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...
Jon brought up a really good point in another post. It sounded harsh but in reality I think it's just the truth and I know it comes from his heart.... he wants every single one of us to beat this. Willpower will most likely never be enough to stop gambling.
I agree Jon. I tried to use willpower for at least a year to try to stop gambling. There was nothing more than I wanted then to stop gambling. I wanted it more than anything in the world and historically in my life willpower has worked for me. For example, I went from weighing 200 pounds and barely being able to walk around the block to running marathons and that took a huge amount of willpower and inner strength. I have self control. I finished college on my own, working nights. That took willpower and inner strength. I recovered from a broken back. That took will power and inner strength.
I had no control over my gambling addiction. No matter how bad I wanted to quit. No matter how many different approaches I tried on my own... nothing worked until I accepted that I was powerless over this addiction and that I needed help to stop.
I know that we each have our own unique path. I accept that it may be possible for some to stop gambling without outside help but I believe it is very unlikely.
I would love to have a discussion on this. What do y'all think about what I've said?
I agree Jon. I tried to use willpower for at least a year to try to stop gambling. There was nothing more than I wanted then to stop gambling. I wanted it more than anything in the world and historically in my life willpower has worked for me. For example, I went from weighing 200 pounds and barely being able to walk around the block to running marathons and that took a huge amount of willpower and inner strength. I have self control. I finished college on my own, working nights. That took willpower and inner strength. I recovered from a broken back. That took will power and inner strength.
I had no control over my gambling addiction. No matter how bad I wanted to quit. No matter how many different approaches I tried on my own... nothing worked until I accepted that I was powerless over this addiction and that I needed help to stop.
I know that we each have our own unique path. I accept that it may be possible for some to stop gambling without outside help but I believe it is very unlikely.
I would love to have a discussion on this. What do y'all think about what I've said?
My first period of destruction that lead to my abstinence was devastating in all parts of my life, but I had some other life experiences during that time that I used for a crutch and was a good excuse for others to see it as a mistake. As time went on I began to look at that period almost as if it were someone else completely. A binge here and there over the years, always with the tell tale guilt, but I moved on and continued to abstain. However, I was always and will always be a compulsive gambler and all it took was the right moment of weakness at the right moment of opportunity and I was hooked more than I was way back when.
I can honestly say that by going to GA and admitting I am indeed powerless over my addiction was indeed the first real step in my recovery. Admitting it to my brothers and sisters in the program and to my family was what hopefully will cement my resolve and commitment to never gamble again, but to take it one day at a time. Bottom line is that we cannot achieve a better life by willpower alone, we need help and support- a higher power that I see as my fellowship and my family's support.
And I agree with tennisjon 100%.
Vicky
Having said that, there are certain things we sometimes come to feel powerless over. Like gambling, drinking or other addictions. That is was "addiction" means - that you can't do it on your own. One way or another you need help, even if it is just here, where you can talk about it.
Good thread, maybe I should rethink AA in light of this. Thanks.
I look at willpower as literally the power of our will -"our will" being our determination. I have willpower in most aspects of my life, resisting the temptation of that fudgy brownie when I'm trying to lose a few pounds, that cup of coffee at 7pm when I know it will keep me up all night. My addiction to gambling, however, has taken away all the power of my will once I'm seated in front of a slot machine. I have as much power there as I would trying to "will" a car to start when it's out of gas. No amount of "will" or determination can change the outcome. I do use my willpower to resist the urges to GO to the casino, though. I know once I'm there, I'm powerless to resist being swept up in the tidal wave of those dopamine infusions. So I still think willpower plays a role in recovery, having the ability to resist those initial temptations that lead us to the place where we HAVE no willpower, whether it's logging on to an online casino, or physically driving to a brick and mortar one. Willpower isn't prideful unless we are turning away the Good Samaritan with the gas can because we believe we can "will" the gas-less car to start, or think we can walk into a casino and "will" ourselves to play responsibly.
We are not talking about our routine life, we talking about heavy illness.
Thanks, Vicky.
What I meant was that willpower is still a function of recovery, resisting urges and temptations, using the power of our will in conjunction with the other tools available to us. And yes, a strong will IS important in the recovery from cancer or other illnesses. I never meant to imply that willpower alone can transcend addiction. But that we need to apply it where we can! And to feel empowered in the areas of our recovery where we are, and admit powerlessness over the areas we are not. I am empowered with the ability to *not* go to the casino. I can read my journals and re-live the agony. I can talk myself out of the "This time it will be different" lies I try to tell myself. I can use my coping strategies, and my reminders and my resources and yes, my willpower. I can do those things knowing that the second I walk in those doors I would be giving up my empowerment. Because I cannot beat the beast that rises up inside of me there and devours my sense of self, my sense of right and wrong, and my rational thought processes. The beast that takes away my willpower. That's what I meant, no offense intended!
Shelly
It is up to us how we want our lives back..... Self control sh.... Sorry for the bad words, gambling addiction is my own doing, nobody to blame...