting a grip on it....
You can do it! Good luck
For now, I will limit my drinking to none. It always seems to work, and slowly when I learn to enjoy my time out with friends, and feel mentally satisfied, then I can see if it has any room for me.
I would like to thank everyone for the constant support I get from this group. It seems to really make me feel like there is a better day for me tomorrow.
I know im young, and i might not be in serious trouble in terms of gambling on daily basis, but those blunders I create during the my times of gambling, have left me to realize I need to change.
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
I will get rid of this addiction!!
I highly suggest you drink cranberry and soda in social outings and find other ways to soothe yourself. (Art, music, dance, journaling, meditation, something, everything, anything but gambling and drinking and as many things as it takes.)
Another strategy that folks have used is to tell your social circle about your gambling problem and ask for their help to see you don't go gambling afterwards. This only works if they really care about you, you can be completely honest, you are willing to accept their help and they are willing to help you.