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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Had a baby

nancyzoman
nancyzoman

Haven't posted in a while, for a myriad of reasons, namely that I had a baby.


I've been doing fairly well. Things are going fairly well at work and the baby is healthy, we are bonded, and we are both adjusting to our new life.


Sometimes, though, when things get stressful, I have a tendency to what to go gamble. Advice welcome. 


PS - I'm 13 months clean. Was 2 years clean (June 21, 2015) before a work trip to Vegas in 2017, ended up going off for 3 days there in 2017. 

yes2recovery
yes2recovery
Congratulations! I am so happy you're doing well! I have missed seeing your posts, as they've always helped me in the past. I too am struggling with old patterns as there's been some extra, unexpected stress in my life recently, and even with all the tools I've put in place and the progress I've made, my brain's first response is still to want to gamble. It seems like this addiction just won't shut up and leave me alone. I don't really have any advice for you, but I am ever so glad that you're back with us.
Robin-Mc
Robin-Mc
Hi Nancy,
Congratulations on your new baby. I’m so glad to hear you’re bonded with your little one, that’s so important. 13 months clean for you, congratulations on that, too. I’m at 16 months without placing a bet. Stressful events have taken place during this time, but it’s been amazing to me that my actions and reactions to stress have been healthier. I attribute this to my newfound self love. I’m grateful for this new way of approaching life, with my eyes wide, Really, all I can say is, something inside of me clicked, I hate gambling. It brought me to my depth of despair, I hated myself. Something clicked inside me and I realized I could stop gambling if that’s what I wanted to do. One day at a time is the only way I can do this. I know there isn’t a cure for my addiction, and I can live with that.
Never give up on yourself, be open to something clicking inside.
Welcome back
Qwit4Good
Qwit4Good
Wow! a baby! Well that changes one's life! Congrats! Yes it is In the stressful times that we have our worst moments of weakness, because for a brief moment the dopamine makes us feel better. That is why I have had to practice doing other things that relieve stress when I am not stressed. So that when I am stressed it will be a more natural response and give me another path besides gambling, when I am stressed. Adult coloring books are helpful, as is meditation and exercise for stress relief. All tougher, but doable with a baby in arms.

I attribute my abstinence to hard work and new found self-love too. Much thanks to online work on YouTube of Louise Hay (How to Love Yourself).
Hang in there Nancy, so good to have you back.
frank12
frank12
Congrats on the baby. Don’t do it. I gambled bc of the stress of both my two children. Just resulted in losing $ plus the stress is still there with dealing with a newborn and toddler. There are better escapes out there than gambling.