When will it stop?

Well done HH !

You're right - the real test is coming . Do have a battle plan ? You know that there will be overwhelming urges to gamble , it is crucial that you put roadblocks in place NOW .

You can make it through this but you have to prepare for it . It is far too easy to relapse when the addiction knows there is " food " available . Lock down your finances or turn them over to someone you trust . For my first 3 months of recovery , I would race to the bank to transfer nearly every penny of my paycheck to my debt . I left myself the bare minimum I needed to survive until my next payday and I spent the bulk of that on food and gas ( I bought store gift cards that could not be redeemed for cash ).

I often left myself with just $20-$40 for the month , after paying the rent and utilities . No money = no gambling . Having so little money until the end of the next pay period made it a lot easier to say NO to the thought of gambling with it .

You can do this !

NewSunRising wrote:Well done HH !

You're right - the real test is coming . Do have a battle plan ? You know that there will be overwhelming urges to gamble , it is crucial that you put roadblocks in place NOW .

You can make it through this but you have to prepare for it . It is far too easy to relapse when the addiction knows there is " food " available . Lock down your finances or turn them over to someone you trust . For my first 3 months of recovery , I would race to the bank to transfer nearly every penny of my paycheck to my debt . I left myself the bare minimum I needed to survive until my next payday and I spent the bulk of that on food and gas ( I bought store gift cards that could not be redeemed for cash ).

I often left myself with just $20-$40 for the month , after paying the rent and utilities . No money = no gambling . Having so little money until the end of the next pay period made it a lot easier to say NO to the thought of gambling with it .

You can do this !

Thank you, my plan is to make a payment toward my debt, buy food, and give money to my mother to hold onto for me. I'm going to leave myself about $100 of disposable income until the next pay day.

Today was another day without gambling. It feels so different this time. I don't know why. I ended up just giving my players card to my mother. She says she's going to just play my comp and hold onto the money until I'm more stable. I feel so much more content than I have before. In the past I think I always knew I'd just be back to gambling. Right now, I feel like I finally have accepted I'm powerless to gambling. I tell myself that every day and it's been helpful. I had a $100 in my wallet since Friday and normally I would have tried turning that into more at the blackjack table. I've went out to eat twice this week and no casino trips.

Happyhunter wrote: had a $100 in my wallet since Friday and normally I would have tried turning that into more at the blackjack table. I've went out to eat twice this week and no casino trips.

Thats great! This addiction is beaten with small victories and eventually those small victories create long chains of gamble-free periods. If you find your methods aren't working or if you are getting thoughts/urges, patch it up and put more barriers in place. You can do this! I learned early on that carrying money was a huge trigger for me so I haven't carried more than $5 in over 5 years. It sounds like things ARE different for you and that you well on your path to recovery

Still doing good, staying gamble free. Paid off some bills and went grocery shopping. I've had a few urges, but have been able to fight them off. I usually would have lost my paycheck by now.

That's fantastic !

You will find yourself getting stronger with every little victory . The gambling fog begins to lift and we start to see the way the addiction lies to us , trying to keep us trapped in the vicious circle of gamble , lose , gamble more to try and recoup the losses .

You are doing brilliantly - enjoy your newfound clarity !

Another day gamble free, but a lot of urges today. Almost gave in. It helps to post here.

Happyhunter wrote:
Today was another day without gambling. It feels so different this time. I don't know why. I ended up just giving my players card to my mother. She says she's going to just play my comp and hold onto the money until I'm more stable.

Great that you are making strides, Happyhunter. But really, get rid of that %*@## players card! Your mom is going to go the same casino that has put you in debt, and then using YOUR card to gather the comp "wins" to give to you later?? Oh this just keeps you in the gambling cycle mindset! Cut ties with that beast of a casino. No offense, but if you are truly serious about quitting, self-exclusion is a must. Self-exclusion greatly takes away the urge, believe me, when you know that you can be arrested for trespassing on their property! I wish you 24 hours of no gambling. You can do it!

blue_green_lake wrote:

Happyhunter wrote:
Today was another day without gambling. It feels so different this time. I don't know why. I ended up just giving my players card to my mother. She says she's going to just play my comp and hold onto the money until I'm more stable.

Great that you are making strides, Happyhunter. But really, get rid of that %*@## players card! Your mom is going to go the same casino that has put you in debt, and then using YOUR card to gather the comp "wins" to give to you later?? Oh this just keeps you in the gambling cycle mindset! Cut ties with that beast of a casino. No offense, but if you are truly serious about quitting, self-exclusion is a must. Self-exclusion greatly takes away the urge, believe me, when you know that you can be arrested for trespassing on their property! I wish you 24 hours of no gambling. You can do it!

You're probably right. I don't physically have the card. My mother is using it at a casino owned by the same Tribe, but it's 2 hours from me. I'm not really sure if I can self exclude myself. I have to go to that casino as part of my job on occasion. Could I go there for work if I'm banned?

Ask them when you go to self exclude .

You may be excluded from the premises or you may just be excluded from the gambling area . You can ask them if it's possible to sign in with security when you're just there for work . You won't know until you ask .

Either way , you should make sure your Mom uses up and cancels the card if it has your name on it . It's way too much of a temptation . If she continues to gamble , she can get her own card .

Comps are bait and even indirectly , you are keeping it dangling right in front of you .

Stay strong !

Happyhunter wrote:Today is day 5 without gambling for me. Feels pretty good. I'd probably been in a casino 45 of the previous 60 days. Real test will be getting paid this Thursday.

Well done mate.
I’ve just been paid today and got a Xmas bonus.
Previous years only gambling would be on my mind, today I’ve just paid off my final debt (a huge amount) and have enough to buy family some Xmas presents.
I will not give any bookie or online account money I have earnt.