24-11-2011, 12:43 AM
Hi John and welcome to GA.
Firstly well done for your post and admitting this is a problem for you still. And really well done for sorting out a meeting, they are really helpful and trust me you don't need to find a friendly face before you go as when you get there you will find a room full of them.
Compulsive gambling is an illness and although im not sure of any wonder cure, it can and with sheer determination be supressed.
The story you tell of your sister is heart breaking and ALL lifes trials are what that little demon sat at the back of our heads are waiting for. You like I and many others seem to use gambling as a form of escapism it works very well at this in the short term but very quickly will just make the problems worse giving more need to escape from them. So the downward spiral begins.
Everyones story is slightly different but it all ends in the pit of self destruction that we do not want to be in. I for one even after knowing that i had a problem, after admitting it to myself would still walk into a bookies or casino knowing that i would lose everything i had in that session, I had every intention of losing it all i was playing to win only to make the session last longer. The longer the session lasted the longer i was escaping and the longer it was untill i had to leave and face my demons again. In all honesty most days i couldn't even specify a problem for me to escape, it just became what i did so i think i just ended up escaping myself.
John you have done this before you have been bet free for 5 years that is something i cannot even start to imagine. You can do it again, nevermind tomorrow you know tomorrow never comes. So just for today do not gamble. Just for today be the person you want to be not the person you fear and dislike.
Remember you are not alone in this there is always a friendly face at a meeting a friendly face that understands better than anyone. There is always here even at silly o'clock in the morning the forum is there maybe even on chat.
Wish you well my friend,
My name is Daryl and i too am a compulsive gambler.
Firstly well done for your post and admitting this is a problem for you still. And really well done for sorting out a meeting, they are really helpful and trust me you don't need to find a friendly face before you go as when you get there you will find a room full of them.
Compulsive gambling is an illness and although im not sure of any wonder cure, it can and with sheer determination be supressed.
The story you tell of your sister is heart breaking and ALL lifes trials are what that little demon sat at the back of our heads are waiting for. You like I and many others seem to use gambling as a form of escapism it works very well at this in the short term but very quickly will just make the problems worse giving more need to escape from them. So the downward spiral begins.
Everyones story is slightly different but it all ends in the pit of self destruction that we do not want to be in. I for one even after knowing that i had a problem, after admitting it to myself would still walk into a bookies or casino knowing that i would lose everything i had in that session, I had every intention of losing it all i was playing to win only to make the session last longer. The longer the session lasted the longer i was escaping and the longer it was untill i had to leave and face my demons again. In all honesty most days i couldn't even specify a problem for me to escape, it just became what i did so i think i just ended up escaping myself.
John you have done this before you have been bet free for 5 years that is something i cannot even start to imagine. You can do it again, nevermind tomorrow you know tomorrow never comes. So just for today do not gamble. Just for today be the person you want to be not the person you fear and dislike.
Remember you are not alone in this there is always a friendly face at a meeting a friendly face that understands better than anyone. There is always here even at silly o'clock in the morning the forum is there maybe even on chat.
Wish you well my friend,
My name is Daryl and i too am a compulsive gambler.