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...

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Bernie23 02/04/2014

I went to a casino while visiting my brother in another town this weekend. I lost a lot of money, but for some reason this time is different. I'm not really upset or depressed.,...I just feel determined. I know I have to self exclude myself from all the casinos in my state, not just the one closest to where I live. I think reading this message forum has really helped me to see that. I can't just keep doing the same things and expect different results (insanity, right?)

deleted_user 02/04/2014

Sorry to hear this, Bernie. Today is a new day. Just forgive yourself and get right back on track.

JaniceHayes 02/04/2014

yes, Today is a new day....

deleted_user 02/04/2014

Bernie, I have just joined the group. Don't know much, but what I do know is that we are all good deserving people with a little complication called compulsive gambling. (that little complication was meant as a joke) we all know how huge the problem is. But it is not as huge as our desire to stop, or we wouldn't be here. We are all imperfect sinners, but we are all given one thing everyday we wake up, a new chance to start over.

Cherbear2012 02/04/2014

Hi Bernie,
So sorry you slipped but,... You are back and posting and that means you will be OK! You are not letting this turn into a full blown relapse. You are not giving up! Dig in your tool box and fix the the holes in your recovery plan. What tools do you have in your box? Here are a few of the tools I've used when I slipped to get myself back on track.

#1 Limit access to money, Without money you cannot gamble. I set my ATM card to 20 cash per day. That has saved me many times!
#2 Keep yourself busy with non-gambling activity. Find something fun to do. Some thing you may have done before gambling took over.
#3 Find support. This site is a great place for that!
#4 Go to G.A. if you have a group in your area.

Keep your chin up and start over! You can do this! As you said, "You are determined! " Hugs for you! Cher

redsor 02/04/2014

Bernie, so glad you made it right back to us. Dont beat yourself up . It has happened us all, but now that you back here stay here. We all need each other.

jayd03 02/04/2014

Welcome back Bernie. Self exclusion is such a great tool- I know someone who is making it a passion to exclude from EVERYWHERE as a tool to keep fresh in his mind that he needs to never gamble again. We're from NJ, he's excluded from all sorts of states and even countries so far- it lends itself to some interesting conversations too, when you're obviously not going out of your way to go there... but, hey you never know how strong that urge can be, though.
Jay

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