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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Hipster638 03/01/2018

So 2 days ago I had lost a relatively big amount of money gambling. Yesterday when I woke up I told myself I wasnt going to gamble anymore, The day goes on and im still telling myself not to gamble. Once I get out of school I call my bookie and place a bet to try and win back the money I lost the night before.

Of course I lose my bets and end up falling asleep out of my depression for actually betting when I told myself not to. I wake up, middle of the night in my sweat, cant go back to sleep because all I can think about is how much I money lost and how much it hurt me financially, I had a terrible feeling in my stomach and heart. So I decide to search the web for ways that I can get over that terrible feeling that comes from losing money while gambling.

I stumble upon this website and read a bunch of posts on gambling, you guys made me feel like I wasnt alone and that I would be able to get through this dark time. I end up falling asleep. This morning im telling myself that im going to fight through this addiction and start a road towards recovery......I end up calling my bookie 5 minutes before the game starts and placing a bet. Of course I lose again.

So today I decided to join and share my story because I need HELP with this addiction, it is ruining my life. I lost my social life, I dont have the energy or will to excersize anymore, all my money goes to gambling and ive lost all sense of what my priorities are. I just want to stop before its too late. (PS. I wonder if I would be here had I won tonight and sorry for the long story lol)

healing57 03/02/2018

Welcome to the group and sorry you are battling this addiction. you need to stop one hour at a time for now. just get through the day . Days will turn into weeks, weeks into months. You might have withdrawal, I did. Lethargy, tiredness, a sense of doom and panic depression, but in a couple of months it will get better. You need a day one. I said I was going to stop every day and then I finally did. you need to make it impossible for you to gamble. Give your money to someone. Cancel your credit cards, give the new ones to someone. I don't know how to handle not calling the bookie. Throw away your phone? Drastic times call for drastic measures. Do whatever it takes., ask for help. Tell people, the more honest you are about it the less power the secret has over you. you can do it. Best wishes

deliaberg88 03/02/2018

Hello,
this website is a daily strength, you are so in the right place.
I agree about getting the money out of reach. my son helped me.
I got free counseling from our state, check with your state .
love yourself, and the biggest hurdle is telling friends and family , those close to you that you are suffering from this addiction, it is harming you .
meetings of GA are truly helpful.
It is no picnic, you will grow stronger,I agree so much with one day at a time.
best to you , keep posting

itsjustmeagain 03/02/2018

welcome...ughhhhh the PIT I call it, sucks, dive deep down into such depression of "what the hell just happened" not understanding my brain scared me, gambling would be the only thing to help me get over gambling, that's insanity, so i began my journey of quitting....over and over i messed up, but i still try every day to obstain so far I'm doing good and look forward to the journey of self discovery and freedom from this Nightmare...stick around

Hipster638 03/02/2018

So I will try to not gamble tonight and take it one day at a time, I still feel like shit over the money I lost last week, especially since I really need the money. I stopped gambling for about a week, earlier this year . I realized that I can sleep for longer periods of time without having to wake in the middle of the night thinking about my losses. I want to get back to that so bad. Please follow me on my journey(one day at a time) and update me on how you guys are dealing with trying to battle this terrible addiction.

Hipster638 03/02/2018

yea the PIT is one of the worst feelings ever!!

Wandering 03/02/2018

Hi Hipster638 welcome to this place. Funny how we reach the end, but somehow we even can find ways to go deeper!

I did self-ban from a casino, but frankly, that's but ONE place of the more than 200 places I could go to. I live in Washington, we have bars with pull tabs, we have stores with scratch off tickets and lottery, then across the border is Oregon.

They have "Video Lottery" and believe me, I learned the hard way they want YOUR money. But with GA, this place and the realization that I can't stop once I start till I am broke, I find that returning to gambling isn't hard right now.

But as one person said in my recovery meeting, that "Anyone can abstain for awhile, it's RECOVERY that is the hard part" and indeed it is. I was really tempted to go today, but have a "Blood Platelets" donation to meet and also got paid.

