[finding_laura]

Thank you Vera, for you very thoughtful post. I am reaching out to that support. Had a very good one on one with a very good recovery friend. We were very close with our time in the program. She is still going strong. Heard about another friend who had never admitted to a problem still losing all kinds of money. And here I am, with my big toe dipped back in the pool of recovery. I am ready to jump back. And as I’ve learned the lessons before and have had years of experience it would be much like never forgetting how to swim once you’ve truly learned. I’ve been talking a lot to my husband about where my money is to go once I receive it. So that he knows if it doesn’t go there. Slowly i’m working on my barriers. And using the tools of recovery. – Laura

[finding_laura]

Hi Lynda, i often talk to God too when I am gambling. Oh please God just let me win enough to make up for what i lost. I’ll do the responsible things with the money. I deserve it. Then when I lose, because even when i win, i will lose. I don’t deserve this God, what have i done to deserve this? Please take this addiction away. But really the slots i play are a man made machine that is designed to entice and thrill and hook. They are designed to make the venues money. The only guarantee is that the more you play the more you will end up losing. It is not God who is responsible for whether I win or lose. God gave us free will in this life. I need to use mine to say no to gambling. I need to put in place the things that will help me get through the bad times. Keep working on your issues Lynda and prepare for when you have money again. Because the desire will really start pumping through your veins as soon as your money arrives. Well done on your progress! Stay strong, Laura

[finding_laura]

That urge to get your money back is just the addiction trying to get you to play! Because like you said, even when you won, it was put back in again. We are never satisfied. We just want more. One bet is too many and a thousand is not enough. Try and get it in your mind that you will not get that money back. It was a very expensive lesson. Look at everything you will gain by no longer gambling. More time being invested in your family. Being present when you are with them. Knowing the value that your family holds for you and that you would do anything to keep them in your life. You are recognizing these things already! Have a good gamble free day 🙂 Laura

[finding_laura]

Hi Rua, it was good to chat with you the other day. I hope you have been able to put to use some of the information and suggestions given here. I know we discussed blocking software. I hope you were able to get some installed. Let us know how you are doing, I am hoping that you are still here reading and learning about this addiction and what it takes to stop it. Take care,
Laura

[finding_laura]

thanks Charles for the advice as always. It has been good to make it to some of the earlier sessions when there are facilitators to talk to. Tonight I had a little company too. It did me good to talk barriers with someone new. I need a little reminding of the tools of recovery. Rusty. Still not gambling. ODAAT

[finding_laura]

Good for you!!! Tell the man where to get off! 🙂 On a serious note, amazing job getting those barriers up and in place for when you get urges. And soon or later, one pops up its ugly little head. Each day you see progress must feel good! Well done! Laura

[finding_laura]

Hi Lynda,

welcome to the forum and well done on posting your story. Now you have a place to come and put your thoughts relating to gambling, as well as a place to learn from others We support each other through this process of stopping the madness and then staying stopped. I think one of the hardest things is getting it into our heads that we can never gamble responsibly again. No matter what we will lose control eventually and hurt ourselves once again. Charles has some really good advice on stopping. Like perhaps you can self exclude at the casino if that is where you gamble? Or perhaps restricting your access to cash somehow? I too am working on putting some of these barriers in place. Now that I have stopped I want to stay stopped. Keep posting. Never give up trying.
Laura

[finding_laura]

Hello Greenstar and welcome to the forum. It may be hard to believe but you are catching your addiction early. You are absolutely right when you say it will cost you all your savings, but that would only be the beginning. I lost what I had then I borrowed to try and win back what I lost and then some. There are those that would tell you they only wish they had lost money, and not their wife and their family. When we can’t control our gambling or be an occasional responsible gambler it’s like we can never go back to being one. Our brains have changed and it is difficult to stop.

You have taken some great steps so far. Closing your accounts and coming here! Not having access to money helps also. I’m not an online gambler, so maybe some of the more phone savy members could give you further suggestions on how to block gambling totally on your phone.

