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I have no desire to contradict or undermine your views, I – Did-It, but it not as easy to sabotage “real” recovery as it is to screw up abstinence or “fake” recovery.
I have experienced the three types and I am not pointing any finger at “Your” recovery.
I know we sometimes read things on GT like “One size doesn’t fit all” or “Every member does it her/his way”. According to the GA literature that attitude prevents CGs from taking steps to become “Honest, Open-minded and Willing” . I’m sure your GA meetings will highlight everything, one day at a time.Great to hear you are not gambling, I-Did-it.
Just for today! Eh?
Would the “someone close” be able to come to visit you, so that you could spend social time together, instead of placing your recovery in jeopardy , by visiting her on gambling territory?
Of course not having money is the best way to avoid testing ourselves.
When I have no chocolate in the house, I don’t get an urge to eat chocolate.
When I know it’s available , I salivate thinking of my next “fix”.
PS. EVERYTHING and EVERYONE “sabotaged my recovery” when I looked for excuses to gamble.Gambling is only the tip of a melting iceberg, Jon.
It does not have the power to make us happy.
Dropping our attachment to gambling lets us find the happiness that we had deep down inside us all along.
Addiction is blind.
Awareness is clear sighted.
300 days away from the chaos that gambling causes makes us aware of Life’s reality, one day at a time.Glad you got your payment, Monicau . Why would you gamble it? As you say, we have given enough to the” fatcats”.
Gambling is not a financial problem but it sure causes huge monetary losses. It’s usually that loss that brings us to our senses.
I think every illness is rooted in our emotions, Monica. I certainly do not believe that God wills illness on anyone. As a Christian, you will know He sent His Son to give us Life to the full, but he did say “My Kingdom is not of this world”, so we won’t see the full picture on this side of eternity!
This is not the place for religious debate, but our recovery and indeed our whole life and how we live it is rooted in our spiritual beliefs. I am 100% certain of who my Higher Power is. My recovery depends on His Grace.Of course I am free to accept or reject that grace. He gave me Free Will.Other people have different beliefs. That’s ok by me! We are all at different stages. The 12 Step Programme is a Spiritual Programme so that would suggest to me that gambling has roots in disordered spirituality. Yes, Monica, I hear you on the “healers”. I moved in those circles for years and saw a lot of damage. They couldn’t heal a sock. Most of them were their own best patients.
I hope your test results will be favourable, Monica.
I’m finding it hard to type. The keyboard is sticking and the words are not appearing as they should. I read all your posts though.
God is good.
God is Love.
Never forget that!You’ve been through a lot, Mark.
Gambling acts as a crutch and helps to mask our problems.
Until we wake up and realize how we have been duped .
With God’s help you will find the strength to overcome the desire to continue this self destruction.
As P said in her excellent post, every time we return to gambling we find that nothing has changed.
I would add that everytime we go back, we discover things have got worse. The more we gamble, the more we need to gamble. Eventually it absorbs our every thought and we become like zombies. That is not our purpose in Life, Mark. We all deserve to live according to God’s Plan.
Try to take it one day at a time. Gambling can overwhelm us. Recovery can seem overwhelming in the early stages too. We need to be patient and take “baby steps”. Like you, I lost a lot of money, but there are things in life that no money can buy.
Write a list of those things , Mark and look at it when you feel like gambling. Ask yourself if gambling will give you any one thing on that list.
Does your wife know you have joined this Site? Perhaps she could have a look at the F and F Forum here to gain some support for herself.
Gambling affects many people in our lives.
I hope and pray you will remain strong. Mark. One day at a time. Best wishes in Recovery.Brilliant post, P!
Life is a waiting game. We can live it to the full by surrendering and admitting our powerlessness over the many mysteries we encounter on or journey.
Being aware of your feelings/moods/thoughts, instead of burying them in unhealthy outlets has given you a Freedom that no money can buy.
Gambling can control us, ONLY if we place that first bet.
One day at a time, P.
Just for today!
You have come a long way. Thanks for your constant support.How did the visit from the Housing Association, go Monicau?
Well done, Mickey.
Having access to cash ruined me in the past.
Our Time and Money are never our own when we hide . Better to swallow our pride and be accountable.Well done on your G free year, Brendan.
Physical exercise is a great remedy for all the reasons you mention.
I need to follow your example.
Cold showers???
Not sure about that but I do find it helpful sometimes to put my head under the cold tap.
One day at a time, Brendan.
Keep it simple.Good to hear you are working out a budget, Mickey. Can you get somebody to monitor your finances?
I thought my husband would do that a few years ago, but I know now it will not happen . He just can’t be my “banker/minder”. Not his forte! So I TELL him every time I spend money, show him my credit union/post office book when I make lodgements and repayments. Ask him how much he has spent….it can be a bit tedious but it makes me feel I am being accountable. I also leave the Credit Union Books where he can look at them if he chooses instead of hiding them…
I guess what I’m saying, Mickey is that accountability helps.
Post when you can.Hi 3racer!
How are you getting on?
The only real “milestone” we need to reach is to get to bed each night without placing a bet.
Just for today….
Did you work the extra shift?Well done on 6 gamble free days, October is your G Free Month!!
I heard a man in GA ( who had learned the hard way) say, that there is no middle ground with a Gambling Addiction. We either starve it or feed it. Take your pick!!
In my early days here , I used two analogies. One referred to stomping on the bug before it climbed up our leg. The other advised us not to leave out a saucer of milk for a stray cat!
Thank God I have never met any member in GT who tried to sabatoge my recovery by acting under false pretenses.
However, I heard lots of things I did not want to hear at the time –usually the very things I needed to hear. It is the same in GA. Nobody strokes our ego. When we are in the throes of gambling, our perception can become flawed.nice !
nice !
how are you getting on with your “List”, P?
I have a mental to-do-list (just for today)
There are only 3 things on it. I made the list two hours ago but didn’t start to put it into action yet.
I feel as if someone has removed my main battery and injected me with a strong anaesthetic all in one go.