Rock bottom is a familiar place, and I'm sorry you're in that situation. Although it will take time and effort, you are absolutely right that you can get your life back in order. Every good decision going forward will help, and you can do it one day, one hour, one minute at a time. Self-exclusion saved me, as the possibility of getting arrested is enough to stop me. Blocking my access to cash helped immensely, too - I know some folks have even used a professional payee to handle their money just to take that option away. Take care of yourself. I wish you strength.

Keep fighting 1 day at a time. We are all on the same journey as compulsive gamblers. Stay strong, just for today, I will NOT gamble!

you can do it.....i finally finally gave in.....trust it.....its not what your giving up, its what your gaining.....last bet 11/4/2018

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support. I know you all speak the truth. Today has been an extremely rough day. The stress triggers that normally send me off to the casino were in full force. Self exclusion was the saving grace, or I certainly would have ended up at the casino today. Again, thank you for being there and listening. It means so much to me and it helps knowing someone out there can relate.

Hang in there bro. Keep persevering! Make it another self exclusion day tomorrow too. You've got this.

Exclusion saved me too. I lost it all- but I have built back. It DOES GET BETTER. It does take time, but each day, little by little, you'll gain back hope - trust - light - self respect. Not all at once but little by little.

When I first got to recovery I did not want it. I knew I "needed to stop" but did not want to stop. The Willingness grew once I had some time clean and could see the truth.

Our "honesty" when we are in the grip or still under the cloud of the chemicals in our brain of gambling it isn't real.

So consider yourself in ICU and treat yourself nicely. Can you get to GA? Think of all that time we spent gambling -- a little time in car to get to a meeting is a fraction of what we did for the drug. Do it for your life. It saved mine.

Remember as long as you are in this group, your never at bottom, because we as gamblers have only us God bless you and hope the biggest win is quit forever.

Thank you all again for your support and words of strength. The last few days have been so hard. The desire to go to the casino is consuming me. I've self excluded, but I almost don't even care. I convinced myself that I could disguise myself enough to not get caught. What the heck is wrong with me??? I have fought off the urge, but I am so worried that I am going to give in. Please pray.

So, what I do not hear is 12 step work. Are you working recovery? One of the program sayings is "dont tempt or test yourself." Questions we ask when a person is struggling are: Who is your sponsor? Where do you keep his number? When was the last time you called them? WE all have choices, we can feed our addiction that wants us in prison, insanity or death or, we can work recovery and learn to practice self care. We also keep phone lists, there are other GA members so if you struggle and when you struggle you can reach out so you do not have to try to do this alone.

My name is Joseph, I am a recovering addict/compulsive gambler. feel free to message me

The cravings, the withdrawal, the skin crawling -- it is REAL. It is ADDICTION. A symptom that you have it. You have the diagnosis, and you're seeking the remedy.

With time the thoughts will quite, the brain will reset (as long as we don't "feed" it with the substance),
Now you start working a program of recovery. It's just like any chronic disease -- now we find, take our medicine and work on rebuilding (like rehab for our lives).

How are you doing today? Did you find any GA meetings?

Not OK Ketyball to promote gambling on a gambling addiction and recovery chat. What kind of low-life, money-hungry predator are you? So why not get the heck out of this chat ----> you are reported you are a sicko to prey upon people who admit a problem and do not want your type of "help" - I wonder how many compulsive gamblers you have driven over the edge with this stupid ass post