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...
Here I am again. After over 9months, gf, I have nose dived into hell once more. Everything just finally started spiraling out of control. I started going to the casinos again. I didn't notice the harm I was doing at first. It was so subtle. But this last month, no bills got paid, our bank account is negative, My husband and I spent both of our checks at the casino. And we now have 3 payday loans out. We had just gotten to the point that we had all our bills caught up. The main reason we went so much was that we kept chasing our losses. My husband is just as guilty as I am. He wrote hot checks at the casino. We will have to pay them when we get paid next. Also we took our sons tv back and we lost that too. I hate having this addiction!!! Why do I keep doing this??? Thank you all.
Love Lisa
Love Lisa
Best of luck to you and your husband.
I went back over Thanksgiving and then once more trying to chase my losses. It was the strangest feeling. I felt sick being there but didn't want to be anywhere else. I still want to go back today.
I don't count days so I don't feel like I'm starting over. Recovery is a process for me that I imagine I'll be working on for many years. I just have to keep directing all of my extra energy towards it.
Jump back into it with everything you've got. Learn new stuff. Try something different. Heal your life on a daily basis.
My philosophy (and I know it's different than most) is that abstinence from ones addiction is not a sign of good mental health - or the only sign. Happiness, peace, mindfulness, feeling ones feelings, having hard days and being okay, seeking support and being supportive, being honest, living simple - these are signs of good health to me.... of getting better and doing better.
We are not failures. We are human beings struggling with a horrible disease that wants to take our lives away from us. We have to find the medicine that heals us and then "take" it every day.
Hang in there friend. .
xoxo
Don't let the guilt make you crazy when it comes tell yourself "nope I'm not going there I'm gonna fix this"..that's what I do and it really gives me direction and strength.
best wishes for you and your family,
Lorla
You sort of answered your own question in your post- you have the addiction, as do I, therefore the reason is that the addiction is always speaking to you, or waiting to speak to you. Don't give it the chance for a listening ear. This disease is progressive, I know firsthand. I am so very thankful that you're back here, though, because if you weren't it would be worse.
I agree with ll2live, the bigger part of recovery is the change in self and perspective than just simply not gambling- character change. Knowing that you're struggling and taking a stand to make the change is terrific. You CAN do this!
Jay