a newbie here

This is My first post on any sort of gambling forum. I have been gambling heavy for the last 10 years. It is something I have been trying to kick for the last 4 years since my first GA meeting. I'm getting married this year and do not want gambling to be the reason why I lose everything. I'm not really sure what I am looking to get out of posting on the forum but I suppose posting something is the first step. Gambling has swallowed me up the last 10 years and made me a person I never thought I would become. I do not want to be a victim and would really like to kick the addiction. This is something I have nearly came to think can never be done but only managed as best as you can and something I will have as part of my life forever. I am looking forward to posting and seeking advice from people that have managed their addiction and are bet free for a substantial amount of time but for me I suppose I am looking to just get through the next day and take small steps. Thanks

Welcome Justfor2day ,

Don't let the addiction con you into believing that you are doomed to gamble . It's a lie and I think many of us have fallen for it at one time or another.

GA is a great place to go for help but the commitment has to come from within . The urge to gamble can be relentless and it seems so much easier to give in than to fight through it time and time again . You need a battle plan - a combination of things that you can do to distract yourself from the urge and roadblocks that make it impossible for you to gamble .

Please check out our Strategies thread at the top of the forum . There's a lot of good advice there .

Recovery is a process and you're right - it takes small steps , little victories and sometimes , just making it through to the next day .

You can do this !

My day off and Im home. Not at the casino. The money I made yesterday is in the bank but its such a small fraction of what I need to avoid losing my apartment and car. Im not at peace. Im afraid to answer the phone. Afraid to leave the house because Id be tempted to with draw funds and play lottery. Family and friends arent responding. Im calm but petrified. I'm just looking forward to my appt tomorrow.

Ok so i put my big girl pants back on and called the place i got the title loan from. They are going to work with me to give them a couple of hundred every week until i pay down the balance to get my car back. Phew! Thats a relief. what I need is less than $2000 to cat up with rent. Thank God for second chances. Hopefully in this case they come in twos.