Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I think you will feel better now that the speech is done. I don’t mean from relief that it is done, but how much it helps to talk about it.
I find myself talking about my issue more than I probably should. My co-workers / friends are a group of free wheeling guys who gamble because it is the “norm” for our type (we are all in sales, and thrive on the highs and lows)….I simply explain that I can’t join them because I have liked it too much, and too often… It starts dialogue, and I have yet to feel judged….Just the opposite has happened actually, is several of them have applauded me for addressing the problem, even “joking” that they should quit too.
I don’t wish my issues on anybody else, however, it is nice to know that we are not alone in this world, and hence, why I add my 2 cents on GT whenever I get the urge!
I wish you the best in your journey!
I think in no time, you will see how much positive your situation will bring to others, and in an odd way it may be worth it…since we can’t win our money back.
Johnny BHello Dg2018
I am reminded of my situation as I read your thread. The point of my recovery where I felt most proud, was when I had $1000 car repair dropped in my lap. I too had the urge to go “win” enought to pay for it…However, in this instance, I had not been gambling for over 3 months…I acutally had the money in savings to pay for the repair…Novel thought, don’t piss it away, and we have it when we need it….I still think it would have been fun to “win” it …but I guarantee, that I would have lost and probably still needed to have my car fixed…
Anyway, small victories, no matter how trivial help us in many ways…. This is a marathon and not a sprint!
Best wishes
Johnny B
Idi
That is a terrific paragraph….The characteristics of gambling, that make us want to gamble, are exactly what gambling takes away from us.
That is profound, and I applaud you again on your recovery. You must truly be accepting, and controlling your life to see exactly why gambling is corrupt (for lack of a better word). It preys upon us. I wont call us weak, because it is us on this site that have taken control of our lives back, and it has taken every bit of my strenght to do it.
Do I want to play again. A most resounding yes!. Can I play again. Not if I know what is good for me. The progress I (we) have made is something I do not want to have to start over again. I spent 30 years wondering why I didn’t have the resoursces that my peers had….and there is one simple answer.. I gambled way more than any of them did.
But one thing I can say, Is I think I am more in touch with myself than I ever was, and I understand, and enjoy life much more in the last five months that I have been behaving myself.
Best wishes, keep up the good work, and solid words of encouragement!
Johnny B
You were “up” $1000 on just the comps, yet you lost it and your own money. I have been down that road. Let’s rationally think about that for a minute. How much was enough? How many times have we told ourselves, “if I had just quit”….I used to argue with myself that if I quit with that $1000 I could go back another day and not feel guilty about it….but guess what, it is gone. It is no longer your money. Sometimes there needs to be sobering moments that snap us back into reality.
I truly am sorry for your situation, knowing it isn’t easy. I am glad you are posting here….but you need to take control of your situation. You need to recognize the spiral is out of control and do something about it, before you become too desperate.
Thank you for sharing, I hope you come to your reality sooner than later!Early in my recovery, I played “world series of poker” on my phone. It is a “free” app. I played the tables, mostly tournaments. I did very well. On the app, there is a “slot” option… also “free”. In between hands I started playing the slot machine. I began to lose in minutes the hard earned “chips” that had taken me hours to accumulate. Now that my “chips” were all gone, I decided to “buy” some more…with real money…I am buying fake chips. The moral of my story is that even if something is done innocently, if it is not completely thought out it can become very costly. I am 5 months gamble free. I only play the poker app on very rare occasion, and it doesn’t hold much interest for me any more. The lesson I learned from the “slot” option is very frightening. These machines were not built for entertainment, they were built to take your money. They are called “one arm bandits” for a reason.. This situation has caused me to do some research into the addiction process. There is a book called “addiction by design”. It discusses in extreme depth the math, and the emotion that slots cause. It is truly a non winning option, and If people were educated to the fact, it would be something nobody would ever do.
Human nature is strange. Very similar to people who play big money on lottery… If the odds of winning the Mega-Millions are 0.000000167 to 1…. we see somebody win, and wonder why can’t it be me. Even if you bought $1000 worth of tickets, you would only eliminate one of those “0”s. Frankly, the numbers tell us we should not play at all. And many on this site agree completely. I hope since you gamble for a living, very much like the gentleman who does the stocks for a living, you have to do it with a clear mind and complete understanding of what you are doing. Unfortunately, if you cross this line, you might have to seek another career. Just my two cents
Just missed you in Chat… maybe next time!
He trusts you. If you told him you will just play the free play, he trusts and accepts that is all you will do… You will then lose more, an break his heart. I know this, because I used to do the same things, make the same promises… ” i promise not to lose too much,” “this time I will just play the comps” ” I broke about even”….all lies… all a disguise of the truth. Take a deep breath, take a break, and then be honest with yourself. If it is time to quit, then you will be ready. But you need to be ready, because it is not easy.
The gains are so slow… and I am finding for the people who recover for awhile, the relapse becomes worse and worse… almost like making up for lost time! Probably the psyche telling us we shouldn’t be doing it, so go for it for now. And then the house of cards come crashing down.
The gains are so slow… and I am finding for the people who recover for awhile, the relapse becomes worse and worse… almost like making up for lost time! Probably the psyche telling us we shouldn’t be doing it, so go for it for now. And then the house of cards come crashing down.