Please dear legolady,
read the recent post "two types of compulsive gambling"
also read here for hours
until your eyes hurt.
This is a devestating disease.
You need to realize that your brain is addicted
and you must put the hinderances in place so you will
not be able to get the money to gamble and then
go to a local GA meeting and here for support in recovery.

It will only get worse
the more you gamble, the longer you gamble
the more you will lose.
We addicts can't stop once we start and the
consequences can be horrific.

keep strong
you are starting on the right path
keep coming back

legolady,

Welcome! You're not alone. I have not shared my addiction with my family either. I felt very alone and afraid until I began coming here. It really does help.

Is it possible for you to self-exclude where you live? Exclusion was an absolute lifesaver for me. It doesn't fix the underlying problems that lead you to gamble, but it gives you some space to breathe, get a handle on your finances, and begin to think about what led you to the casino doors.

Do you have access to GA meetings? I haven't been, but there are many here that can advise you on GA.

Keep reading, posting and most of all, take care of yourself.

All we compulsive gamblers can do is take one day at a time. So glad you have come here and we will support you anyway we can. First you have to admit to yourself that you are a compulsive gambler. Retraining your brain is so very hard but it can be done. Find a GA meeting near you, come here and post and read as much as you can.

Hi Legolady!
I haven't been here for awhile but I was here and gamble free for 9 months. I relapsed a few months ago. It sucks!! Since I've been on and off the wagon I can definitely say that being gf makes you feel so much better than worrying about where your gonna find money to pay your bills, food to eat, etc. I feel like I'm below rock bottom, and the only advice I can give you is that chasing your losses is NOT the answer. Stay strong!! Hugs Lisa

when I came back, I thought my brains were scrambled, too. (and they were) probably from hours of staring at the machines. I had to admit that gambling had won! it beat the hell out of me. once admitting that I can not control my gambling once I start, then I researched the addiction, researched ways to prevent relapse, learned what makes us compulsive, and finally began to realize that more gambling only leads to more financial stress. so I said I"m not going to gamble for one day. then another day, another one, one day at a time. I hoped to make it for 31 days, but was unsure if I could.....the pull is so strong, we have to actively fight the pull by distracting ourselves, not driving near there, and I'm sure I typed up a storm here on DS to keep from going. that kept my fingers really busy. keep posting, welcome to the site, and keep trying to quit. okay?

WELCOME Legolady!
I think the most important thing to do at the beginning of trying to stop gambling is to set up some good road blocks to prevent you from getting your hands on money to gamble. Money is your drug. A good friend here on D.S. (jcwang) always says what he thinks is the key. NO MONEY = NO GAMBLE. You simply cannot gamble without it. I put a $20 daily cash limit on my ATM. That made it worthless at the casino and really helped me. I got rid of credit cards and don't carry checks. Some people say it's good to self exclude from the casinos, Throw away all mail from the casinos and get off the mailing lists. I should have done that long ago. The mailers kept coming and tempting me dragging it out for far too long. Keep coming back here often and read as much as possible. Join in and post if you can. Go to GA if you have a group near you. Find yourself a one on one gambling addiction councilor. I don't know where you live but check if there is any help for gamblers offered. You are in good company here. We do understand what you are going through. Hugs! Cher

Thank you for all the kind words and support. I feel disgusted with myself that I can't control myself... i seriously thought.. the only way I am going to stop gambling is to cut my arms off.. but i'm sure even if I did... I would still use my feet to hit the slot machine.

This disease is so devastating! I need to take baby steps.. and will research how to self-exclude from the C....o tomorrow and make the phone call!

Legolady,

I don't know the state where you live, but in my state you must show up in person to self exclude. Take your license with you as well. It is not as scary as you think. In fact, everyone I encountered that day could not have been nicer to me.

My advice is to call them first and get the information so that you do not have to make 2 trips. Also, don't go with money - leave your cards & cash at home. And most of all, don't delay - as Nike says - Just Do It! Do it while your resolve is high.

It was the best gift I've ever given myself.

In my state also you must show up in person to self exclude, which to me seemed very odd and almost ironic. It's part of the reason I haven't done it. So can anyone expand on what happens if you self exclude, through, and then slip up? That is also another reason I haven't done it. Legolady I am also new here. You have come to the right place. The people I've interacted with here have been so supportive and have great advice. You can't do it alone, I found that out also. Please lean on me anytime for support. I am glad if I can help anyone in even the littlest way. Stay strong.

self-exclusion is great. I didn't go by myself when I did it before. and all ready, my counselor and I are making plans for me to self-exclude from both of them this month. We are pulling for you. Please keep coming back as often as you can and post so we can know how you're doing. we do care!

It's my understanding you have to go in person to self-exclude. Once I took one of my friends, and just recently I did it myself after losing thousands of dollars!
In my state, if you go to the casino after you self exclude - and they catch you - you are arrested for trespassing. I've seen pics of people in handcuffs being led out of the casino. That's enough to keep me from going!!

Dear Bernie,
I'm moving to your state.

here they say that people still gamble
and sometimes they even give a jackpot
or just ask you to leave.
I asked one place about it and they
laughed at me and told me hey, "we want you to come here".
A young securtiy gaurd.
and......
I went back,
it a business treated us like that we would never
frequent their business again,
what was wrong with me............
my stupid addicted and non-thinking about me
and my welfare brain.

I just wanted to return to my first post to celebrate my first GF weekend! I thought about going or what lie I would tell my husband and kids to get away but did not go! and I've been reading the post on this site everyday to see the struggles and successful that everyone is going through. This has helped me tremendously to know that out in this huge world.. there are others who are going through the same thing that I am.

It is so nice to not have to repeat that cycle of gambling and losing all my money.. and then spend the rest of the week beating myself up.

one day, one week, and at the end of this month... one month. Thank you everyone for your support.

Well done! The feeling you get when you stop is amazing. It gives you hope that there is another way to live.

It is really important that you take some action at this point so that you don't fall back into the same routine. Right now, your resolve is high so you need to think ahead to the time when it is not. Use this time to put some hurdles in place. Self-exclusion is one of them. Also, if it is possible, limit your access to cash. It's also a good time to think about what your triggers.

You are placing yourself at risk if you rely on willpower. You've proved to yourself that it is possible to do this, having a plan in place will make it probable.

Take care of yourself!

yes newlife2014,

Now is the time for the "action" and the "planning" to prevent the
relapse or return to gambling.
PILE IT ON and do as many meetings of GA as possible.
Avoid the "just one more time" thinking.
Keep yourself busy and focused.

Keep coming,
we learn from you
as you learn from us.