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You didn’t go on too long. You have a beautiful, hard fought life story. There is so much more to life than meets the eye. It seems to me, you are an overcomer!

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I am using your word. FRENZY is a perfect word. CHAOS might be another.
I used to visualize the entrance to hell, flames and all overlaid on the entrance to the local casino. That visualization was the beginning of my strength to fight this addiction.
27 years withiut a sick day, might just be record. What an amazing work ethic you have! Let’s both have a great weekend shall we?

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Hi there,
I wanted to answer a question you asked on my thread.
The answer is this, if nothing changes, nothing changes.
I still have the desire to go to the casino. When things get stressful, my mind starts planning to gamble. It is as if I turned on this switch somewhere along the road. Gambling used to be a fun night out. Then it turned into an escape from my life. It became a compulsion.
This I believe is true in most addictions. Our brain has decided that the problem is the answer.
You have come here for help. And there is help here. I was very sick and tired of breaking promises to myself. I think that is what you are saying too.
I had to realise that barriers put in place is the first step in getting my head back in order.
First be honest, if I was really honest, I wish I could gamble without all the negative consequences. I can’t. I have proven this over and over. Go to the GA site and take the 20 question test. I was shocked by how many of them applied to me.
Put someone in charge of your money. If you want it to stay your money and it not belong to the casino, this is smart. You absolutely have to act when you are at your low point, because, if your brain is jacked up like mine was, as soon as you see a break or have an opportunity, you could be off again.
This addiction is beatable. It is maneageble, it is not all controlling. You can control it. But you have to start.
I believe this with all my heart and I am adding you to my prayer list. There is a reason that GA talks so much about a higher power. When we can’t, God can. Just ask.

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Thanks everyone for your replies.
I have a day off on Monday and am so ready. Work has been brutal. My husband is off too so we will both enjoy a three day weekend.
no gambling plans

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Wow
That is serendipitous.
I love that word!
It really is more than that. It is Proof that all things work together for good……….
XOXO

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Beauty from ashes.

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Beauty from ashes.

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Family can be brutal. No one can stir us up quite like the ones we love the most. Take that time away. We live and die by the tongue. That was part of the Sunday school lesson this morning. That’s Biblical. You are so smart to give some time to yourself to cool down. Your Mom is difficult, but you wouldn’t be happy with yourself if you really went all out on her. It would make you feel guilty if you told her off. Better to wait until you feel more in control.
You got this, Lizbeth, camping in your own house! That’s an adventure, uggh!

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I am glad to hear from you! I hope you post more. Balancing anything is tough, when we have certain personality traits, I think we struggle more than some. Lol
Miss seeing your posts.
Youcandothis!

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I saw it. I read it. I hear it in my head too.
“Those are the things that will usually help us stop gambling,”
That’s profound.

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I hear and am listening to the truth in what you are writing. I must do more to put this desire in a position to have no sway when opportunity arises.
I looked up GA again.I truthfully, do not think I will ever go.
Today is a good day. I did not gamble, I had urges yesterday and I put them away. I have plans for my time, my money and my thoughts are directed to constructive things.

I am forgiven, I am not condemned. Through God’ss mercy and grace, I am free. Seeking my higher power daily to do for me what I have been unable to do for myself. One day at a time, with a plan, looking forward to make sure I am guarded and ready. I know my history, my cycle, and must be ready
Some talk about smoking, my sweet girl Sad, thank you for posting what myself needed to read. It is a nasty addiction for sure. Like all addictions, there are none that are completey harmless to others. Because we love our families and they love us, our addictions cause harm to them.
I try to minimize the effect, I smoke outside, but it’s true I am harming others by harming myself. Like alcoholism, drugs, overeating, ignoring the fat content or overprocessing in food, like gambling compulsions, elicit affairs, gossiping, foul language, pornography addictions, there are always consequences to addictions outside of ourselves. I have a lot of work to do, I have a lot of grace poured over my life.
Feeling free today of condemnation and I am thankful for mercy.

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Thank you Kin for writing your thoughts. Because your thoughts were guided by a divine hand. As always, God’s timing is perfect. I opened your last post during a stressful moment this morning and there in front if me was God’s answer to my prayer. So thank you for being open to what His will for you is. You are listening and it is obvious to me, because through your obedience in writing on your thread, I was touched.
May God continue to lead, guide, and protect you, in Jesus’s name, Amen.

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Thank you!
It is some of that bible story, “build your house on the solid rock” and also there is a saying, “those who live in glass houses, shouldn’t throw stones”.
That saying reminds me that we all have things that are not perfect going on. No one is perfect, we have to stop being so judgemental and look inward. Everyone “sins” a little differently.

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Thank you!
It is some of that bible story, “build your house on the solid rock” and also there is a saying, “those who live in glass houses, shouldn’t throw stones”.
That saying reminds me that we all have things that are not perfect going on. No one is perfect, we have to stop being so judgemental and look inward. Everyone “sins” a little differently.

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Hi Charles,
Thanks for the prodding. I looked into banning from the particular place, but it’s three hours away and you have to make an appointment. Uggh, I don’t want to go there at all, let alone drive that far and be turned away.
One of my 5 trips in the last year was when I was away on a business trip, ot of state. (Not going there again)
One was on the boat(not going there again) not if I want to stay married.
The other 3 times were to the 3 hour venue, that is a little over 6 hours round trip. Last trip was about 7 weeks ago. The longest stretch gamble free in this last year was 4 months. I don’t want to go to GA by myself, and my husband works nights….althogh my I will. So what’s left?
Maybe I will plan a 6hour trip, with an appointment, oh who am I kidding, I won’t do that.
I just have to keep posting, although there are times when Even being on GT makes me think of gambling more than I would if I wasn’t posting.
I suppose I have to post, call my sister, find a new productive habit…..for when the urges return.
what was your best help when things were early in your own recovery?

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