Stay strong! I've had similar mind games this week, after a long stretch of not even thinking about it. Pretty sure the chaos and uncertainty in the air right now isn't helping me. Anyway, I've had to put my relapse prevention plan out where I can see it on the refrigerator, keep my money safeguarded, and my phone list handy. I've been taking a walk around the building on my breaks and lunch this week, and trying to keep myself honest by noticing those thoughts and immediately saying, nope, not today. Not easy. When I really can't shake it off, I try to think it through, visualizing what happens when I walk out of the gambling place with nothing but more debt, despair, and shame, I have to trust that these urges will pass, as they always do, but it can be a minute by minute battle when my mind starts those sneaky thoughts and the adrenaline starts pumping. When all else fails, I have to go back to basics: just breathe, and do the next right thing. And the next right thing is never gambling. Hope some of this helps you, optimistic25 - you're not alone, and you're worth the fight. Today. I. Will. Not. Gamble.

Thank you. It took a lot of deep breathing last night. I was finally able to sleep and at this moment the thoughts are not are intense.

Life is not awful at this moment but things happening around me at work and family have me feeling really desperate to so gamble them away.

This addiction is hard but every day that I do not gamble is a win!

Thank you for your words. Today I will not gamble. A three day weekend is coming up and I need to fight the urge. I think about pulling out a couple thousand out of the bank to go play them at the casino but won’t pay $2K for something I want to buy. Stupid stupid stupid me. I hope I will prevail and not go the next 3 days.

Tell yourself you don’t need to gamble anymore, that’s why you quit. Tell yourself you will be okay without gambling because you will be. We don’t have to gamble to survive. I know that’s stating the obvious, but for an addict an urge can feel like a demand, keep reminding yourself you don’t have to act on the urge, it’s not a demand, it’s a thought.
You know what? It helps me to say this out loud, “I don’t gamble anymore”. Why is it more powerful to say it out loud? Even though I’m alone in the house! Well, except for the dogs and cats! They’re even glad I don’t gamble anymore.
Have nicer conversation with yourself, knowing you can be honest and fair with yourself. Gambling hurts you, that’s the honest truth, but the good news is we/you don’t have to gamble, we can choose a happier and healthier way of living one day at a time.
Today I will not gamble

It does not help to call yourself names. (You are NOT stupid, and I want you to quit talking to my friend that way.) If you can begin to think of yourself as you would your best friend or your own child and treat yourself with kindness understanding you will begin to heal. If my friend is struggling with the struggle you are dealing with, I would say, "let's find something else to do that's fun", perhaps gently remind them of what they were saving for and suggest that we do something that costs nothing - like walk, hike, spend one of the long weekend days giving each other pedicures, facials and manicures or going to the library or volunteering somewhere or marching for racial equality in the MLK day march or reading to children at the homeless shelter, or doing a day of service at the community garden, or a day of artwork, or .....or.... you are creative ..make a friend or befriend yourself - you don't need others to do these things... You can do this!
Today I will not gamble