Finally I Made A Drastic Decision To Stop Gambling
By Brian
@wolfie34 (26771)
United Kingdom
August 12, 2009 5:48am CST
Previously I used gambling on the internet as entertainment, I don't go out socializing because I am very shy and I am not a people person, I don't make friends easily and I do not have trust in anyone, I am slightly paranoid and I am suspicious of people. So I find myself at home some nights gambling away!
It is fun to win, but having substained serious losses I began to get angry with myself for losing money, I recognized that my gambling patterns were actually unhealthy and if I wasn't careful it was going to become an addiction
Why do I gamble? I found it a great way of escaping, a great way of taking my mind of my current problems, but it's only a temporary measure as I start to lose money which I can ill afford the problems will escalate.
After losing a hefty amount last night I decided that I cannot control my gambling so I made a drastic decision and in a way I am now going COLD TURKEY. I have put a self exclusion ban on the sites that I use. In other words the gambling sites I use have been blocked so I can't deposit a single penny. I've done it for 3 months initially to see how I cope.
So as from today I cannot gamble. Like any addiction it will be hard and I need to fill up my time with other things and keep my mind occupied otherwise my mind tends to focus on the negativity in my life and it's a downward spiral
Have you ever taken any drastic measures to stop addiction?
Have you ever had to cope with cold turkey?
Has your gambling ever got out of control, or do you gamble and find it easy to set limits and not let it take over?
3 people like this
8 responses
@levanueb (132)
• Philippines
13 Aug 09
Hi wolfie! Congratulations, you have chosen the right track. A gambler is an irresponsible person in my opinion. Once, my dad was a gambler but thanks to my mom she never give up encouraging my dad to stop his addiction. My dad was a chain smoker too, and that addiction was also stopped. Keep up the good work...
@mermaidivy (15394)
• United States
13 Aug 09
I'm glad to hear that you get out of that situation, it could be even worse really... my honey and I started to play online poker couple months ago, I was winning for a while but it didn't last long then we kept losing, I got all fed up and figured out if I put $$ on it, why don'tI do it actually at the casino so I stopped playing but the more my honey lost, the more he put it back on... I feel really upsaet about it... I don't want to see him stepping intoa serious gambler situation... when I talk about not to put $$ on it anymore, he gets all irritated and mad at me... I don't know wha tI can say about it...
1 person likes this
@nannacroc (4049)
•
12 Aug 09
Good luck, Wolfie.
I can't say I've ever had a gambling problem, both my parents were brought up by drinkers and gamblers and, although they never made any rules on it for us, they did let us kknow what it was like to have to go without because the money had been gambled away. My dad taught me that the only way to be a winner in gambling is to own a bookies.
Take care and if you can do it maybe it will help me to have the will to stop smoking.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
17 Aug 09
I do not think I would find it easy to quit gambling, if I ever started and won a time or two. So I do not start. I think MyLot has been my biggest addiction. We will be here for you Wolfie, and will try to post positively for your sake. Good job taking control of your own life.
@kl_blueknight (381)
• Malaysia
13 Aug 09
Thank goodness you realised your mistakes. Most gamblers don't. It is also addictive and I have always despised gamblers because they never stop gambling even after losing tons and tons of money. Some even commit crime.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
13 Aug 09
hi wolfie glad you saw it could lead to an addiction to gambling. I was almost addicted to food, and as a diabetic weight gain is sure not helpful so have decided to cut my portions in half,and see if I do not lose.oddly I was not hungry so I had actually eaten what was probably really a normal portion. when I was in our own apartment and did my own cooking i had a tendency to snack, and didnt realize how much I was eating until the sc ales showed it. now here I dont do any cooking, our meals are cooked for us. and my weight is slowly going down. I hAd to do this cold turkey AS my blood sugar was just too too high. I am now getting it down to normal and leveling out so Am mAking some headway.I journal every day too and its so good,keeps me feeling happy.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
30 Aug 09
I do a self-esteem diary, although I don't write in it every day, but what I do now is put in the margin how many days in total now I have gone cold turkey, without gambling its now 19. Once I get the magical month number I will feel much better, but each day it gets easier and easier. I can't believe how much money I used to waste and lose and now I can put the money towards college courses.
@kellyjeanne (1576)
• United States
14 Aug 09
That's a pretty big step wolfie and you should feel very good about that! I've only gambled twice in my life. Each time was my birthday and my friends had given me money to gamble with. I won each time and since I'm not a gambler I stopped and turned in my winnings. Even though I have OCD I've never been attracted to gambling. Money has always been too precious to me, but, at the same time I can understand your addiction.
Have you considered going to Gambler's Anonymous? You would be getting so much support and meet people whom you can relate with.
I'm so glad that you made this decision and I wish you all the luck in the world!
Purrs,
Catwoman=^..^= & Mija
