Originally posted by andyo
… in the past have tried to stop and the only reason was because a was loosing …
Good morning Andy, my name is Larry and I am a compulsive gambler, my last bet was October 17, 2013, I started recovery over three years ago not only because I was loosing, but because I finally realized and "admitted that I was powerless over gambling – that my life had become unmanageable".
Welcome to GT, a place that will help you learn how to stay stopped now that you have actually stopped and are doing something about it. We have all stopped many ***** in the past for various reasons, stopping is not the hard part, staying stopped and gambling free is he hard part, the part where we need to combat our addiction with a true desire, diligent work, and continues efforts.
Your coming here today is not only a positive step for you, but it is a reminded to us what gambling would hold for us if we were to return to our **** to test the waters, a reminded that things have not changed in the world of gambling or in the destruction that it would bring to us. Thanks for being here and being a value to our recovery as well as a renewing a value to yourself and a start of your own path to recovery.
As Velvet posted, "if what you have been doing before has not changed a thing, then maybe it is time you did something different?", this truth is also expressed in the cliche, "if nothing changes, nothing changes", and in part of the Gamblers Anonymous principles of recovery, "How does someone stop gambling through the Gamblers Anonymous Program (or another program of your choice, but I recommend trying GA)? — One does this through bringing about a progressive character change within oneself". Keep coming back here to find the ways and means to bring about the needed changes in your life, changes in your lifestyle, thinking, and attitude. Look for a live support group in you area such as GA, do all that you can to combat this addiction and stay gambling free. And the best advice that I can think of is to "not gamble for anything" while you are working on recovery; giving into an urge or temptation, an urge that will pass without causing you any harm, only strengthens the addition, while each day in this One Day At A Time process that you do not gamble strengthens you and your resolve to become the person that you are meant to be and move you toward thinking and living in a more normal way.
God’s speed, use your Higher Power to guide and strengthen you.LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.