You do have the strength. You need to get your gumption up and fight for your life. keep going to GA meetings and WORK the program. Keep coming here, give your money to a trusted person to take care of, never carry cash, debit or credit cards. Any, any tool you can use, use it. This addiction makes us miserable, we were not meant to live miserable- it is not easy but doable, fight the fight. Minutes, days, weeks, life will get better, start breaking gambling's hold. You can do this! We are here beside you.

We have all been there, so its really one day at a time...its hard to calm the fire within right now but try and stay focused, you can do it.

Hi Marie,

We are glad to see you here. The thing about gambling and being a compulsive gambler, is that we kid ourselves into thinking that the time in between our fantasy "excursions" (gambling), is in fact abstaining from gambling. But the reality is this...we are NOT abstaining from this wretched Illness, but merely waiting for our next fix.....our next infusion of cash.......payday.

I'm certain you've had an opportunity to watch a hamster in a cage. Funny, little nocturnal creatures. They sleep all day, and exercise at night- their only form of exercise is the wheel. But once they are up and raring to go, they'll climb on that wheel and start running, round and round. They have no idea they are running in circles, yet in still they seem perfectly content with this habitual routine.

That is what we do to ourselves when we are compulsive gamblers. We think our activities are innocent, harmless routines - a well deserved form of entertainment to take us from the doldrums of life's day-to-day challenges. But what we are doing.....is simply chasing our tails...which, when we have any sense of humility or presence of
mind, is usually tucked between our legs with remorse and guilt.

It is unreasonable for us to expect different outcomes by practicing the same behaviors . And I know that I say this often, but it's such a true depiction of the dilemma we face...

Life will remain the same until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change. We have to want this change to take place, and the only way we can do that is to change the behavior that is causing us the pain. For me, It was gambling. Marie....is it the same for you? This is the question we have to ask of of ourselves

If we don't have the strength to stop gambling, how much strength will it take to continue living the "other" life...and for how long?

We know and understand your pain and despair, Marie.....honestly we do. This journey takes time and a whole bunch of energy. But it sure beats the level of energy that is zapped from our souls when we choose gambling over our lives...

We are here for you whenever you need us, and we'll do this together...just say the words...."Today, I will Not Gamble" and do it one day at a time.

My love and prayers to you,

Tagg