[Meg1979]

Hi everyone,

my vice is poker machines, though ive strayed occasionally to casino table games but it always comes back to pokies. My main issue is while i know i have an addiction i have always had this sense of ‘well its not that bad’. Ive never ran up a credit card i couldnt pay back, or lost something to a pawn shop i couldnt retrieve, but deep down i know that if im pawning stuff or running up credit cards to play at all, that i have a problem.

I never used to spend money i had set aside for other things, and always paid my bills, so what was the big problem? If it wasnt for the few times i slipped up and had to ask my mum for money to get me out of a jam i would probably still be kidding myself that it was a ‘hobby’ and ‘no big deal’. I think the most ive ever blown in one sitting is about 700 dollars, but i might as well flush it down the toilet for all the good it does.

Im planning on having a third child next year and i know its unfair to bring a baby into my life and my home with this monkey on my back. I see a psychiatrist and she wants me to join a group but i dont know how comfortable ill be in that environment so thought i would start with an online group and go from there.

I spent many months on the wagon but the other day i was feeling anxious about something and wandered back into the pub like i was visiting an old friend. I dont like the hold it has on me 🙁 i was lucky to walk away even but i know next time i wont be so lucky.

Look forward to chatting with some of you and getting some tips and advice on how to beat this thing

Cheers
Meg

[finding_laura]

Hi Meg and welcome to this forum. It is a great place to get started for sure and to get support from a group who knows what it is like to have this addiction. I found this site almost six years ago now and it helped me tremendously! Wonderful people here 🙂 Keep posting!
take care,
Laura

[Dunc]

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Hello and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you 🙂

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our

privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

[p]

Welcome to the site, its really useful, its really can be a life line some days when struggling with addiction. its good when people reply and i remember when i was new here too. Although i have been here many years i am only a few months into my recovery again, it has been a long learning process for me, dotted with relapses here and there but overall my life has improved a great deal and improved in many areas of life. Try to go on the helpline here if you need to chat too as the advisors are good at helping you sort things out sometimes. The groups are good too if you can find a time that suits. We can leave those pokies in the past Meg, it takes some work. You can look at banning from venues depending on where you are it can be easier than others, states have differing laws. Carry little money on you as possible and just keep in contact with other people who really want recovery. Don’t tempt yourself by going near places that have pokies. Check out Gamblers anonymous meetings, there is counselling, rehabs, meetings, and this wonderful site… There is help available and if you really really want it , it can be achievable to stop gambling. I find making recovery my number one priority is the thing that helps me most. I want it so so badly so i work very hard at it now as i never want to go back to that devastation but its taken me a long time to get to this point. Some people can come here and never gamble again, do what works for you and find what helps prevent you going again the most. Fill your life with new things and life will begin to blossom.

P

[desdemona]

Dear Meg! That was a great step in coming here and posting. I can totally understand your fear and hesitation of joining the group your psychiatrist has suggested. Many years ago before I was even gambling I was seeing a psychologist for help in dealing with childhood sexual abuse. She suggested that I join a group at the hospital and I had great anxiety about doing that, because I didn`t want to talk about my issues in front of a group of strangers. I even went into her office before the group was going to start, and told her I just couldn`t face joining a group. Somehow she coaxed me into going to the group. I listened to other people`s stories and they didn`t stay strangers long because of the empathy I was feeling for them, and the group experience helped me. I stayed with the group for a year or two, and it `saved my life.` I was able to work out a lot of issues there. Prior to seeking help I had laid in my bed for 2 weeks debating whether I would or could suicide, but I decided to seek help as I could not leave that kind of legacy for my children who were young at the time. I hope that you come back to posting and working on your recovery. Compulsive gambling is a progressive disease and if you think that your problem is not bad now, it will only get worse. Carole

[Author]

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