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...
as a long time gambler I know first hand (as many of you do) about watching tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars disappear from our lives forever without much hope of ever seeing it again. Its a miracle that any of us have a place to live or a car to drive or any credit at all. I went bankrupt in 2002 and at the apex of my CG I lived in dread of payday, one of the biggest challenges which every CG is faced with.
I know now I can easily lose control when I gamble and drain my checking account in just hours - to nothing. My credit cards - maxed. I left the casinos many times having spent every last dollar in my wallet. If I didn't leave a few dollars at home, I had nothing to live on and would scramble to survive for the next two weeks. Sound familiar?
To those of you who are new to your situation and have not yet gained ANY control over your addiction here is what I recommend:
1. ban yourself immediately from all local casinos. it's just TOO easy to jump in your car and get to a local casino in 30 min and start gambling. if you spend just a few minutes fantasizing about it - you're already there! you simply have NO CHANCE without step 1!
2. keep what credit cards you have locked away or out of your wallet. also, don't take your checkbook. I've used this method a couple of times and it works. you get frustrated as hell when you run out of money but when you find that you have to leave the casino, it gives you time to regroup your thoughts about what you've lost already.
3. schedule all your bills with your online bill-pay to happen on the very day you get paid. if you are getting paper checks, change over to direct deposit. nothing is worse than a gambler with a bunch of which is soon to be the casinos' cash!
4. start changing how you view the casinos. STOP thinking about them altogether as much as possible! when you do, tell yourself that was part of your past and it's no longer a part of your life. keep busy with other things - stay close to your family as much as possible. you know that being alone with a gambling addiction makes you WANT to go.
I've lost less money in the past 6 months using those methods and made it thru the last two paydays without gambling a dime. I spend as much time with my kids or at work as possible or going to a store on errand shopping - which keeps my mind busy when I'm alone. Also when I pay all my bills on the same day, it's much more sobering to consider what little money I have to gamble with when I still need groceries, gas etc. btw, you'll wan to do that on paydays too.
I hope these tips helps someone, there really is hope you know. in your faith, your family and your own will. charge yourself to do better! the human will can be very strong if you take the time to set it in motion. YOU CAN DO BETTER! God bless you all.
I know now I can easily lose control when I gamble and drain my checking account in just hours - to nothing. My credit cards - maxed. I left the casinos many times having spent every last dollar in my wallet. If I didn't leave a few dollars at home, I had nothing to live on and would scramble to survive for the next two weeks. Sound familiar?
To those of you who are new to your situation and have not yet gained ANY control over your addiction here is what I recommend:
1. ban yourself immediately from all local casinos. it's just TOO easy to jump in your car and get to a local casino in 30 min and start gambling. if you spend just a few minutes fantasizing about it - you're already there! you simply have NO CHANCE without step 1!
2. keep what credit cards you have locked away or out of your wallet. also, don't take your checkbook. I've used this method a couple of times and it works. you get frustrated as hell when you run out of money but when you find that you have to leave the casino, it gives you time to regroup your thoughts about what you've lost already.
3. schedule all your bills with your online bill-pay to happen on the very day you get paid. if you are getting paper checks, change over to direct deposit. nothing is worse than a gambler with a bunch of which is soon to be the casinos' cash!
4. start changing how you view the casinos. STOP thinking about them altogether as much as possible! when you do, tell yourself that was part of your past and it's no longer a part of your life. keep busy with other things - stay close to your family as much as possible. you know that being alone with a gambling addiction makes you WANT to go.
I've lost less money in the past 6 months using those methods and made it thru the last two paydays without gambling a dime. I spend as much time with my kids or at work as possible or going to a store on errand shopping - which keeps my mind busy when I'm alone. Also when I pay all my bills on the same day, it's much more sobering to consider what little money I have to gamble with when I still need groceries, gas etc. btw, you'll wan to do that on paydays too.
I hope these tips helps someone, there really is hope you know. in your faith, your family and your own will. charge yourself to do better! the human will can be very strong if you take the time to set it in motion. YOU CAN DO BETTER! God bless you all.
So, here I am 5 days past payday and I have just enough money to survive the next week and a half. I pray that I have the strength to not gamble any of it.