Keep posting, reading, and learning about this addiction or compulsion. Sometimes the words themselves are the reminder you need not to gamble.

take care,
Laura

[finding_laura]

Thanks I Did It, I think it will feel good. But I have to make sure I make it to that point. I’ve been on the site regularly since my last bet. Re imursing myself in recovery is helping to keep away urges so far. Never anyone around in group. I’ m thinking I should take in a GA meeting. 10 days no gambling. Happy Easter everyone

[finding_laura]

really sorry to hear how you are currently feeling. No matter what, things can be worse. I hope the light of morning sheds some new hope on your situation. Laura

[finding_laura]

Hey Dave, that’s a lot of pressure at one time but perhaps that will work for you as we are not all alike. I understand what you meant about not wanting to stop. For the longest time I would dream or fantasize about winning the lottery so that I could afford to sit there and play the slots all day. And i played in a little dingy smoking room with poor ventilation and some pretty off putting fellow players. Not the typical idea of paradise or what you want to be doing if money was no longer an issue. But to my gambling addled brain that was paradise. Gambling messes with our brains, takes a while for them to sort of balance out. Can affect our moods. Quitting smoking of course has its own set of challenges. Wishing you all the best. Laura

[finding_laura]

Awesome to hear I did it! Laughter is the greatest medicine and a good source of feel good chemicals. No urges come with time although I don’t know if there is a guarantee of never ever having an urge again. The best part is you didn’t act on any. I too am very grateful today. Laura

[finding_laura]

hey AVFC well done on two weeks 🙂 you’ve made some good changes and feel you are thinking clearer after a couple weeks away. I would suggest you keep making changes. Do you have a software blocker on your phone? in addition to excluding from the sites? It only takes one second of weakness, or even just a minute of being distracted and unaware of staying gamble free. I also had to give up control of my money in the beginning. I just couldn’t seem to deny the temptation. I hope we hear from Hammo soon as the two of you seemed such a good support for one another. I am a returning member who had almost 6 years of clean time in. And then one day i just didn’t stop myself. Although it gets easier with time, our brains get clearer, it can be retriggered in an instance. Remember all this can take from you and stay strong! Laura

[finding_laura]

hey AVFC goed gedaan op twee weken 🙂 je hebt een aantal goede veranderingen aangebracht en het gevoel dat je helderder denkt na een paar weken weg. Ik raad je aan om steeds wijzigingen door te voeren. Heb je een softwareblokkering op je telefoon? naast het uitsluiten van de sites? Het kost maar een seconde van zwakte, of zelfs maar een minuut om afgeleid te zijn en niet te beseffen dat je gokvrij blijft. Ik moest in het begin ook de controle over mijn geld opgeven. Ik kon de verleiding gewoon niet weerstaan. Ik hoop dat we snel van Hammo horen, want jullie twee leken zo'n goede steun voor elkaar. Ik ben een terugkerend lid die bijna 6 jaar clean-time had. En op een dag hield ik mezelf gewoon niet tegen. Hoewel het met de tijd gemakkelijker wordt, worden onze hersenen duidelijker, het kan in een geval opnieuw worden geactiveerd. Onthoud dat dit alles van je kan nemen en blijf sterk! Laura

[finding_laura]

Hei, AVFC hästi tehtud kahel nädalal 🙂 olete teinud mõningaid häid muudatusi ja tunnete, et mõtlete pärast paari nädala möödumist selgemaks. Soovitan teil muudatusi jätkata. Kas teie telefonis on tarkvara blokeerija? lisaks saitidelt väljajätmisele? See võtab vaid ühe sekundi nõrkust või isegi minuti, kui olete hajameelne ja ei tea, kuidas hasartmänge vabaks jääda. Samuti pidin alguses loobuma oma raha kontrollimisest. Ma lihtsalt ei suutnud kiusatust eitada. Loodan, et kuuleme Hammost niipea, kui teie kaks tundusid üksteisele nii heaks toeks. Olen tagasipöördunud liige, kellel oli peaaegu 6 aastat puhast aega. Ja siis ühel päeval ma lihtsalt ei peatanud ennast. Kuigi ajaga muutub see lihtsamaks, saavad meie ajud selgemaks, kuid seda saab ühel juhul uuesti käivitada. Pidage meeles, et kõik see võib teie käest võtta ja olge tugev! Laura

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