Thursday update
Things going pretty well - wrote a long entry yesterday but it never got through!! Hate when that happens. Well, I ended up having lunch and dinner both out yesterday with two different friends. In summary - friend #1 for lunch was previous gambling buddy. She was surprised when I told her I have stopped... she was very supportive and she hasn't played either due to $$, but I think she was hoping I would hop in and out and that we could still have fun going once in a while.... that would be a no. Dinner friend #2 - also very supportive; we had a discussion about the understanding of addiction - she had always compared me to one of her other friends who loves to play the slots, but interesting - she now labels her a "controlled gambler" - if there is such a thing... not for me. So.. we also talked about her compulsive eating - and how even though she doesn't WANT to control it, she must for various obvious reasons. She said she hates to see me give up something that I love to do so much. :] oh well. That was it - we are having some cutbacks at work, so quitting gambling is the BEST thing for that reason as well. Take care everyone,Smokeygirl
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Isn\'t it funny how little support some of our friends give us on totally quitting gambling, even when we explain how it has just about destroyed us? Like telling someone with lung cancer keep smoking since they enjoy it and since the friend likes to have a smoke-break buddy. ACH!!!! There are controlled gamblers, not all people who gamble are compulsive....but I am not one of them. My \"controlled\" periods were always short-lived and I always eventually went deeper and deeper into it!
Congrats for staying strong! I suppose people who are not gambling addicts just have no true understanding of how it affects us!
I know lots of people here in the park who gamble and they spend way more than they have and they say \"I have control, or I only bet what I can afford\" but I know different because she cut off her tv and going out to eat and that is to me a sign of stressing the budget? If you want the truth, I will say to you as a friend, get new friends. You don\'t need to sit and enjoy a lunch talking about gambling and the fun you used to have. Actually since I gave up gambling I lost four friends who played cards with me for past four years and two others who like slots and not once in over 3 mos have I heard from them and we live in the same park. Like I died? Maybe that is all we had in common? You need to reevaluate your friendships when you go in for the long haul. I have a couple new friends and they are very very interesting. One goes to the University to take all kinds of classes and the other is an artist. I think before when I had an interest in gambling I was not attracted to people who had other interests. Anyway, my dtr quit coming to see me when I quit as she was still gambling but now that she has this illness and she quit gambling, I see her often and she calls every day. Think about it and maybe renew some old friendships from the past who dont gamble and you used to do things with. Keep up being strong. I think you are great. hugs barb
I know what you mean about \"gambling buddies\". My best friend/cousin gambles all the time. But she makes LOTS of money, so it\'s not a problem to her. I think if she was back down to my salary then she might be in the same boat I am. And I have another good friend that I always went gambling with. She still gambles, despite the fact that we have made many pacts that we would not go back. She still goes, still loses. My cousin doesnt talk about gambling around me because she knows I\'ve quit. That\'s a good thing, because if I talk about it too long, reminiscing will set in and then the urge will follow. Heck... that happens to me sometimes just reading on this site!!!!
Hang in there and stay strong. Your friend, Shelia
Good job! I\'m glad you didn\'t let your friends stir up urges. Hang in there and keep doing what you are doing. Peace and LOve. Patty