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...

971 Members

6,389 Posts

0 Online

Robin-Mc 03/15/2017

No urges, thank God, but still I'm sitting here thinking about gambling.

It's making me sad to think about how painful it is to be locked in an addiction that starts in our minds. I know, I know, there's a rush associated with a win, but I can barely remember those feelings, they were so long ago.

I hate the zone, a numb place where nothing matters except staying there for as long as I could. The torture treatment. And I paid actual money for it. I lied for it. I wasted precious time because of it.

Hey, it's day #20 for me. Please bare with me when I post my count daily. It's important to me. You know that saying about giving someone enough rope to hang themselves? It's kind of like that for me. I can't pretend that the days don't matter, they do. This time they do. I know how crappy I'd feel to have to come here and tell you I did it again, I don't want that, again. I'm hanging onto hope and love. I'm hanging onto life and freedom. I think I just wrote myself happy

skip88 03/15/2017

Robin, do what works for you. Try not to dwell on thoughts about gambling. I think you will be fine. God Bless

Robin-Mc 03/15/2017

Thanks, Skip - after writing that post I started doing a few things around the house. I also did some crocheting and watched some t.v. How weird, I stopped thinking about gambling. Until right now, of course. It does help to let it out in writing. You know another weird thing? I'm okay. Day # 20 and I'm okay. A thought, an urge, I wonder if their related? I wonder if I OVERTHINK everything? I do. That's me. And for today I will not get stupid and go back out there. Today I will not gamble

Qwit4Good 03/15/2017

You are doing what it takes. The cycle is: thought ---> urge--->plan---> action; the best place to intervene is between the thought and the urge. The later in the cycle the less chance of success. Overthinking might be a good thing here. You are on the right track, yes, doing other things helps, more urges only last 20 minutes, if you can distract yourself for that long, they fade. Remember other enjoyable and soothing activities like crocheting, gardening, even puttering and doing them is a great coping tool.

nancyzoman 03/16/2017

I used to not understand the whole "One day at a time" concept. Why not one week? One month? One year? Why all of the focus on just a day?

I'm also a runner, and the best way to sum it up is this: Everyday, you wake up with a slightly different body. You might not realize it until after you get up and get going, but on some days, things will be super easy. And on other days, the basic will seem challenging.

It's the same with gambling, except you wake up with a slightly different mind everyday. Some days will be easy. And other days, well, those days will feel like one moment at a time. Believe me, I've been there too. And I have been again lately.

Moments pass. They build the resilience muscle that enables us to stay away. Every day, every moment counts.

Hang in there. We are here with you.

Alvinrush2222 03/19/2017

I know how you feel, have done the same thing

Join the Conversation