hi Kamirr,
thank you for your kind and motivating post,
but let me start by saying you did it. a 2.7 years is a great achievement, congratulations you should be proud of yourself.
out of curiosity, I am wondering how it feels after such a long period, do you still have gambling urges from time to time? do you still have any bad emotions from the wasted time and money during the gambling period of your life? or it becomes part of the past that you rarely think about.?
I totally agree with you it is a mental health issue the financial part is just one of the symptoms.
keeping myself busy is great advice, I am trying to do so, but it is hard for me at this stage, I am barely able to focus during work, but on the days where I had this 4 or 5 hr of focus at work, once I am back home I feel so good, it gives me satisfaction, a sense of achievement, to contrary in the days where I am not able to focus (which is most of the days in this period of my life) I feel so bad and depressed. I start to think I have an undiagnosed ADHD!!.
Telling your brother-in-law is the best thing that you have done, and I think you already showed a commitment toward recovery I don’t think there is any need to hide your addiction from your wife.
in my case, i am still not able to take this step yet, I know it is very important, and I hope I will have the courage to do it soon.
anyhow, when we are in the middle of what looks like a hopeless situation. we really need people like yourself to remind us that recovery is possible. and there is hope.
wish you all the best in your life.
DE