Hi Pink
Im glad you found us here. These people who are on here have been a life line for me. Please call and find a g.a. meeting by you. We work the 12 step program and in the process im starting to figure out stuff that I've hidden from while I was gambling.
My story is like so many others. I almost lost it all,( including my house and my life) before I figured out that I can't live from spin to spin anymore! Im done!! I finally got the courage to ban myself from the 7 casinos I went to. That was like a HUGE weight off me. Since I quit gambling, I actually have money again. Even though its not much, its more than I used to have.
Anyway, please know that there is a better life for us when we decide we want it bad enough to fight tooth and nail to have it.
Love and Hugs
Lisa

hi Pink welcome! ahh yes gambling and boozin i could easily write a book on those two demons...unfortunately it would only be one repeating chapter with the same sad ending. i have been drinking and gambling half of my life. i had to quit the drinkin to quit the gambling since all i think about when drinkin is gambling they go hand and hand for me. it has not been easy..but im starting to enjoy not being broke and hungover all the time. leaving the casino at 6am broke,drunk,hungry,and tired is truly one of the worst feeling i have ever experienced. you can do it if commit all your energy that was commited to drinking and gambling to stopping this madness. think of how much better you will feel and your energy level will go back up. well i wish you the best and feel free to post again if you have any questions, comments, and just want to rant alittle. we will be here for you!

Hello Pink and welcome!

One of the tuffest things Ive had to do is stop gambling and it hasnt been easy. Then again tho... Nobody ever told me it would be.

Getting help and support has been the key. This group of Folks here have been a crucial part of getting healthy for me.

I know I must stay away from the casino at all costs... because once I set foot in that door, its all over for me. I have to be willing to do whatever it takes to not gamble.

What are you willing to do??

I am willing to do the work to break from these addictions. I have a pretty great life, when I step outside it. My kids are adorable, I just graduated, i am an artist as well. There's no reason logically for me to sabotauge myself as I do, running myself into this awful pit of anger, resentment, despair...
I feel I really don't want to grow up, be responsible, enjoy the true pace of life reading a book, hitting the park, cooking a meal. I want drama on some level, which I get from this cycle, even though it's not pleasure but pure gluttony, esp on the booze front.

My father has an anecdote about a speaker who asked a crowd of 100's to raise their hand if they did NOT come from a dysfunctional family, and of course not one hand goes up. It reflects that we all have issues to work through, but we don't ALL turn to gambling or alcohol to deal with them. I know I need to train myself to find an alternate, healthy outlet. The absence of money today has really been stinging. :(

Hi, my name is Steve. I am at my breaking point. I have lost everything and then some. I have been on this sick ride for so many years and i have wasted so much money. It is a sickness that has gotten the best of me. I hope that I can get some help and get out of this mess. This is my first post and I was wondering if anyone can give me any advise. I am working on getting to some meetings. Is there a regular forum that is active? I am very sad and depressed.

Hi Steve, I like to think that this forum is quite active. Some days, more than others. Please do read as much as you can of previous posts. You will be amazed to find how many things you have in common with others of us here, who are also compulsive gamblers. You CAN change your life. You can save your own life. The three basic elements are: Honesty, Open mindedness and Willingness. If you have these three things, you can do this. The most difficult thing at the beginning is not placing that first bet. I was a slot machine fiend, and the casino was my home away from home. You have to very simply NOT GO. Many people here have had tremendous success with addictions counselors, others choose the rooms of GA (including me). But I am happy to welcome you here to Daily Strength and this is my other source of staying the F away from those soul-sucking dumps. Hugs, Estel

A Gambling Cure.

Think of a tree that bears bad fruit that is gambling; furthermore think of gambling as the water that makes the tree grow. To explain, the tree has taken its root and will not entirely be removed, however if you deny it water it will dry out and die. Do not be fooled into to thinking that one last punt or bucket of cold water will not bring life back into the tree that bears bad fruit. It is clear that gambling provides the water for the tree to be revitalized and to grow stronger and for the roots to grow deeper. Deny the tree its life sustaining water and stop eating bad fruit, which is sickly sweet or bitter to the taste. There are other trees that bear good fruit in abundance, enough to share, which is good for the spirit. Moreover with sharing comes cleansing of the conscious and a gentle spirit that is resilient to temptation but not beyond it, cautiously watchful yet forgiving of oneself and of others. You are the good tree that bears good fruit.
RAJCHAPMAN2013