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...
Being some consumed with gambling almost daily and multiple times during the day took so much enjoyment out of life from me. With betting sports could almost have action going on all waking hours of the day. I would even have bets going on when sleeping but would try not to bc would be hard to sleep with action pending. I'm so used to having action in or handicapping games to bet on. I'm about exactly a week since playing my last bet. Slight urges today to gamble. Evil voice was telling me make one more bet and retire after winning a bet. I know that would not be the case and I will not gamble. I know this is going to be a battle but hopefully will start having more fun doing the things I used to enjoy before gambling really took over. Had a nice positive day consisting of exercising, cooking, yard work and visiting family. Just hoping down the road I stop replaying gambling losses, bad beats I had in games I bet and the urge to gamble goes away. Hope everyone is having an enjoyable gamble free weekend.
We can never just do "one more" it doesn't work for us, yet we all think well maybe this time. NO we cant!
Hang it there, you are doing awesome! One day one step...I am on day one.....however, more determined. Let's do this.......we can!
Keep yourself busy.......tomorrow another positive day! I just read a post about someone on day 100 did something nice for herself....went to dinner to celebrate. I personally, think I need a goal like that!
Take care....you are doing great, remember that!
What helped me get through it was two things. The first was knowing that it would get better. What you're experiencing, @frank12, is your brain learning to produce neurotransmitters like dopamine again, without the presence of gambling. Your levels are going to be really low when you're first starting out without gambling, so nothing feels "active", enticing, or enjoyable anymore in comparison. It gets easier after 4-6 weeks, and a lot easier after 3-4 months.
The second thing that helped this get better for me was meditation. I bought a candle and started with just five minutes a day, staring at the candle or closing my eyes, and trying my best to stop by stream of consciousness from flooding my brain with thoughts. Silence. I learned to become friends with the emptiness, if that makes any sense. I stopped fearing being understimulated. I stopped needing the excitement. I started to value the quiet and stopped seeing the void as a void. It made me a lot more patient and calm.
I hope this helps.
Starting to smile and laugh more. Enjoying more of the little things in life.
Don't think about gambling as much. It crosses my mind time to time and I say screw you gambling or screw the books to myself. Life is better without you.
I'm doing so many more positive things now. Life is better without gambling.