[jvr3419]

Hey lavende94 the best advice would be you need to put blockers on your device there is available apps like gamestop, gamban. Also self exclude yourself from anything online you gamble at. But the blockers will help to keep you from signing up for new ones. The next step is seeking out help we cant do it alone. I had to get a gambling counselor and start doing 12 stepwork. There is a Gamblers anonymous both online and in person meetings. And then if course some people need to be removed from there environments and go to rehab if the other stuff doesn’t work. It’s not an easy road it doesn’t just go poof and the addictions gone. It’s gonna take alot of hardwork and uncomfortable times but I promise it’s worth it

[jvr3419]

Sounds like your brains going 5 miles an hour over there but thats what us addicts do I no mine sure does. I’m super happy for you getting to another milestone. The job things definitely a tough one I’ve never believed in doing the same thing for the rest of my life. I’ve gone to school several times to change from classic chick jobs to now work in trades because the money is better. If you feel you need change that’s something you have the ability to make happen. Making sudden life changes in early recovery aren’t always the best move though sometimes because of the stress and unpredictable outcomes. I no ADHD extremely well I don’t have it but all the males in my family do and my ex did really bad. Surprisingly it’s the number one diagnosed mental health problem other than depression/anxiety amongst people with addiction. If you notice stimulates make you quiet and like drinking coffee does nothing for you. Do you pace alot, take on shit ton of task but can’t complete them cuz you leave and do something else from squirrel syndrome then yep theres a high chance you probably got it lol. It’s awesome to hear your looking into getting some help for it though if your recognizing that somethings off. Hope you have a good day and wishing you well DE ?

[jvr3419]

I’ve had alot of moments this week where the devils trying to dangle the carrot above my head more in the form of substance addictions than gambling but I’ve worked through those senerios that have been thrown at me. Mostly just meeting the wrong people that have tried to be bad influences but I’ve learned to put up my boundaries and not give in to temptation. I’m paying my debts down still slowly and I’ve reached over the 9 month mark now.

[jvr3419]

Hi Am welcome to the forum. I just wanted to congratulate for taking the step to talk here. One suggestion though is we each have our own thread we make. This one is my own that I created but I’m glad you’ve posted to get started it takes a bit to figure out at first. Definitely putting in gambling blockers and excluding yourself from being able to gamble is the biggest first step you gotta take. And the more you talk and seek out the help you need the better your going to feel in the long run. Recovery is a tough process but it does get better I promise you that

[jvr3419]

Hi Don one thing I’ve learned about people especially negative ones at that is you can’t control how they act but you can control your response to it. I’ve taken a beating for years from my general foreman probably the most arrogant jerk I’ve ever met. Those type will always look for our weak spots to use against us. It’s like they sniff out the insecurities. We get to make the choice whether we feed them or not. And the only person we hurt by letting them take us out with our insecurities is ourself especially if we go straight to addiction thoughts. Working on those insecurities also helps big time so that they no longer become a trigger anymore. Counseling definitely helps with that alot for me anyways. I hope your having a better day today ?

[jvr3419]

Hi Don I’m happy to read your post. The withdrawl stage is definitely the hardest. Honestly the only thing that helped me through that stage was having outside help to get me through it. I literally had to post here almost everyday to just get out whatever thoughts would pop into my head to. I wrote insane novels of shit but it worked. As the saying goes you get what you put into your recovery. I no that men tend to have it a bit harder in terms of allowing emotions/feelings out it wasn’t your guys fault at all that comes from bs society that conditioned you to suck it up and move on. I work with tradesman all day with pent up anger,control,addictions because they won’t talk. I have managed to get some of them to do that over time by being open myself and me being a women they tend to open up with confidence and trust. I dont no if it’ll help you at all to do that more knowing that there is others like myself reading your posts wanting to be a support for you. Let that shit out as it hits you whatever it may be thats what this forum is for. ?

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by jvr3419.

[jvr3419]

Today I decided to reward myself and bought a wicked socket set and new skillsaw that I really needed for working on some stuff at home. Since I’m alone I’ve had to start accumilating tools again since my ex and I shared everything. I have most of my stuff at work so I felt like now that I have spare savings I can afford to get the things I need like decent tools. Don’t get me wrong being a girl I still mix in the clothes shopping sometimes to but I do like my tools being that I’m in trades. This is the luxury that not gambling for the almost 9 months has given me I can afford anything I want now and it’s a really freeing feeling. I don’t feel weighed down by how am I going to afford to pay for this and that. I’ve had a great weekend and I’m starting some projects at home. I’m putting together my elliptical trainer for when the crappy rain hits in the next while so I can continue my workout routine everyday. I’ve been running, and hiking lots with the nice weather so I’m feeling really healthy. Trying to keep myself as postive as possible to stay away from negative addictive thoughts and so far its been pretty good this last while.

