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...

971 Members

6,389 Posts

0 Online

afreshmind 01/26/2015

I feel it is somehow my duty to post this although I don't really want to tonight because I'm in hell. Hoping I still have a chance to crawl out from this day forward. I thought I was done gambling but I wasn't. But I don't think anyone else here could understand the desperation and despair that goes along with gambling while unemployed. I have been unemployed 5 months yesterday. It breaks down and crushes your hope and soul. I gambled today and it was on purpose because once there I knew it had to be the last day or I will lose everything. I am cash advancing also to pay the mortgage and car next month. It's been both a blessing and curse to have a credit card with no cash advance fees and 7.24 percent interest. Please pray for me to get out of this mess and I'm sorry I have had nothing emotional to give anyone else on this site since a few days after I joined. It's so bad I believe I am scared straight now. If I could just get a job so I could get to the summer months I want to sell my house before I lose it and get out of this town that has almost destroyed my life. Thanks for reading.

lisadawnb 01/27/2015

I think once we hit rock bottom there's no where to go but up. I totally understand. I'm in a financial mess myself. I also know its my own fault. I kept telling myself that gambling would solve my debt. Was that crazy! I hope you keep coming back here. I think we all need each other here! Hugs
Lisa

new55 01/27/2015

Afreshmind - I completely understand the desparation and despair you feel, as I was unemployed for over a year, had filed bankruptcy, and turned around and got ahold of my husband's credit cards at 0% interest for a year, and charged approximately $17,000 in about 3 months time. I had no job to pay on the credit cards I had racked up. I felt completely worthless and unbelievably lost, scared, angry, and I truly thought I was going to lose my mind. I was very much afraid for my sanity.

A little over two weeks after my last bet, I started a new job given to me by God. I truly believe in prayer and will say prayers that you do get a job, and that this last bet for you, will be the one that convinces you that you can not do it any more and that it is hurting you so much more than financially!!!

You can do this afreshmind. God is good that you have that credit card. Use it for necessities and that is it. No more gambling with it.

This is the dawn of a new gamble free day!!!

Bernie23 01/27/2015

Everyone here understands, believe me. I have almost $60,000 in credit card debt- I'm 65 years old and working every day to get it paid.

2 things helped me the most...self-exclusion from the casino and limiting the amount of money available to me. And above all, don't lose faith!!

stopat56 01/27/2015

we do understand. I had 6 months of gambling while unemployed, using my unemployment check to gamble with. how crazy is that? but I did it. back in 2006..............

hang in there. it can get better.........you have to keep believing that.

come on up out of that pit! we've all had to make that climb. and we will be right there with you.

it might take many day 1's before you get there, but you can! all right?

afreshmind 01/29/2015

Thanks all for posting your heartfelt responses. I do appreciate it very much! It's nice but also sad to know that some others have actually gambled while unemployed and there is someone out there that might understand that level of desperation and maybe a whole other facet to the addiction. I just would like to succeed at reaching the 90 day mark so my body and mind can level out again and I have a fighting chance to put it all in the rearview mirrow of my life.

stopat56 01/30/2015

you can reach the 90 day mark, one day at a time. try not to think (days) think: I will not gamble today. and have a plan in place to not gamble today. in the first part of recovery, we have to take baby steps.

keep believing it is possible to quit. because it is......

Join the Conversation