[Jonas87]

Hello guys,

I’m not sure about everybody else, but for me, the hardest part of gambling addiction is not the addiction itself, but to accept the huge amounts of money I’ve lost to it. (Talking 10-20k at least).

Then I had this weird idea slip trough my mind: What if all casinos were suddenly illegal and there was literally no way for you or me to gamble in any shape or form, not even illegally (hypothetically speaking)? Would you still grief over your losses, or accept the fact that your money is gone and you have to work to earn it back?

At least for me, by thinking this utopistic scenario, the losses don’t feel as much as bad than they do now in the real world and the thought itself is kind of calming. I believe there is some kind of link between compulsive gambling and OCD, and this thought experiment sort of eases the obsessive urge to chase losses.

Just a funny thought, hopefully you got what I was aiming at with this.

[Johnny B]

Jonas,
I think what you just presented is very profound. The thought that a big win to fix it all is „possible“ does drive my addiction. I have had times where I controlled my losses to say $60 a session. Over the course of months I still lost thousands. Many times I discussed with myself, what if I quit every time I was up $60. I know it might be a gamblers fallacy, but I swear that I am winning at least $60 at some point at least 80% of the time, but the problem is I didn’t quit, until I lost my money.
I would agree, if all forms of gambling were to disappear, I think it would be easier to accept that it is gone, and move on, but, as it stands, the temptress is just a pull away.
I would also argue that anybody who gambles regularly has a gambling issue. By regularly I would say, maybe weekly, using money from any pay period on a regular basis. The only truly „responsible“ gamblers (in my mind) would be someone who goes to Las Vegas maybe once a year, and doesn’t play anytime other than that. Once they put casinos in my back yard, I was screwed, as well as many, many others.
This is a worldwide site. And at any given time in a chat room there are maybe 4 people…This is a disease that quietly eats at, and kills the soul. Evil…Pure Evil. But just like anything else „we shouldn’t do“ it is fun, and exciting….and addicting!
Thanks for the post
Johnny B

[Hawkman]

The idea of hitting that big win to win back losses is a big driver for me and I just have to accept some money is gone until I work to get it back. I agree there likely is a link with OCD and most addictions. I am very OCD even if people around me don’t realize it.

[Lily Nix]

I have tried numerous times in the past to stop gambling, but this time I believe I have got it through my thick stubborn skull that I WILL not get any of my money lost back, never, it’s gone….time to rebuild the honest and truthfully way, with good hard work and perseveranc, it can be done. 

I have surrendered to the fact it’s over, the game for me is over, and I wont lie that it is kind of depressing and sad, but there is no other way, if I keep going the I have been, I will lose everything!

It is great reading all the awesome posts, very encouraging.

[TashaD]

Where I live there are many legal game rooms! I know I shouldn’t go….but I still do! I tell myself I will only gamble 100 then it turns into my entire paycheck! I tell myself to stop, walk away! But I can’t I’m stuck there till I have no more money! They are so close to my house literally I can see one from my backyard! I always mostly leave with my head down ashamed bcuz once again I lost everyghing!

[Unlucky]

even after telling my husband yesterday that I spent our entire bank account in one weekend . And that I’ve lied to him multiple times telling him I was at work when I was really at the casino , I still keep thinking that I can recoup my losses next time I get paid 

[notworthit]

Has anyone set an acceptable win amount only to keep increasing it? What I mean is when you first started gambling you probably thought winning 500 was a lot of money but overtime you upped it to 1000, 500, 10,000 20 thousand etc. My goal win at this point is 1 million but I need to blow 1000 to even possibly win it. What the freak is wrong with me. The chances of winning a million in a casino is insane. Yes I need to accept my loses while I am ahead. All of my money needs to be focused on basic needs, and going to college to become a MD etc. I can’t keep this stuff up, it will destroy me if I do.

[Dmgibs]

I have done the same thing. I have told my husband in the past about spending all our money and that I need help. He was very mad, which was understandable. I can act like everything is okay even when it’s not .I want to get better and have made some steps but not enough. It has to hurt worse to stay where we are than it does to stop. As much as I hate to say it, so far, mine seems to hurt worse trying to stop. I know that is not true. It does seem that way. I have banned myself from the local casinos but I have been driving to the next closest ones.I went to my first GA group last night. Still not enough. I spent all of the money in the bank plus several hundred more. I just don’t know how I am going to get it caught back up. When I lost the first thousand I tried to win some of it back by getting more. Of course I lost all of that too. I am so sick about it I could throw up. I am going to ban myself from that casino next. I have to. Then there is no going back. 

[Dolly]

I was looking this up recently, and compulsion is only 9% of the problem. So, I feel better, what else do I act like, or do? I drink too much coffee, sulk, I’m unresponsible, I have slot of faults, good I read your piece. Yeah, isn’t it funny to blame something, I’ve felt that way. Don’t sulk, enjoy your evening, your free , one day at a time:-$

[Dolly]

I was looking this up recently, and compulsion is only 9% of the problem. So, I feel better, what else do I act like, or do? I drink too much coffee, sulk, I’m unresponsible, I have slot of faults, good I read your piece. Yeah, isn’t it funny to blame something, I’ve felt that way. Don’t sulk, enjoy your evening, your free , one day at a time:-$

[Dolly]

I was looking this up recently, and compulsion is only 9% of the problem. So, I feel better, what else do I act like, or do? I drink too much coffee, sulk, I’m unresponsible, I have slot of faults, good I read your piece. Yeah, isn’t it funny to blame something, I’ve felt that way. Don’t sulk, enjoy your evening, your free , one day at a time:-$

[Dolly]

I was looking this up recently, and compulsion is only 9% of the problem. So, I feel better, what else do I act like, or do? I drink too much coffee, sulk, I’m unresponsible, I have slot of faults, good I read your piece. Yeah, isn’t it funny to blame something, I’ve felt that way. Don’t sulk, enjoy your evening, your free , one day at a time:-$

[Dolly]

I was looking this up recently, and compulsion is only 9% of the problem. So, I feel better, what else do I act like, or do? I drink too much coffee, sulk, I’m unresponsible, I have slot of faults, good I read your piece. Yeah, isn’t it funny to blame something, I’ve felt that way. Don’t sulk, enjoy your evening, your free , one day at a time:-$

[Autor]

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