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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Rainietoo 01/01/2016

Hello All,

I have been around for a few years now. My gambling disease is cyclical, which I am sure many of you can relate to. I would gamble for a year, then quit for a year and so on. Yesterday was my last day gambling. I am not sure what triggers me but after a year of abstinence my disease convinces me I am OK now and can gamble. So I begin gambling and go along fine for a few months going to the Casino once or twice a month. Then it creeps up to once a week, then twice a week. Of course, the amount of money I throw away increases as well. So yesterday was my last day gambling and I am glad to be home!

Thanks for reading,

Lorraine

NoMoreOneTimers 01/01/2016

Welcome back :)

Qwit4Good 01/01/2016

My gambling was cyclical as well. Everything triggered me, hungry, angry, lonely, tired, bored, depressed, in mood to celebrate, money with no plan, nothing else to do, short gambling dash between errands, etc, etc
The cycle of gambling or taking time away from gambling for me, seemed to do with how good or bad I felt about myself. Treatment/counseling and many lifestyle and belief system changes is what helped me accumulate over a year of abstinence. I never want to go back to the dark, isolated, suicidal place that gambling took me to. I know one dollar gambled would lead me back to much the same misery. One dollar would be too much and a million would not be enough.
My life is now worth living, fuller, and has variety, friendship, color and wonder. I am a far happier person without gambling.

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