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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It doesn't matter how much is lost

DaniK06
DaniK06
I am new to this site so I am still learning about my addiction. I do feel that it is very important to point out to myself that it doesn't matter how much is spent whether a little or a lot. I have gone to Keno machines with $5 and bet one nickel and gone to funner slots and lost $500. Regardless of what I spend, my feelings about it are extremely unhealthy. I get high anxiety while playing slots, get very clammy and depressed at times. The worst feeling of all is what I call the "walk of shame" when I have spent everything I had and have to leave. Only then does the seriousness of my addiction set in. I tend to be out of sorts for the rest of the day, I rarely feel like talking to anyone and I try to avoid thinking about it. I promise myself every time I go and lose, that I will never return there again. This will be the time that I make changes. The scary part is that I am going on three years and have yet to find that peace in my life. Today is my fresh start. I am hopeful that I have found this website and group for a reason.
Cherbear2012
Cherbear2012
Hello DaniKo6, Welcome to the group! Take as much time as possible and read all the posts here. You can search the old discussions at the top by just putting in one word. Please stick with us and keep coming back! I have been here on and off for over two years. It took me a while but I finally made it and you can too! Hugs! Cher
stopat56
stopat56
oh how I remember that walk of shame.........worse walk in the world. we have to get really tired of that walk, and make a decision to do something about it.

try to make a decision not to gamble for a day, then another, one day at a time. it's hard to imagine not going for a year, but not going for one day is very possible.

give yourself a break from it, give you mind time to clear, it does help.

and know that we have all been in your shoes at one time or another.

congratulations on your decision to make a fresh start. and a big welcome to the site!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Don't beat yourself up if you relapse. It is part of the process. Have to get it out of your system and change your thinking. My thinking is slowly changing and I am starting to heal and am beginning to understand that the more I say affirmations the more my mind will permanently connect to those ideas. Right now your mind is connected to the thrill of winning a good hit. Just like a drug addict, can't wait to get that high we feel from that next good hit. Only thing that is scarier about gambling than drugs is our bodies makes us feel the same naturally as if we were on drugs without taking any drugs. It is our mind that is doing this to us. That is why you must control your thoughts and feelings. Easier said than done sometimes but with practice and determination it can be done.

So you are an addict it is a process
jayd03
jayd03
Welcome DaniK06!
The best word in your entire post is hopeful- where there is hope, there is success.
You are absolutely right- the amount of the bet or the loss doesn't matter, it's the emotional toll it takes on all of us that are compulsive gamblers.
Use DS as a beacon of that hope you hold and lean on the wonderful folks here all trying to make a better life.
Jay
DaniK06
DaniK06
Thank you all so much for your kind posts. I feel so much better today reading these and seeing that I have people that I can share with that understand my pain.

Thank you all for being there.