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 made it one year without gambling. This has been by far one of the most difficult, yet rewarding years of my life. I've learned so much about myself and others. Like many others, I gambled to escape those day-to-day feelings about life, work, relationships - everything. If I had a slot machine, I could sit behind it for hour upon hour never thinking about anything, including myself. It wasn't until I ran out of money that I really hit bottom. Maxed the credit cards, took 401k loans, basically gambled away my future. So I went into in-patient rehab in Arizona, got off the "grid" and away from all of life's problems, and was forced to look myself in the mirror. No cell phone, no computer, no iPad gaming. It saved my life.
The other thing that saved me was finding a "women's only" GA meeting. When I went to meetings with men, many of them gambled differently (such as sports gambling) and I had a hard time connecting with them. Most of the women I met are slot players and I learned we have very similar issues about how we see ourselves. That's not to imply men don't have it as bad as we do - it is simply different. I highly recommend finding a group that you connect with - and go as often as possible!
Thank you for allowing me to share.
The other thing that saved me was finding a "women's only" GA meeting. When I went to meetings with men, many of them gambled differently (such as sports gambling) and I had a hard time connecting with them. Most of the women I met are slot players and I learned we have very similar issues about how we see ourselves. That's not to imply men don't have it as bad as we do - it is simply different. I highly recommend finding a group that you connect with - and go as often as possible!
Thank you for allowing me to share.
Can you tell me the place you went for inpatient treatment? I have been looking into that but without success. No one will take my insurance for gambling recovery treatment.
Thank you.
Peace and love to you.
mybestself, I went into a program in Prescott, AZ called "A Sober Way." They have a "gambling only" program so you aren't there with people with other addictions. They specialize in gambling. They agreed to take "whatever my insurance would pay" so it was nothing out of pocket. I highly recommend it.