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...
I've been doing instead of gambling that help
saving and watching the number in my account go up
planning a garden
stretching (my core got so weak from desk job, driving and sitting at the machines)
cooking more elaborate meals that require prep work and eating well
treating myself with some little thing that I can order online so that I have something in the mail that I can look forward to arriving.
I got a pen pal! We send one another cards and little care packs. That has been really fun.
What little things have you been doing that help take the edge off?
saving and watching the number in my account go up
planning a garden
stretching (my core got so weak from desk job, driving and sitting at the machines)
cooking more elaborate meals that require prep work and eating well
treating myself with some little thing that I can order online so that I have something in the mail that I can look forward to arriving.
I got a pen pal! We send one another cards and little care packs. That has been really fun.
What little things have you been doing that help take the edge off?
love them,
the "chopped" stuff and now they have
Canada "chopped".
Going outdoors for any reason.
Just to smell and look and listen to the
trees, the water, the grass and the animals.
Even in the city we can do this,
I like to feed the squirrels and birds.
thank you Sabine,
as always.
reading delicious books. ( bought & using the library)
got my nails & toes done the other day.
a massage is in my near future.
I'm communicating with friends again. (old, and a couple of new friends)
I'm watching my bank account stay positive. it's not growing yet, but at least my account is not in overdraft.
and checking off the gamble-free days on my calendar by the computer. this month I'm using a bright orange. last month was pink.
you are reading delicious books,
planning a massage in the future,
using pink and orange.
Not just orange,
BRIGHT orange,
this is a gamble free life,
BRIGHT.
way to go all
the GF life can be joyful and renewing even though it has it's tough moments, nothing like being in the horrid cycle.
I'm still struggling with deep sadness in dealing with my son and all his issues. I cried on the way home from work tonight after talking to him on the phone. He had court today and sounded sad. I have worked at the same place for 15 years. A co-worker showed me an old picture today of my son and I at a company picnic. He was about 6 or 7 and sitting on my lap. I miss that little guy and I am so sad for what he is doing in his life now. I realize I have no control over and I can't get through to him. I feel like I am grieving daily. Al-Anon helps me but I am so full of sorrow it is hard to function.
I need to clean my entire house and do my taxes, ect.. That's what I am trying to get done right now. Sorry I don't have anything to add on this list but I am not there yet.
My little dog Abby is my daily love. She went blind this year too which also makes me sad. I sound pathetic don't I?. Well, at least I am not gambling. That's one thing I can say I have acomplished lately and it makes me feel good.
OK, OK here is one little thing, I like watching movies. We rented Nebraska from redbox last weekend. It was a very good movie. There, I found some thing!
However, I have started to cycle again which I love.
I get so much out of teaching music to my students.
I think being able to do that and tackle life with a clear and focused mind is one of the great gifts that not gambling has given me.
John
it is amazing how getting our "mojo" back after quitting gambling
gives us all the hope and inspiration almost doubly so.
sorry,
about the rotator cuff stuff,
I had the surgery three years ago, yikes !!!
Wish it had been last year, maybe I wouldn't have gambled so.
Good luck with it all.
What I realized and it's sooo true, the longer you stay away from gambling the stronger you become and what best is you is you have less thoughts of playing.
Honestly, as we talk about little things, a little thing that is really a big thing is the fact that I don't think about it like I use to...when I was in deep, it would consume me...the thoughts of when I was going to go next. It took over my body and mind. I realized the more I stay away and more time that passes the stronger I get and less interested I want to be in it. We know it's not worth it!! If I could take back my high double-digit bonus I earned from work and give it to someone that needed it, I would a million times over.
The guilt is there, I can't lie...but I keep telling myself it was just money.
Money can make you, and money can break you but in the end if you have love in your life and start loving yourself then the money doesn't matter anymore.
The money could never buy back the time, the pain, the sorrow, the stress, the shame, the loss...the thrill of winning money screwed with our heads to think it would solve everything!
I lost hundreds of thousands and thought so many times, if I could win it back, things would be better!!! My addiction fooled me so well, I can count on 2 hands after almost 18 -20 yrs that I took money home!!!
All this I have to forgive myself for, it was the power of the addiction!!!
It's ok, I'm alive I have another day, I have my health, my family, my friends, my career. All I can concentrate on is somehow contributing to society and moving forward in my life.
I have come to terms I will never get anything back lost, but I have so much gained and have to remember that.
Thanks for listening.
Having healthy relationship
Going to the store and buying food and little things for the family
Checking regularily on Dailystrength.com
You sound so good,
all that I can say,
so accepting and so moving forward in recovery.
I am happy for you.
your words..............
"It's ok, I'm alive I have another day, I have my health, my family, my friends, my career. All I can concentrate on is somehow contributing to society and moving forward in my life.
I have come to terms I will never get anything back lost, but I have so much gained and have to remember that
the more I read of addiction the more I realize that we, I feel, became addicted because we were no longer "connected" and felt out of touch so we wanted excitement, be it escape or action or whatever we call it ............we needed to reconnect to living.
That I believe is why this site and GA and the fellowship that both offer is what is so important and so helpful in recovering from this illness and disease.
Gambling is numbing
numbing to living
and to connecting
and to caring.
In the end it will take all we have if we let it.
Keep it up,
you are just doing so good,
guilt, shame, remorse, regret.........
aren't they all the "compadres" of the addicted mind,
trying to get us to go back???
watch out for them,
they come in disguise sometimes.
all my best to you and
sincere appreciation for your sharing
and love to you and your family and the life you are now building.