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...
Well, I haven't gambled since Jan 20. I am already seeing an improvement in my finances, but I have a very long way to go to fix the mess I've made.
The odd thing is, the urge to gamble is almost nonexistent. I didn't expect that at all. My struggle is in regaining my confidence and concentration. Has anyone else experienced this after quitting? It is getting better, but I have to admit it freaked me out a bit at first. I will be on the lookout for the gambling urge to come back after my finances stabilize.
I hope all of you are having a good day, and to those that aren't, keep coming here and hang in there.
The odd thing is, the urge to gamble is almost nonexistent. I didn't expect that at all. My struggle is in regaining my confidence and concentration. Has anyone else experienced this after quitting? It is getting better, but I have to admit it freaked me out a bit at first. I will be on the lookout for the gambling urge to come back after my finances stabilize.
I hope all of you are having a good day, and to those that aren't, keep coming here and hang in there.
In all honesty, my first month quitting was the hardest...it seems the longer I go the easier it gets...BUT...be careful of that. I got overconfident before and lost a 4 month quit because I didn't have any real urges until I had a really bad day & BAM! huge gambling urge out of nowhere (probably because my finances had stabilized...so you're smart to be ready for that). I really enjoy the easy days of no thoughts of gambling but I also know to never let my guard down either.
Yeah, I had trouble concentrating too...I just threw myself into work to keep so busy I didn't think about it until things got a little easier for me. Then I started getting back into my hobbies & living life like I used to BEFORE gambling took over my life.
Again, great job, New!
Congrats on your success, also!
I have no plan of letting my guard down. I self-excluded for life, so there's no going back to the casino...ever. My fear of being arrested trumps ANY urge. LOL! But I will be on the lookout for the addiction to manifest in other ways once the urge resurfaces. For now, I'm glad it's not bothering me.
I let myself down and I blew my own trust and I still feel some shame about using to escape from reality to the point where a thousand dollars seemed like it was ok to toss away. It's going to take me some time to rebuild. Its uncomfortable though. I am taking everything personally right now and have some anxiety poking up in other weird places.
I started taking a whole bunch of supplements like multi B extra b 12 and I am going to try SAM-E. I may not crave gambling but I definitely feel low (ISH) and the gambling would always be that rush on the way and if I was winning that created that false boost for a little while.
Congratulations. You are in inspiration. One month is an amazing feat.
It is no longer the option.
Way to go.
I wish wish that our state offered it.
gambling is no longer an option for you.
Keep it in mind, you are feeling the relief of knowing
you are out of it.
But be vigilant the sleeping dog etc.
Way to go
I am proud of you and wish you continued recovery.
You are doing what works for you and needs to be done.
congrats.
I feel everything your saying. For some very strange reason I have no desire to gamble. I don't know why. No explanation. But don't really care about the why nots. Only care that I'm glad that I have stayed 'clean' so to speak. I never let my guard down though. I know what waits.
So proud you have made it this far. Keep it up! Life is good when we are GF!
Second, I can totally relate on the lack of an urge... Really freaked me out, but I got used to it. I was really on edge using the thinking that the longer I didn't get an urge the bigger it would be when it popped up, however, that wasn't the case. As has been said many times, we're all the same and different at the same time. I'm not sure if it's the frame of mind one may be in when deciding to take that stand or if it's just the way it goes for some and not others or some other reason, but don't worry about it- be thankful as heck for it. So long as you're really dedicated to the cause and keeping the faith in all the best ways, the lack of an urge is just that.
Hang tight and keep it simple and keep it moving forward, one day at a time!
Jay
no money = no gambling IS STILL MY BEST BET.
Wish I'd known it years ago.
It is never a good bet to go to a casino and think you are going to be a winner.
Old news but, they aren't building them on us being winners
It's a business and they use all tactics to get our money.
We just haven't got the right stuff to be able to control the venue.
It is hard at times to admit but I know that I will never be in control in a casino.
I will never be able to go and play as entertainment because most certainly my addictive personality will remember how much I liked it and will revert to it's comfortable and rewarding, or so it thinks, way of gambling with abandonment.
I will end up worse than I ever was because I am certain that once out of control again it will be far worse than it ever was in the past.
I know this for a fact because that is why it is taking so much effort to put this behind me now. That is why I must never think that I can gamble as entertainment. I cannot even put myself in or around a gamble environment or I will seriously be putting myself in danger.
I simply do not ever want to put anything that has something to do with gambling in my life again. I choose to live life without betting on anything.
Amen to that! I agree 100%. As sure as I am breathing, I know down to my core that I have absolutely no ability to control myself in a casino. Good riddance.