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 to all.It has been a very long time since I have posted. I thought I was cured but guess again. I had signed out of the casino last year and recently it had expired and I am now allowed in. I lost a lot of money in the last few weeks again and the night sweats, heart palpitations and sleepless nights and lies are back. What does it take to keep these feelings in the forefront. It is so easy to forget the awful feeling of losing. I want to know how do you keep the thoughts of wanting to gamble at bay and not following through with the thoughts. I really can talk myself out of going in the morning and by the afternoon I talk myself into going again. I may need to quit my job because it gives me too much freedom to stop at the casino. I can rearrange my schedule to go, I know I will get through this but I really want to stop. I really do not feel I am an addict. I feel that I am looking for something that is missing in my life. Somehow every time I do this too myself it always comes back to my unhappiness Alcohol is also an issue. I have only been an addict for the last 12yrs. I never drank and never gambled now I am out of control. My husband is also a gambler but he does not know how bad my habit has become. I know if I told him we would be divorcing.I have attended GA meetings and didn't find them very helpful. I am thinking about getting private counciling to find out why this is happening to me. Life is soooo much more complicated when I gamble. Why can't I remember these awful times? I would like someone to be my support person. If anyone is interested in being an online support for me please let me know. Sorry for rambling on and on I just need to vent. Thanks Jackie
I am sorry you are in this pain and despair. You sounds determine to kick this out of your system and I know you can.
Recovery is all about one day at a time and fixing ourself. The character flaws in us, the addict in us. We grieve our losses, financially, mentally and emotionally. We mends our wrong doings, we rebuild our character on principles.
It takes complete honesty with ourselves and it takes mountain of courage to resolve all the things we've done. You can only do this one day at a time, in small steps.
I found private councelling worked better for me because it gave me chance to release all the emotions I have built over the years in a private setting.
I hope you will find strength knowing you are not alone. You can message me if you like to.
you deserve happy and peaceful life. And I know you can do this. Take care yourself, stay away from gambling for a while so you can bridge yourself into the journey of recovery. It's not easy but it is the best gift I ever gave to myself and you should too.
Don't focus too much on what your husband will do if he finds out for the moment. Everything happens for a reason and you are on the road you supposed to be. Believe it and have a faith. Your higher power is carrying you at this time.
You are worth it. Be kind and gentle with yourself. You are loved just as you are.
love,
victoria
I have been where you are wanting to stop, and thinking I could not stop. yes we can.
one thing that finally clicked for me was: I will never win at gambling. I might hit a jackpot, or win a good amount of money, but I would always, always be a loser at gambling because I'm compulsive. that means the addict part of me was never ever satisfied with winning. it was the process of playing. and winning only meant I could play longer.
then the bad feelings would start: what have I done? why did I do it?
the walk out of the casino was a walk of shame.
however, you seem ready to stop. you already know about self-excluding because you said you did it before.
private counseling is working for me because he is addressing issues besides my gambling that I had pushed so far down inside I had forgotten.
welcome back, and I look forward to hearing more about your recovery.
what are your plans to stop gambling?