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...
Hello. I haven't posted in a very long time. I have been trying to stay away from the casinos. The last time I went was about 3 weeks ago. For me that's pretty good. But instead of getting gambling out completely, I started obsessing with lottery. I play these numbers every drawing which adds up really quickly. I also play scratch offs and have an obsession with playing til I hit a big one. I have won $400 here and there but look back at how ridiculous my thinking is. I don't really win $400 when I've spent who knows what to get there. Well anyway, I just went on an amazing vacation with my family for a week. There was no access to gambling. So I've officially been gamble free for 8 days now and I've never felt better. I was able to focus on my family for a change and I want to keep having this good feeling. I am behind on a couple bills but it feels so good not worrying about running out to play numbers and get the next scratcher before someone grabs the winner. However, I hope now that I'm back I can do this. I am thinking about the fact that those bills could be covered with a good win at the casino or if my numbers come in. That thinking is what got me into my disasterous financial situation to begin with. I just don't want to go back!!! I want to so badly keep this focus on my family and what's import. I'm so worried I will relapse now that I'm back to reality. What do you guys do to keep yourselves from falling back into the trap? Thank you for letting me vent!!!
Best thing is to forgive yourself
The therapy helped me deal with some of the root causes to my addiction and gambling issues. I also keep a gratitude diary, writing things i am grateful for every day. The support group helps me stay in touch with my feelings and deal with day to day stresses as well as gives me a list of people that give a damn.
I revived old hobbies and started a few new ones. I rekindled friendships and made new ones.
I take a daily inventory of what I need to do of how I am feeling, physically, mentally and spiritually. I read a daily affirmation and take time to reflect on it. I use the hypnosis tape on gambling and I try to find a balance in all of it.
Initially I had a trusted friend help me with my money, I reported to them weekly about my income and what bills I was paying and what I did with recreational money. My friend held my credit and debit cards as well as my checkbook, so that it was harder for me to access.
Exercise helps, healthy eating helps, taking time for myself and learning to say NO when I really don't want to do or eat or drink something.
I had to change my false beliefs, the number one being that "I can get ahead by gambling" - that has not worked for me for the last 20 years. Second false belief: "Gambling is fun", It has not been fun for me for over a decade, maybe it was in the beginning, but it ended for me with criminal charges, suicidal thoughts, actual suicide attempts, and loss of job, income, and most of all self-worth. It was the darkest, ugliest part of my life, and that picture of Hell is part of what makes me work hard to never go back to gambling. I am about to complete 9 months of abstinence and graduate from treatment to aftercare soon. My life is worth living again, I can be aware of other people caring about and loving me. The world is full of color, life, variety, humor, love and adventure for me again.
Hang in there!