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 have been relatively ok since 'recovering' from my deepest and darkest days. Over the last few months I have only gambled every 2-3 weeks, and even when I do, it is 1/8 of the amount I used to bet.
Putting that aside, I wonder if our lie to the rest of the world ever ends?
I was talking to a colleage the other day and he was saying how I should visit Vegas when I go for a holiday to the US. I joked that I wouldn't have any money to return home, then he said "you don't look like a gambler, you've got nothing to worry about".
I was like "..........."
The other thing is, my parents think I have a tonne of money stashed away somewhere - but I don't. It's hard to estimate how much in total I've lost during my addiction, but I don't think it's an amount I can recover easily.
They've been pushing for me to put a deposit down on a house and I've been like "........................"
So, I wanna ask, can we ever end our lies, or does it stay with us for the rest of our lives? And possibly be discovered after we die?
Putting that aside, I wonder if our lie to the rest of the world ever ends?
I was talking to a colleage the other day and he was saying how I should visit Vegas when I go for a holiday to the US. I joked that I wouldn't have any money to return home, then he said "you don't look like a gambler, you've got nothing to worry about".
I was like "..........."
The other thing is, my parents think I have a tonne of money stashed away somewhere - but I don't. It's hard to estimate how much in total I've lost during my addiction, but I don't think it's an amount I can recover easily.
They've been pushing for me to put a deposit down on a house and I've been like "........................"
So, I wanna ask, can we ever end our lies, or does it stay with us for the rest of our lives? And possibly be discovered after we die?
YOU need to stop.. totally going to the casino.
it seems like you are weaning yourself off of it..
I dont know if that is possible..
The lie.. fully will end.. when you cease
particpating in gambling and
stop throwing your money away.. forgive yourself..
and redirect..
think abotut why you go.. what drives you..
what you are running from
or trying to relieve
and then redirect..
surely you have better things to do with your $$$$ than ive to greedy casinos or in betting
Collegues are no big deal. You don't have to reveal anything to them. It's your own fight and you chose who you tell and who you don't.
As far as after you die, who cares! :-) People find out a lot of strange things after people die and life goes on. Maybe they would've wished you said something. Who knows. I think we all carry some baggage no matter what regarding our lives. If you have a good heart and try to do the best you can, people will usually appreciate that.
Why do I go? Sometimes I get stressed from work, and it is a good stress reliever. Sometimes I feel lonely and just want to be by myself but "amongst others". Sometimes I just get depressed.
mercury - there's no way I can confess to my folks. My mom plays the pokies, and I've always told her not to. In fact, I limit the amount of money I give her because I fear she may just gamble it all. Quite a hypocrite, huh? :(
bear - yes, I do understand this acting as a motivator as well. I have enough to clear my debts now (will do it in about a week or so), but what is hard is trying to accumulate the funds I lost...going back to status quo so to speak. The way I see it, that is the only way I can ever cover up this thing.
You know you are having issues with gambling and you are working on resolving them. You are heading in the right direction.
" The biggest lies we tell are to ourselves. "
It is so true, I have to remember this phrase. Thanks.
Atticus - that is actually a very decent excuse. I have used it with my friends before. It is not a total lie, because in the GFC I did lose a bit of money, although obviously not the extent that I've told my friends.
I guess if my parents ask then this would be the most sensible 'lie'.