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Just a little help.

K

kroniic

Bluelighter
Joined
May 28, 2011
Messages
801
Location
I come from the land down under
I have come to terms with a new addiction. It is not a drug addiction, but I think it is far worse. I am constantly spending what money I have to gamble. Whether it be the pokies, poker or anything at the casino, I will look for anyway to gamble.

I have tried walking away, but once my mind clicks into gamble mode, regardless of how much money I have lost/ won I am not satisfied. TDS any tips?
 
I would imagine that the tools people use to beat gambling would be much the same as the tools people use in the context of substance addictions. I've never gambled, but I can deeply relate to that 'switch-has-been-flicked' mindset, where you know that no matter where your reasoning takes you, you will get wasted/gamble.

Can I ask a personal question - what is the appeal in gambling? Why is it so enticing? I don't understand, because it seems to lead so much more directly to destruction and loss than even drugs do. Drugs at least provide intense pleasure. This is an honest question.
 
suessmayr said:
I would imagine that the tools people use to beat gambling would be much the same as the tools people use in the context of substance addictions. I've never gambled, but I can deeply relate to that 'switch-has-been-flicked' mindset, where you know that no matter where your reasoning takes you, you will get wasted/gamble.

Can I ask a personal question - what is the appeal in gambling? Why is it so enticing? I don't understand, because it seems to lead so much more directly to destruction and loss than even drugs do. Drugs at least provide intense pleasure. This is an honest question.
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There is some sort of rush knowing said amount of money is being spent, with a chance (as small as it is) to win. My first few times I gambled would be no more than a few dollars, then the few dollars led to 10's and 20's and before I know it I'm putting in thousands. In Sydney it does not help, any pub (which is basically every corner) has pokie machines, they are the devil, and as much times I've tried kicking them, I always find myself in the same position.

I think the biggest fuck up, was when I had won close to $3,000. From then on it has been downhill. I'd win $1,500, walk away and the next day I'll be doing the same thing.
 
It sounds like you know already how unlikely it is that you'll come out without a deficit, so I won't go into any of that. Probably it's a bit irrelevant anyway.

I know from working in pubs here (Sydney) that you can absolutely ask employees not to let you gamble. I think this would be responsible and mature rather than embarrassing. Have you considered that?
 
suessmayr said:
It sounds like you know already how unlikely it is that you'll come out without a deficit, so I won't go into any of that. Probably it's a bit irrelevant anyway.

I know from working in pubs here (Sydney) that you can absolutely ask employees not to let you gamble. I think this would be responsible and mature rather than embarrassing. Have you considered that?
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I have started banning myself from pubs around my house. It's not the banning I'm worried about, but I need something to get my mind off it.
 
kroniic said:
It's not the banning I'm worried about, but I need something to get my mind off it.
Click to expand...

Online games always take my mind off shit. Sometimes too often. It's certainly better than spending money I need for day to day life just because I want to feel a rush of excitement :/
Plus they are cheap, time consuming and available when you want. And depending on the game they can be rewarding. I personally like CoD, Starcraft, Warhammer and LoL.

Just a thought :)
 
kroniic said:
I have started banning myself from pubs around my house. It's not the banning I'm worried about, but I need something to get my mind off it.
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If you can stick to this self-enforced banning, that is a great strategy for avoiding gambling.

UnicornPower said:
Online games always take my mind off shit. Sometimes too often. It's certainly better than spending money I need for day to day life just because I want to feel a rush of excitement :/
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While I totally appreciate that this strategy works for you, I am concerned that if kroniic starts using online games (or perhaps he already does?) that will be merely transferring one addiction to another (despite online gaming not being as detrimental to one's finances) and not really solving the problem. Also there is the risk of online gaming slowly progressing in to online gambling.


kroniic if you are really struggling with a gambling addiction I would personally recommend that you speak to a counsellor/therapist about it. Just like drug addiction, there is almost always some underlying issue(s) which gives the addict the need for an "escape" and which continually drives the addiction pattern. These issues can definitely be worked through and thus provide a long-lasting solution to your problem.

In addition to this, I would also recommend (if you don't already do so) that you start parttaking in some regular exercise. It is a great distraction method from cravings and urges, plus the endorphins released during exercise help to stabilise neurotransmitters (including dopamine, the chemical involved in addiction).
 
I agree that exercise - as impossible as it feels - can be beneficial.

Also, I think that getting into games that do not involve money could be a great distraction. I bought a Wii about 7 days after quitting bupe and just played the shit out of Zelda for like a week straight. I literally didn't move, and although I'm over it now it helped in the most difficult period.
 
