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 had 6 months Gamble free. Went one Sunday with my mama and spent only 20 dollars- left when that 20 was gone and I guess figured I was safe and went the following thursday and blew my entire check. I had written about it back when it happened.
What I wanted to talk about was the tearing down, negative self talk, beating oneself up after ward. I had a friend who was an addict of a substance and use to get SO annoyed with him when he engaged in this part of his addiction. I thought it self indulgent and kind of disgusting and that he ought to pick up his boot straps and keep going because that talk illicit words of "it's ok" , "don't feel bad" etc etc from people who were hurt due to his addiction as well.
Really, it's not ok. I spent my entire paycheck and that check could have gone to paying bills and helping to support myself and my family. Going and indulging my addiction and not stopping while there at SOME point when I realized I was losing was totally selfish.
I know we have an illness but for me I am going to tell myself the time spent feeling bad and sorry is better spent setting myself up for success and figuring out what happened so I don't do that again.
Is anyone else disturbed by that part of the addictive process?
thoughts?
What I wanted to talk about was the tearing down, negative self talk, beating oneself up after ward. I had a friend who was an addict of a substance and use to get SO annoyed with him when he engaged in this part of his addiction. I thought it self indulgent and kind of disgusting and that he ought to pick up his boot straps and keep going because that talk illicit words of "it's ok" , "don't feel bad" etc etc from people who were hurt due to his addiction as well.
Really, it's not ok. I spent my entire paycheck and that check could have gone to paying bills and helping to support myself and my family. Going and indulging my addiction and not stopping while there at SOME point when I realized I was losing was totally selfish.
I know we have an illness but for me I am going to tell myself the time spent feeling bad and sorry is better spent setting myself up for success and figuring out what happened so I don't do that again.
Is anyone else disturbed by that part of the addictive process?
thoughts?
Yes, many times over the years. You as re right in that it is in fact not ok. The issue is when we are in action, we ignore that it isn't ok.. that's why we are not only a compulsive gambler but many of us are pathological gambler.
I understand your inner termoil, but thzts why we grieve in many ways. It is a part of the process we go through so we can come terms with all of those inner conflicts. It isn't ok to do what we've done, so through recovery we stop doing those things one day at a time. That does not mean what we did yesterday is ok, it means I don't have to do it today.
My friend, grieve and forgive yourself. You are loved and you are worth it!
Love,
Victoria
I am so grateful for this place and all our common human frailties and strengths.
Sabine
xo
I love coming here reading and learning and hearing other's views. good night you all.
it has to be a disease - because i dont know how i wind up gambling either after all i've been through and the situation i created
this is disease is beyond counter productive - it must be for me a sort of escape that i need i cant figure it out anymore..
I hope all is going well with your recovery. Stay Strong!
I almost have given in the thought that I could not beat this addiction. I constantly fail myself and my love ones. That's not true though, we can beat this beast.
We pray, we ask for help. We just can't do it alone.
We can do this :) together.. You're not alone :)
Hugs,
Charm