Gambling Addictions

[jacknbox5]

Hello:

I thought I would start a new thread. I felt that if were trying to improve ourselves I might as well work on everything. Besides my weight I have one other issue and its gambling. I like to play slots and financially I can't afford it. Any suggestions for controlling the urge and getting my sh_t together would be extremely useful.

Jacknbox5

[fourbeaglesmom]

Been there, done that. The only thing that made me stop was that I got to the point where it was either gamble or feed me and my beagles. The money simply wasn't there to do both. I chose the latter. I went to therapy, 12-step program, behaviour modification, got prayer counselling, you name it, I tried it, none of that made me stop. I initially started gambling just after I found out that my now ex-husband had a 4-year affair right under my nose. He was a real miser with money and I think subconsciously I wanted to punish him for the affair by spending all our money. That's what I think, anyways. Soon it got a hold of me, though, and I couldn't stop. I spent $30K in two years on VLTs. I havn't gambled in almost two years. I still get the urge from time to time but financially I am so much better off now, the "high" I get from knowing I have money in the bank should I ever need it is far better than the artifical "high" I used to get when I hit plums on a ten bet.

I wish you well - please use all the tools at your disposal. I do think, in the end, it's a matter of will. Put a plan in place - don't have access to money that you can take to the casino. Be accountable to someone for every hour in the day, especially when you're out by yourself. At least these will be safeguards for you. I didn't have any of that, if I had I would probably have quit sooner. My refusal to give up control in my life kept me going back to those machines. Go to GA if you think that can help you. The longer you're away from it, the more you'll enjoy life and not feel crappy and guilty all the time.