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...
though i have thought about gambling, i have not gambled. proud to say the least my life was miserable, i am glad i don't have the urge controlling me. i went to a suburb where i could have gambled today, where i am not banned but i didn't go, coz i knew i had a fair bit of money in my bank account and my bank card, it's a recepie for disaster. it's been about 2 months. no scratchies,lottery, or slots. still broke, but atleast i am not being self destructive. i had a good two months. my mood has improved. i think clearer. i have gone through alot just trying to quit. at one stage i bought a dog thinking that would make me quit, but i gave him away after two weeks, spent a fortune and other crazy things i went through like limiting my money, half the time running around trying to get money again to gamble. i just hope i keep this up and never go back to that hell hole of gambling. wishing you all success at quitting.
Many things that are important or just plain worth doing are very often the toughest things to do. I know, it sucks having to stop and face the aftermath of our decisions, but the days and weeks will pass and you'll find a clarity of mind and begin to see that light at the end of the tunnel- don't give in and keep it going strong.
Jay
Concentrate on positive, You deserve it! Keep it up!
I am with you, Vicky.
Keep the spirit alive, girl. What a great accomplishment...you should be proud of the strength you are showing. As for "thinking about gambling"....well, we'd all be sitting at zero days of peace if "thinking" of indulging in our fantasy land breached the GF code of ethics.
In fact, we must think about the act of gambling in order to sort through our feelings and desires. I think about it every single day, as I visit this site-but I am handsomely reminded of the rewards I reap by NOT following through on my instinctive/destructive behavior.
The fog eventually lifts.....rolling out, just as it rolled in....and the clarity of each new day becomes more brilliant with time. Keep working it cuz it works. We just need to make sure that when we think of gambling, we've got to play the tape all the way through....the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
Keep up the terrific effort, Flyorra.....we are proud of you and your accomplishments.
Be well, stay strong,
Love Tagg
i was talking to my cousin, and i said to her, i used to take a taxi to the venue and 400 dollars cash and i would win, but i would not realise what i won, i would keep putting money into the machines, like an idiot until i had none left, i was a total mess. back then i had money to burn, i could have bought myself so much with that money, and lived a dream in reality. i could have bought so much for myself, to show myself love, but i gambled and showed my self distrust, hate, sorrow, misery, despair, and craziness.
my aim is to get on top of my finances, live life like i want tosave again, not throw it in the bin like that. i have to meditate on my thoughts, and work on my thoughts to make myself better, my life better, to leave this world a better place, not a disaster, i don't want to sit here 2 years down the track with the same story to tell, i want to say i saved money and visited my family and had a good time with them overseas. i want to have that feeling back of having money in my account and spending it on nice clothes and things for myself and my little brother too. i don't want him to think of me as someone who wasted my life attached to the machines.
even in relationships i am like that, i always go back, with more craziness, when the relationship has no future, no hope, i go back like i am obessed, but when i break free, when it's over it's over, i occasionally think about that person, might write a few messages to them, but then i am reminded of the fact that it's over, the relationship is a dead end. that is just my personality, i have left so many behind, and eventually i will leave gambling behind, although i try to save the relationship again and again, eventually i will get the message, that i am not wanted, not needed, that the other prson can not understand me, that we are better off just being seperated. like i quit talking to my dad, and my older brother because i am just happier without them, i don't risk getting hurt, and eventually will get used to them not being apart of my life. that is another long story i can't really explain it in a few words. some people want to make feel bad about, like oh he's your dad, feel sorry for him along those lines, but he is so screwed up why should i put up with that? he has done enough by not doing what he was supposed to be doing, treating me the way i should have been treated, he had plenty of chances in the past, at some point when it's not working, it's just not working at all anymore, you have to draw the line. no matter how hard it is for you, or even if the other person suffers, some things you have to show yourself some self respect, and be strong.
Rs