Hi (((icandothis)))! I can relate to what you said about time for you means gambling. I don’t drink so can’t relate to that aspect. The truth is that gambling isn’t fun or a relax time once we’ve crossed that line and become compulsive gamblers. We sit down at a machine and then it starts taking one bill after another and our hope is that the machine will give us back what we walked in with, and what we’ve taken out from the ATM. Sadly, that seldom happens and on the rare occasion it does, we don’t stop gambling until we have no more access to cash. And then it’s the negative thoughts and feelings we have after the episode, and the renewed thoughts of going gambling again the next day to recoup our losses and win some money. We all know what happens the next day, and the day after……….It’s a gradual process but if we keep working at it, time for us starts involving sleeping enough, going to the movies, buying ourselves clothes, spending time with people that we care about, going for a mani/pedi, etc. I used to be able to find an excuse that sounded plausible for me and that justified my slips. I’ve gambled and searched my mind for something that happened that I could excuse my gambling. I started living in my truth and had to accept that I gambled because I wanted to. Gambling is not an escape; it is a cunning disease that will rob us of everything we hold dear, unless we keep working at recovery. My recovery has been far from perfect, but I’m still here fighting on for almost the past 3 years. You can do it!! Wishing you a gamble free day! Carole
