Gambling Addiction

[egonormical1010]

Have any of you guys ever felt like you were addicted to gambling ? If you have, and you overcame it, pleeeaaase share some tips or explain how you did it.

Some background : I honestly hate going to any casino because I know how low and depressed I’m going to be when I leave broke. EVERY SINGLE TIME I leave broke, I tell myself I’m never going back and I fully believe it.

A few days will go by and I start getting mild cravings, no big deal at this point. The weekend hits and I’m good all day long, but when night time rolls around something tells me to go and I can’t stop thinking about it until I do go.

I’m beyond ashamed of this and even more ashamed to admit that within the last 6 months I’ve strictly played fuckin slots. I’m not using extra money anymore. I’m exactly like a drug addict in the sense that I use any money I have to gamble.

Keep in mind I’m in my later half of my 20’s.

 

[Logan44551]

I'd treat it like any other addiction, I'd look for a gamblers anonymous meeting and go and check it out. Get a sponsor and work the steps. I haven't had a problem with gambling myself, but could see how I could develop one very easily. So I just don't gamble at all. My wife works at an Indian casino, I hear stories from her all the time, of people losing all kinds of money. Best of luck

 

[Mac11wildcat]

^ great suggestion.

Next time you feel the urge to gamble pull a $20 bill out and burn it. There’s no difference.

 

[egonormical1010]

Thanks for the advice. I wish I could've seen the light when I was younger and stayed out like you. @Logan44551

@Mac11wildcat You're 110% right. That's exactly why I hate going.

Whenever I feel tempted I'll post here so everyone can shame me out of it.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

Thanks for the advice. I wish I could've seen the light when I was younger and stayed out like you. @Logan44551

@Mac11wildcat You're 110% right. That's exactly why I hate going.

Whenever I feel tempted I'll post here so everyone can shame me out of it.

No shame, man. Seeking help has no ties to shame. Be proud for atleast taking a small step to seek help. Just understand addiction isn’t to be fucked with. Find the help you need.

 

[Dax]

^ great suggestion.

Next time you feel the urge to gamble pull a $20 bill out and burn it. There’s no difference.

Or even quicker then burning it give it to your wife.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

Or even quicker then burning it give it to your wife.

That’s just reckless...

 

[Prospect]

Luckily I’m 3 or 4 hours from the nearest casino but I too like to gamble. Mostly sports betting and too be honest when I’m gambling I put it ahead of everything else in my life including training, family, etc. the high I get is unmatched by anything else but I too don’t know when to stop and even when I’m winning I end up losing. I’m much more productive and enjoy life much more when I don’t have anything else going.
Funny story I had a parlay that would have paid me $1500 if Ohio State could have covered the 6 point spread this past bowl game. They go up 28-3 second half. End up playing safe offensively the 2nd half and Washington makes a comeback to end up losing by 4 or 5 I lose my parlay. Haven’t gambled since. But the itch will be back.

 

[Eman]

I read an article about Warren Buffet's views on gambling that I kind of got a kick out of. He has referred to it as a "stupid tax" if I'm not mistaken.

To teach his kids about the perils of gambling, he installed a slot machine or something of the sort in his house. He'd give his kids their allowance and, at the end of the day, he'd go unlock the game and take it right back out.

I've seen very well paid individuals never get ahead in life because they give their money to slot machines and card dealers. Blow an entire paycheck in one night and have to budget just to eat the following week. It's a sad, vicious cycle... Even if you win it HUGE in one night, you're still down in the grand scheme of things OR you'll just give it all back to them. If you're actually beating the house, they'll tell you to fuck off and ban you. Literally a business that people flock to and hand their money over hand over fist.

 

[egonormical1010]

@Eman spot on my dude. It’s a hole that keeps getting deeper and deeper. I’ve lost more than a dozen paychecks on the same day I’ve gotten them. Lost 80% of my tax return last year.

I did my share of experimenting with party drugs (excluding meth n opiates) and I never once felt any sort of “cravings”. Wish I could say I was chasing the highs, but unfortunately it’s been nothing but super lows lol

 

[rpbb]

About Us | Gamblers Anonymous

 

[JimLahey]

How are things going, @egonormical1010 ?

 

[egonormical1010]

How are things going, @egonormical1010 ?

Better but still not in the clear. Kinda crazy you ask because I fucked up last night and went for the first time since making the first post. Went for the free drinks and to try to be social but it turned into a 10 hour long shit show.

The best thing for me that I found, was telling myself that if I do go, then I am guaranteed to be super depressed/low in X amount of hours whenever I get home. Just have to get in front of the urge before it gets too much momentum

 

[JimLahey]

You'll get a handle on it. I used to do a fair amount of gambling, but haven't been to a casino in about 5 years. I got tired of the huge highs and lows from stuff like winning 7 or 8 hands in a row of blackjack...to losing 10 in a row, knowing I was going to lose the next hand and still playing. Sick.

Only advice I'll pass along is try to have plans for when you'd normally end up going to the casino. Keep at it man.

 

[johntt44]

Hope you overcome this! I was just in Berlin, Germany last week and they have sports betting shops every fucking where.Theres literally 3 or 4 on every block! Holy shit!

 

[egonormical1010]

You'll get a handle on it. I used to do a fair amount of gambling, but haven't been to a casino in about 5 years. I got tired of the huge highs and lows from stuff like winning 7 or 8 hands in a row of blackjack...to losing 10 in a row, knowing I was going to lose the next hand and still playing. Sick.

Only advice I'll pass along is try to have plans for when you'd normally end up going to the casino. Keep at it man.

That’s EXACTLY how I started feeling every time before I went. Knowing I was going to come home and be at rock bottom but I’d still go.

Thank you for the tip my man