Originally posted by Reallydumb
I am 53 and have ruined my life …Help!!!!
Larry
Thanks to my Higher Power, My 3G’s – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all , I will continue to remain gambling free.
Good afternoon RD, my name is Larry and I am a compulsive gambler, my last bet was August 13, 2009. Welcome to GT, a place where "Reallysmart" people come to find help and work at the ways and means to stop their compulsive gambling and renew a life ruined by an addiction, not by them, but by a baffling and insidious compulsive addiction to gambling.
You may find yourself in a situation that you feel is unique or one where others fail to grasp the seriousness of you position, but in the long run you will find that you are not alone, that others have experienced mush the same predicaments that you find yourself facing. The only difference could be that they have accepted that they had to do something different and not just hold onto old ways that did not work or ones that they refused to follow; they had to become Honest, Openminded, and Willing to make changes in their lives, and work at a recovery program that would afford them the opportunity to live a more normal way meeting the real standards of Life, not just arbitrary standards of an organization or profession.
For a compulsive gambler there are only two viable alternatives, "to gamble, risking progressive deterioration or not to gamble, and develop a better way of life". Once we are willing to accept that we are compulsive gambling and that our lives have become unmanageable, that in most all aspects of our lives gambling has caused growing, continuing, and progressive problems for us and those around us, the alternatives come down to just the one thing; not to gamble for anything. Of course this is also where other choices come into play, choices that are more complicated and more numerous. However, these hard choice are what will make the difference in your future, not someone finding out your secret.
I would think that any standards for ethical behavior would include participating is activities that supported monitoring and broadening the development of the standards in your life, and ways to show others how to overcome any shortcomings that they could be facing by sitting another type of example. Reaching out for help and participating in the programs that provided that help should not be looked on as a failure or denial of the responsibilities entrusted to you. I would also think that any sanctions of not practicing the high moral or ethical standards would include a requirement to seek out help before any out and out dismissal. Your clients are like most other people, they are forgiving, they are also aware that some of the best advice comes from advisers that have faced problems and are still successful. Your success in your career is shown not only by what you have acquired, but by what others have. Any different arrangement you have to make in your lifestyle or home only shows that you are able to make needed adjustments to continue to be successful. Paying off your debts may not come easy and could take more time than you would like before being able to clime back up the latter once again, but this obligation in no more than a large loss incurred through losing out on legitimate dealings that successful businessmen have to also face. In that loss you learn from and make changes in the way you invest, in the losses from gambling you make changes in your character and attitude and the way you live.
Having a successful practice in financial planning you most likely also have health insurance to cover emotional or psychological problems as well as other medical ones; check into the provisions that covers these areas and seek the profession help that you might need. Although a problem here might be the same one that you faced in your other attempts at therapy, your reluctance to accept the type of help offered and probably needed. And your coming here carries the same type problem, you must be willing to do what is necessary, but keep coming back and participation in the forums and chat rooms, work at gaining the strength and courage that you need to go forward with your recovery before any more damage can be caused.
God’s speed, use your Higher Power to guide and strengthen you.– 1/5/2012 12:20:39 AM: post edited by paul315.