Hello Naomi and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

As well as the forums New Members are invited to join Charles in the New Members Practical Advice Group On Mondays at 21:00 (UK) and Thursday at 19:00(UK)

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you 🙂

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

Hi Naomi, good to meet you! And of course welcome to the forum. I’m on day 3 hundred and something after having a 2 and a half year return to gambling. Not full blown because I still had some barriers in place, but progressing. And the lying and other character deficits came right back which was worse. My previous recovery time was 5 and a half years. When i look back i realize part of why I relapsed was due to not staying connected with my recovery tools. This site, I used to attend GA meetings, I was seeing an addictions counselor for roughly two years also. So now I am here. Working on my recovery every day usually if even for a post or two. I am kind, caring, and also have a sense of humour when I’m not too tired or in pain. I deal with health issues that have led to multiple surgeries. I feel like the tools I learned in gambling recovery help me live my life with these challenges as well. I’m of to a physical therapy appointment. I hope to meet you in a chat group as well perhaps. I try and attend the 10 pm (11pm on the days there is no 10pm) London UK time group. I hope you have a good gamble free day. Mindfulness truly does help us appreciate each day, each minute. Take care, Laura

I too struggle with bad days. Bad pain days, bad anxiety days, lack of energy days. But I know that there will be good days again too. Try and treat yourself kindly on those days.

It can take up to two years for our brains to rebalance themselves after addiction. Here is a link that explains a little about it. https://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/post-acute-withdrawal.htm

My gambling addictions counselor said this applies to gambling addiction as well. And in this article I’ve found it talks about how gambling increases the release of dopamine by up to ten times. So we aren’t addicted to a outside substance, we are addicted to that feel good release gambling gives us when we win. And we keep needing wins to get it. https://www.projectknow.com/research/gambling-addiction/

Knowing that this will pass and that it is part of recovery made me feel a little better. Make the most you can out of the good days and maybe work on some feel good things for the bad days. A fragrant bubble bath, an easy meditation, a new puzzle to do. Something that makes you feel a little bit better and a little more comfortable in your own skin. Time to rediscover old hobbies or find new ones. But in the end, we just need to get through the day without a bet. Hope today is a better day.
Laura