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 finally found my username and password. I've been on this site like forever always going back and read other people's comments or entries. So I started my journey with DS about 5 years ago during my hellish time with gambling addiction, the slot machines. It's got such a tight grip on me, I was powerless, fearful, angry, I didn't know or could control myself. During that time I had a good job, I was on the right track for life except I got addicted to gambling. I started my journal journey on this website and hopefully I can gain some friends because am such a lonely person, my so call or thought to be best friend dropped me in the trash can when I lost everything. Am just so glad that I am reunited with my login again so I can start my real journey again. So now it's 2016, 5 years later, I filed for bankruptcy, I lost my good job, I have nothing in the bank, am unemployed, I have about $200 on me. Would of had $530 but I gambled half away in the slot machine. I gambled away pretty much everything except my life. I feel like I wanted to end my life bit I refused to let gambling win on me on that one. Am just so grateful to my parents, who let me stay with them until the situation gets better bit am just so depressed, tired, I worked all my life only to have nothing at the age of 36. I will so happy if some of u could reach out to me and comment. Thanks, hopeful for tomorrow.
We all pretty much so know and understand how you feel... so , you are not alone.
Is there any GA available in your area?
Also, to be honest, the relationship I was in was not a healthy one. When I told people that I loved about my problem, he was the only person who did not react with love, kindness and support. In some ways I am thankful to my addiction and subsequent treatment to have helped me recognize and get away from unhealthy/toxic relationships.
I needed help to stop gambling, and I could not get stopped until I was two weeks into treatment. I now have completed treatment, but continue to attend a weekly support group with other women who are in recovery from gambling addiction. I have a little over a year of abstinence now and have made many changes in my life, both in environment and internally. Treatment helped me find the roots to my gambling. I still must work my daily program and be diligently aware that I have an inner gambler ready to take control at any minute. I take it one day at a time.
I will send you a friend request here through DS, welcome back.
I've been trying to get myself into gambling anon but I was stubborn, in denial thinking I could just stop on my own but after 5
years of hell, I found out that I am truly powerless over this addiction. They do have gambler anon in the state of WA. I just been trying hard to look for a job, but am going to follow Qwit4Good advice by getting the jobs that I wanna do instead of stressing myself out and trigger my gambling addiction.
It has not been easy.
But I will tell you this: Money is one of the easiest things to accumulate once you quit. Suddenly, the $200, $400, or $1,000 I would've spent at the casino is put towards catching up car payments, fixing up my place so I could sell it for a profit, and building a savings.
It was also refreshing to realize that life isn't nearly as expensive as gambling -- seeing a movie with popcorn and a drink is $30, not $300 for two hours. Getting a new pair of designer shoes is $100-$600 and they last for years, not for an afternoon.
In just six months, I have climbed out of debt and paid off my car. I have a savings account for the first time in my adult life. It hasn't been an easy six months, but it has been a good six months.