[Gamblingblows577]

Thanks Ryan. I hope you can find your way to a better 2020 than 2019!

[Gamblingblows577]

I agree, the counseling will definitely help but I have tried 3 counselors already and none were very good except one at least sort of did good. I will keep trying though. There is no excuse that I skip out on GA much longer and this can eventually end in a relapse if I don’t stay on it 100% and at least find some kind of replacement for the gambling .. I still do a lot against my gambling, but this is an addiction that requires 100% commitment and no less .. I do stay busy for the most part at least compared to when I gambled, I work all the time now lol. I have very little free time, but sometimes I feel like I need that time to figure out my life.

[Gamblingblows577]

That’s great! Keep it up! One day at a time! Don’t let relapses discourage you, I tried for a long time and barely ever made it past a month until I really put my mind to it.. The more blocks you put in place the more likely you will quit gambling for a longer time. I am not a fan of giving money away to corporations/ commercial gambling. You have lots of tools at your disposal whether it be GA, or less access to money, or even everyone around you knowing of your problem and holding you accountable. Even posting on this site or seeing a therapist can definitely help curb the urge.. I hope for many more gamble free days to come for you!

[Gamblingblows577]

Yes, I need to stop being lazy and get myself out there and find a good club to join.. I used to run a ton, and maybe that is the answer!

[Gamblingblows577]

Thanks to all of you for responding! My biggest problem is filling the void that the quitting of gambling leaves behind.. I mean when I was gambling, I felt like it was a way to kind of avoid my problems for a temporary time (making those problems worse in the long run). As soon as I was done gambling, I generally felt much worse than I did before I had gambled, but WHILE I was gambling, I was not focused on anything except the rush from gambling, I suppose that’s the hidden thing we are all addicted to (not the money or chance of winning, money is just the fuel for the rush of the possibility to win). The fact that I really find myself unable to communicate well in person takes its toll on me, I have tried 3 therapists but none of them helped much (the second one seemed to care the most but was expensive and I relapsed so bad that I was ashamed to talk to them after that, they were tough and I have always been kind of a wimp when it comes to confrontation). I don’t take a lot of risks in approaching people because there is never much to say, and I think it has been years since anyone had the courage to approach me as well (which could be a vibe I am putting off). I know I should keep trying with therapists because I believe this gambling all stems from the lack of satisfaction from most other things in life, I really find it near impossible to connect with anyone on any deep level. I am fairly good at writing but when it comes to talking in person, my brain just moves too slow to have a good coherent conversation with someone. I have a bachelors degree which I would say is probably my biggest achievement in life, so it is not like I don’t know anything, I’m just very socially awkward. I have told myself 9 months ago when I quit gambling that if I don’t have the charisma to make my life better than at least I will have money eventually. My other hope is that maybe quitting this crazy difficult addiction that I have lost tens of thousands of dollars to over a long decade would give me the confidence boost I needed to get myself out there again. I am still looking for a glimmer of hope and trying to find my passion, as for now, I just work all the time and have the typical hobbies of a single 28 year old. Thanks again to anyone that has listened thus far. This post is mainly venting and if anyone has a similar issue as I do that causes your gambling, I would love to hear your story. Anyone else is welcome to chime in as well! Thanks again and I appreciate the kind words and advice.

[Gamblingblows577]

Thank you for the reply and the kind words and 6/12/19 is over 6 months which is a great achievement! 🙂 The first 90 are the hardest! I’ve spent over a decade under 90 days lol

[Gamblingblows577]

Congratulations on 300 days GF. I am at 215 and struggling to stay away but know how much gambling can damage us. Here’s to making it to 1 year!

[Gamblingblows577]

Congratulations on 300 days GF. I am at 215 and struggling to stay away but know how much gambling can damage us. Here’s to making it to 1 year!

[Gamblingblows577]

Thanks for the reply, it is appreciated! Have you tried anything to combat your demons (the addiction)? I would say over time I have lost 15 to 20k (most of which was in the last 2 years). I fear that it is too late for me to quit, but I have not completely destroyed my life yet and would like to stop doing this before I totally hit rock bottom but know that doing so would be extremely difficult. Once I hit over the 7 day mark without gambling I get really bad urges to gamble and very restless and irritable, it’s almost impossible to beat it, and if and when I do manage to beat the urge, it comes back stronger and stronger each day until I give into it. It doesn’t seem to get any easier. I hope you find a way to live with the consequences and could eventually beat this terrible addiction!

[Gamblingblows577]

Yeah, it’s too fun, it’s addicting.. It’s a lot more fun when I am winning which is NOT most of the time. How about you?

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