The voice inside the head

Hi everybody: Just thought I'd check in today and talk about that voice in my head which is always there when I wake up every morning. I have been trying to go to a gym and exercise at least twice a week, going through circuit training with weight machines. It is always a struggle for me, because I really hate it, but I feel I have no choice if I want to remain relatively healthy and mobile. For the last few weeks, I have let that voice tell me it's OK not to go if I don't feel like it, and just like when that same voice tells me it's OK to go and gamble "a little bit" and "I can control it", I listened and skipped out on a lot of exercise. Well, yesterday, I finally told that little voice to shut up and I was going to the gym no matter what....Well, I did do that, and was feeling good and happier for it afterwards, even though I was fighting myself from leaving the gym the whole time, even as I was there going from machine to machine. I just want to remind everybody that we all have that voice in our heads, and we just have to remember that we can win over it if we really want to; we just have to be stronger than that voice which preys on our laziness or weaknesses. And by the way, that voice is still telling me every day that it would be fun to do a little gambling and win some free money. Thank God there's another voice that also tells me to remember the consequences of doing that in the past.

Hi 58gambling,
I definitely concur about the voice in the head. When so many things about life really suck it is hard to ignore that little voice that wants you to go somewhere and get lost in the action and as you say pick up some free money. That little voice got me in trouble running the bars and chasing women in my youth and now is the same voice that says go and play. My take is some of us are more at risk from addictive behavior than others. Being very optimistic does not help you when gambling, it can wreck you. It is what it is and it is definitely good to recognize it and try to cope with it. I was very controlled until four casinos came into my area last 7 years or so. Proximity really makes this difficult.
I will try to follow your lead Mr. 58 and talk that little voice down.

Hi 58gambling.

I too have moments when I don’t feel like working out but I told myself, maybe will do it for 15 mins instead of the usual 45 min to 90 min. As long as I put on that pair of running shoes, get out of the house, it will be done and I stay happy and energized for the rest of the day.

When the voice in my head told me today is a good day to go to the casino, I will do errands first, like groceries shopping and have to go back home first because some of the food have to be in the fridge or freezer. Once I am home, I don’t feel like going out again. I also thank God for another voice telling me, life will not be good if I keep gambling and expect to have the time and money to enjoy life.

Hi 1wiserman,

My husband and I frequent the casinos only 2 to 3 time a year since we got together 20 years ago because casinos are far away from our home and Las Vegas is even further.

All that change when we move to a location near many casinos, two casinos are practically at our door steps. Initially when we decided that we don’t want to gamble anymore because it had been more griefs than fun, we had to avoid our favorite restaurants and shops which are located near the casinos. It is well worth it to avoid the slippery slope and in the process of all the detouring, discover new places which we don’t even know exist.

Hi Mr. Rainbowcolor,
I bet some on football 50 years ago when the bookies used to come to the bar in Tn. and quit because it seemed that last minute field goal always beat me. Have not bet on any game since.
Really had to hold back and not bet on Patriots on last Super Bowl as that was a real gift, but I knew I would win and then would be betting sports like a maniac. The Sports Book is 45 minutes from my house now. One bad call like in the N.O. game that kept them from progressing cost a lot of folks and looked strange to say the least. It was an obvious foul. I also think dice with our current technology can be made to do just about anything. I know short term probability is skewed, but I have seen strange stuff at the craps table many times in many places. Players are greedy and so are casinos.
I have also seen very drunk patrons taken to the cleaners. Somebody said now that sports betting is legal they will legalize crack cocaine next. You have to watch your own six, no one else will.

58gambling wrote:I just want to remind everybody that we all have that voice in our heads, and we just have to remember that we can win over it if we really want to; we just have to be stronger than that voice which preys on our laziness or weaknesses.

I've often wondered if we, as compulsive gamblers, are fundamentally different---perhaps our brains are wired differently---from non-gamblers. Personally I believe the root causes of our gambling differs from individual to individual, e.g. boredom, excitement, greed, false hope/profitability, etc.