So I moved all except for the cost of a full tank and a few meals, into my bank credit card. Does this totally stop me? NO IT DOES NOT. I have 2 credit cards and one has quite a bit available for cash advancing. So what's stopping me? That I'd have to walk into THAT room and admit I slipped, I fell and while I am getting back up, it hurts.

That's why......I don't go and gamble.

itsjustmeagain 03/02/2018

please remember, this isnt a "i wont go anymore" type of disease, your brain will hijack you and you feel you have no choice but to go and satisfy your urge, good lord, i'd been at the bottom so much i'd said I COULDNT POSSSSSSSSSSSSIBLY go back.......yet did

put road blocks in NOW while you are sober ....block the money, make appts and keep them, get an urge, jump in the shower, by the time you dry you'll have a fighting chance.....

Robin-Mc 03/02/2018

Hi Hipster
Abstinence from gambling allows me the freedom to live a better life. It’s step one, and it’s tough. I’ve lived with this addiction for a long time, I was able to stay abstinent for some good chunks of time, however I never felt I was “in recovery” until this time around. I felt like I was being good, that this is what I was supposed to do to make others happy with me, and for me. I was afraid of what I thought recovery was all about, I was afraid of failing at it. I thought recovery was associated with religion , or some sort of a brain washing thing. But I now know Recovery is Freedom I do not have to gamble to survive. I do not have to say yes to that one thing. Our minds are powerful sources in our lives, but every thought doesn’t have to be acted on. We can put our foot down and say no to ourselves. Not everything will change overnight, but little by little we can change our ways of living and thinking.
We’re here for you, we need your story and we need to share.
Today I will not gamble

skip88 03/02/2018

Robin, you are so right on with the freedom from gambling. This addiction is a simple disease for complicated people. For me hating to lose more than wanting to win was a big turning point. Sure I still have rough days but nothing even close to the brutal beats while in action. No more recoveries left ,nothing to gain,and Everything to lose.

Qwit4Good 03/03/2018

Take the bookie's number out of your phone or have a friend do it for you. Get between your money and gambling any way you can. There is no shame in seeking help - it is a sign of strength not weakness to admit we are in need of help. The National Problem Gambling Help Line can tell you where resources are in your community. 1-800-522-4700 (24 hr/7 days per week) Counseling, GA, a good support group, Daily Strength, friendship, family, self-care, meditation, gratitude, artwork, exercise, and my higher power got me stable and away from gambling, and now the results, the love, the tools, the techniques all get me through each day without gambling.

Hipster638 03/03/2018

I appreciate all of you and I read every last word that you guys write, I actually went last night without gambling. It felt good to not wake up in the middle of the night with regrets and thinking about losses.

Robin-Mc 03/03/2018

Good for you, now do it again tonight, no betting, because you don’t gamble anymore. I was so happy to read you made it through the night. It’s going to get easier to deal with your urges to gamble as time goes by. Please allow yourself time to heal.
Today I will not gamble

Hipster638 03/04/2018

I freakin relapsed. I'm so disappointed in my self that i slept for about an hour total last night. I Couldn't keep my eyes closed thinking about how much of a disappointment i am. Someone who is always winning their sports bets messaged me yesterday telling me about these picks he had. I listened to him and took the picks he gave me. Of course since I shouldn't have been gambling in the first place, I lost in a very bad and painful way. I guess the only thing i can do now is start over and try to not bet today. I feel so miserable right now.

Hipster638 03/04/2018

It seems like i wasted you guys time but i'm going to do everything i can to stop gambling, I listened to all of you. I just messed up. I have no mental strength and keep getting in my own way. I want to quit so bad.....

skip88 03/04/2018

Stop taking messages from people who are in action and Never look at betting lines if you want a real chance to quit. Lose the bookies number, tell him not to take anymore bets cause you will not pay if you lose, and move on. Let them know you are sick, like they really do not know,lol When you are sick and tired of being sick and tired you will quit. Either that or you will run out of money, steal, or end up bankrupt. Get some serious help and try to get 30 days clean and your mind will eventually start coming back to you. If not you will stay in this scared, frantic, state of addiction which is nothing more than a living hell. God Bless

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