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...
I ask myself “why me” over and over again. Why must I go to a casino and spend every penny until there is no more to spend. Why me, why can’t I be normal why must I be sick with this addiction. I have tried to stop over and over and thinking I’m in control and there is no control for me. I have spent every dollar I have had even money that’s not mine and yet I continue. I tried to ban 3 times and yet I convinced myself that I could control this addiction but there is no controlling. I can, I tell myself not to gamble as I am headed to the casino, to the ATM and to the machine. I’m telling myself all the until my last $ is gone.
I will drive an hour on Monday to ban myself from the casino. I can’t chase the thousands I’ve loss so I have to take that as a loss and don’t look back. That’s the only way I can move forward
congrats on you day one, every minute you dont gamble life gets better
GA is not perfect but it is a starting point, and it is guaranteed everyone there is going through or has gone through much the same thing that you are experiencing now. You must fight with everything you have to beat this addiction. Fight like you are fighting for your life - because you are. The difference of hell or a sense of serenity lies in the balance. Try some self talk: Chose life! Chose better things to do, choose your family, choose light, choose nature, choose love, choose prayer, choose meditation, choose peace, choose curiosity, - you will not find them at the casino! Choose anything and everything but gambling, learn a new word, make a new friend, make a new path, try a new hobby, go to a new volunteer job, begin a new healthy habit, take a walk, write a story, play with mud, whatever it takes, all is worth trying, be open. Tell yourself you will get through this, write a "good-bye" to gambling and read it again when you think you need to gamble. Realize that everything you value is being risked with gambling. Tell l yourself "I love you" in the mirror every morning, write down something you are grateful for, stop self-criticism. Tell someone that loves you what you are struggling with ask them to be a "phone buddy" someone you will call when you have an urge.
I don’t think anyone here has the answer to why me.
The only answer I can come up with is because we are human. We are intelligent beings, so therefore we can use our intelligence to come up with a plan of battle against this insidious addiction, which I refer to as recovery. My battle call is “Today I will not gamble!”. My weapons are abstinence, hope, trust and love.
Today I will not gamble
Let go of the shame and the guilt. Forgive yourself. Each day is a new opportunity to begin again. If you make a mark on your calendar for each day you don't gamble, soon you'll have 3 days. Then a week. Then two weeks. Then a whole month. Suddenly you'll have an entire quarter, a year, 5 years, a decade. And, ultimately, a new life.
Looking back doesn't help. You're older and wiser now. Forgive your younger self and move on.
I am seeing the "WHY ME" clearly after 1.5 yrs clean (and some clean spans before that). You'll get your ah - ha moment if you stay clean and your brain has the time and space to clear. The answer will come even faster if you can get into recovery and work thru this life "stuff" w/ people who've already done the work ahead of you.
The Why for me is MUCH bigger than the gambling. My life had a very large void, I was angry that life had "let me down" in so many ways, I 'deserved' and I sought the power, the false pride, the feel good emotions at a very very very high cost.
Praying the bottom is here and you are ready. Pray that I stay in the reality of life and recovery.