Hi Jen the amount of ***** I jumped ship in my first 18 years trying to beat this addiction to gambling I lost ***** off the pain caused still haunts me. One of my recovery tools is this poem. It made me cry like a baby when I first read it but I am glad to say I have been clean over three years now and this helps me remind myself how close I am every-day to letting gambling back into my life.
I Am Addiction
I start in small subtle ways promising many things.
I promise you enjoyment and pleasure beyond your wildest dreams.
I deliver guilt & despair more horrible than your worst nightmare.
I promise you power & courage.
I give you feelings of powerlessness & hopelessness.
I will force you to live in fear always.
I promise you relief and escape from all your daily problems.
I create for you greater problems than you ever imagined.
I promise you many friends.
I allow you only isolation.
I promise happiness.
I create much sorrow.
I will ***** from you your dignity, your families, your friends, your children, your homes, your demons, your spirit & your life, for love, freedom & happiness are impossible to find in my presence.
So never underestimate me,
I am devious and manipulating.
I have no preference as to who I pick as my victim, rich or poor, young or old, black, white, yellow or red.
I have no conscience.
So if you have met me, always be aware if you think you can beat me that I will be gone from your life and all will go well again…..Never forget that I will always be there, waiting in the dark shadows just around the corner.
I am very patient and I will laugh in your face if I can lure you into my evil world of **** on earth once again.
I am addiction.
…….author unknown………
I hope this helps
Stay lucky/be lucky
MattStay lucky/be lucky