[Jonny123987]

You seem to have it all figured out! Sweet!

[Jonny123987]

Hi Sara J,
Thank you for your very honest response. You seem like an incredibly intuitive person. How is your recovery coming along?
I actually had an odd feeling of wanting to gamble a few nights ago. Not sure why. It passed after a time. It’s been close to 16 months of gamble free time for me. I’m thankful and grateful that I don’t live like I used to.
I hope everyone on here finds the strength to stop.

[Jonny123987]

Thank you very much for commenting Johnny B. 4 months is great! That’s a long time.
What do you miss about it? What crosses your mind about gambling? Do you watch a game and pick the score? Do you think of the money you can win? or potentially lost by not gambling? Do you miss the rush of it? What is it exactly do you think?
I believe in both of us Johnny. We can both never gamble again if we choose to. :). Looking forward to reading your response.

[Jonny123987]

Hi SaraJ,
Sounds like you are in a similar place that I was in a year or two ago. It seems impossible and like there is no end in sight. It also feels like everything is caving in.
Why do you feel like you continue to go back? Is it the rush of gambling? Do you need the money? Is sounds like you can’t afford to lose that money as you need it for the basic things in life like eating.
I’m not sure what gave me the strength to finally say enough’s enough. I do think losing the nerve in my calf had something to do with it but I was also done with gambling in my head. I knew I couldn’t win it back. I was too far down. Thee was no way out for me accept potentially killing myself or quitting. Thats how bad I was. I had to let it go. I had to start rebuilding. I needed to start healing and stop pealing the scab off. I wanted my life back and compulsive gambling to stop. I made the decision. I let it go. I moved on. Is it hard? most of the time it isn’t. But I still think about it every once in a while. I don’t think I think about in an unhealthy way, usually the thoughts are about what life might have been like had I not gambled… would it have been different…. Then I realize that’s not my life and I move on and think about something I can change.

[Jonny123987]

Hope you are well and doing great!

Sounds like you’re conquering the beast I did it. Good work. It gets easier with time.

[Jonny123987]

Things are still looking good on this end. Hope you all are doing great.

[Jonny123987]

Hi Diamond,
I hope my story has helped you a little. I have a bunch of advice for sure. Gambling is a horrible addiction and affliction to have to deal with day in and day out. The truth is life is hard. I think we can both agree on that. Life and gambling is nearly impossible. I gambled for over 20 years and lived like that. It took mostly everything from me.
My first advise is:
1. Decide that you 100% want to quit. There can be no question.
2. Surrender to it. Know that you have lost what you have lost and that it can never be won back. It is gone and that is ok.
3. Get rid of all access to money. However you can do this your need to do it. No money, no gamble. That simple.
4. Block yourself from access to gambling (I think this is a solid step but not a guarantee. There are too many places to gamble to get banned from all of them. This sounds nice but is virtually impossible. I liken this to an alcoholic banning themselves from every establishment that sells alcohol in the world.)
5. Go to some GA meetings and check them out. They can only help. Being able to speak to people that have a similar problem is very helpful.
6. Find a life coach that you trust and start trying to figure out what the root of the problem is that made you want to gamble. Want the high of gambling. Wanted to self destruct. Wanted to win fast without working hard. What drives the beast? What has happened to you to make you this way? We all have demons/issues and need to address them in order to help have better self control. You spent a bunch of money hurting yourself – Why not spend money to help yourself.
7. Start exercising
8. Start giving time to help others
9. Start thinking about three things you are grateful for when you wake up and before you go to sleep.
10. Do trancendental meditation in the am and in the evening.
11. Start reading one book per week.
12. Start a new diet.
13. Start writing in a daily journal about how you feel. Maybe this site is good for that?
14. Trust someone and tell them about your gambling problem.
15. Try to find happiness.

[Jonny123987]

You are only at the beginning. The question is when will enough be enough for you? For me it took many years. I did what your doing a hundred times… Truthfully do you want to stop gambling?

[Jonny123987]

Good work!

[Jonny123987]

Hi Everyone – I hope you are all doing better and taking things one day at a time. I’m still gamble free since 2016 which is great. I’m not sure how I managed to stop. I drove by a casino the other day and thought maybe I could have a great night but then realized that can’t happen. I saw a basketball game on and thought the under will hit but that was about it. I haven’t gambled in over 14 months but still have these tiny thoughts every once in a while. I don’t need the money. I just want that high. Going to read some others stories on here and say hello.
Best.

[Jonny123987]

Hi Everyone – Just wanted to heck in and say hello. I haven’t gambled since 2016 which is pretty amazing. My back and leg are not back 100% but that is just something I’ll have to live with. I’ve been working steady which is good. I’ve saved a bunch which is also nice but I still always worry about money. How are you all doing?

[Jonny123987]

Great work Monicau! Proud of you.

[Jonny123987]

Last gambled on 12/27/2016. Hope you are staying strong and gamble free.

Best,
Jon

[Jonny123987]

I hope you are all staying strong and gamble free in 2018.

Best,
Jon

[Jonny123987]

Last Gamble Day I think was 12/27/16. Happy to report that. Thank you for your kind thoughts all. Please be well.

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