[jvr3419]

Hi jack1991 the best advice I can give to start your journey in quiting gambling is to get yourself banned from all ability to gamble be that self exclusion from sites and from casinos. Then from there is takes alot of hard work to deal with what brought you into the addiction in the first place. Many people join GA and some even need to go to a rehabilitation centre to remove themselves from there own environments. I myself through myself into therapy right away I found someone that specialized in gambling addiction and trauma. This has worked for me with doing 12 step work and using this forum.

[jvr3419]

Yay congrats to you. Doing a happy dance for you lol. I’m right behind you ? thanks for being inspiring and pushing through this crap and sharing your story to show its possible to overcome this addiction and see the light at the other end. Wishing you many happy days ahead.

[jvr3419]

Hi welcome here I hope that some of the stories can give you insight to what you need to do to stay gamble free. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and guidance as there’s many of us here who can offer some advice if you want it. It’s also a good place to just let out anything you need to instead of letting it sit in your head stressing you out. Wishing you well today ?

[jvr3419]

Hi kiwi welcome to this site. I’m glad to read your doing all the things nessicary to keep yourself from gambling. This site definitely helps to keep you accountable and to help one another. Sometimes it’s just the writing part alone that let’s you free up anything that’s juggling around between the ears. Hope to hear more of your journey ?

[jvr3419]

I’m sorry for your loss Don. I lost my mom when I was 11 and never new my biological father so I can emphasize with you so much. Grief is super hard and everyone handles it differently. I definitely believe in how powerful grief is in failed relationships and loss of childhood from trauma ect. I don’t think were bad people by any means for what we did we were just hurting super bad and unfortunately fell victim to what so many people find instant gratification from. The gambling/ substance industry are designed for people like us. The sole purpose is to profit off peoples pain and emotions. It pisses me off that these things were created by other humans as they sit there and watch it destroy one another. Our world is royally fd up if you ask me. I try not to hold a resentment at these markets/ industries but it’s hard not to feel some anger towards it. Anyways I thankyou for your comment and hope to hear more about your recovery journey. Wishing you and others on here well today.

[jvr3419]

One of the earliest things I remeber doing in my early recovery days over 10 years ago from my other addictions was writing out what could be a potential relapse for me. One of those things was my grandma dying since she was all I really had. I did not relapse when she died about 4 years back but I did end up this gambling problem a few years after when I wasn’t dealing with the grief and having to deal with her will and all the bs that comes with family drama around it. As I’ve wrote here many times there was multiple things that led to me gambling for those few month stents that I did. However now as I read others struggles with relapse and talk with people close to me who keep relapsing on substances and alcohol I realize the importance of making another list of potential things that can take me out again if I’m not careful. One thing I thought would was my breakup but luckily it didn’t. I have had some issues in the last few months with another guy whom I’ve just been talking with but I’ve been strung along by this person on a merry go round ride. The hard part is we work together I thought he was quitting and he failed to mention he changed his mind this week. He led me on again for 2 weeks straight after I shut down contact for a few weeks. Then I opened up alot to him after he contacted me out of work, just to have him treat me like crap and I new better. My vulnerability to not liking being alone made me drop my guard down. Nothing happened relationship wise just alot of time wasted texting. I felt like a dumb teenager or something. Anyways I no that any form of relationship or crap pulled in that area of my life is a huge trigger for me. Being hurt or used/led on is hard for me because I feel like I’m not good enough when it happens. Anyways it’s hard to write that out and embarrassing but it’s a reality of one of my major triggers. Luckily I did not let my current disappointment of this man ruin me or my recovery. I am learning to live with the hurt feelings and just move past it. I am still making a list to see what are potential relapse triggers or things that I feel I might not be able to get through clean. So far I’ve been through the worst of it all including looking at my past traumas so maybe my reservations won’t be a long list but just things to be cautious of. I am really grateful for having a clear mindset so I can be able to look at this stuff without being closed off. Im grateful for the beautiful day I’m having and getting things done to make my place happier for me to be in.

[jvr3419]

Not much to write about still gamblefree and doing the work necessary to stay that way. I see my counselor every 2 weeks now to let out any negative crap swirling in my head. I was really burned out yesterday and have a 4 day weekend so I mostly just slept which I haven’t done in years I never take a full day to just do nothing and rest. So as guilty as I felt my body and mind needed it. Today I’m in a better space to accomplish the things I need to for myself. Nothing worse than having 5 million chores at home when your someone who works doing hard labor but such is life. I’m grateful for my recovery and happy that I’m still staying postive even on the bad days.

[jvr3419]

I’m grateful for my weekend of dance therapy. And lots of laughs with my bestfriemd camping. Learning to have fun in recovery is a huge part of getting better and living a postive program. Happy to be another day gamblefree and substance free.

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