Do u have like a gambling help line u can call we do where I come from .they set up meetings for u to go to or councillors to talk to it is beta to try and stop it now before u get to far into it .Gud luck
 
Thanks guys, I have contacted the G-Line (A government initiative to help problematic gamblers) and have had discussions with them. I feel like I have turned over a new leaf, refusing to use the machines in the pubs/ clubs. I have set some goals, and hope to be upgrading my car this time next year!

I do allow myself the occasional game of poker @ the casino (which is usually $80 every 2 months) but I have never really been addicted to poker, it is more of a social outing with friends from work who enjoy a game of poker @ the casino.

The way I have found to pass my gambling urge is to read a book to pass the times where I feel bored. Currently reading To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee.
 
Good Job... keep it up.

They say Gambling releases the same chemicals in the brain as sex, chocolate and eating an excellent meal. Some people just take it and need that high. You can create that chemical on your own by eating chocolate, sex or excercising.

Find something that gives you pleasure to release that chemical without having to gamble.
 
Do you use drugs or drink while gambling...? I found that gambling on stimulants especially was so addicting. Sometimes I'd drive home after losing thousands of dollars and that feeling was so bad I'd want to just keep driving straight into a pole. For me limiting it didn't work and I just had to stop altogether, as I just couldn't stop once I'd started.

suessmayr said:
Can I ask a personal question - what is the appeal in gambling? Why is it so enticing? I don't understand, because it seems to lead so much more directly to destruction and loss than even drugs do. Drugs at least provide intense pleasure. This is an honest question.
Click to expand...

For me, the rush I got from gambling was equal to the rush of drugs.

I don't really have any advice kroniic because for me gambling was so tied into my ice addiction that when I stopped that, I found stopping gambling a lot easier. I wish you good luck though.
 
TLDR on the thread but from your opening post i have this exact same problem.
Its insanity. I live of shit as it is after rent and everything and what little i do have a struggle not to feed through a poker machine.... :/
And its nigh impossible to break the addiction.
 
Premise: People hate being slaves.
Premise: People avoid what they hate.
Premise: Working for free with no benefit, involuntarily, is slavery.
Premise: Gambling necessarily involves monetary loss, on balance.
Conclusion: People will not gamble unless they harbor the belief that it is more probable that they will end up with monetary gain, irrespective of duration, than end up with monetary loss.

In this sense, a compulsive gambler is kind of similar to a cocaine addict who believes in continuing on despite negative feedback, buoyed by the ephemeral high or occasional win, until heart attack or bankruptcy.
 
Went tonight to the pub and downed a few drinks. Everyone went into the pokies room to have a bit of a gamble. I couldn't put myself to actually putting some money in the darn things! The greatest feeling as I walked out knowing the machine did not suck a dollar out of me :D

The greatest challenge of going to the local pub/ club is they all have pokie machines in there, and if I could overcome that, then I was making good progress.

Thanks guys, most have given some good tips =D
 
good work keep it up!

i also like to gamble but it's never been a big problem for me. i've lost decent amounts of money before but when it happens i typically don't gamble again for a while. the feeling of walking away from a casino over $1,000 lighter than when you walked in is one of the absolute worst feelings i have ever experienced. the last time i was in vegas i remember the feeling walking back to the hotel room after taking a hell of a cooler (turned the second nut straight, other dude flopped THE nuts) and losing all the money i had gotten back from losing at blackjack through hours of playing poker. i was on the strip and it's like 4am and people are still having a blast and i'm just fucking beaten down. i couldn't wait to leave the next day.

i also enjoy playing poker with my friends just at a lower limit where i don't care if i lose a few buy-ins. it's a great game really.
 
I struggle with the same addiction and know how life destroying it can be. I have been through some pretty terrible times with it in the past and it has seriously damaged one of my past relationships.

I used to play poker at the casinos and win and then spend all of my winnings in the casino on blackjack and roulette, and I also got into online poker and online casinos and lost thousands at the casinos. Surprisingly I am still in profit overall with poker, but I know that playing poker leads me to go and gamble in other ways. I have also banned myself from depositing onto the 3 main poker websites that I would ever use for 3 months. Luckily there is no casino in my town, but if I move to a new town I will ban myself from the casino before ever going into it.

This software is really good for blocking all online gambling websites if you were ever tempted to gamble.
This software GamBlock® - We Block Access to Online Gambling

I know that this website is a UK based website but a lot of the advice in the forums there is the same worldwide, I know it has helped me in the past for sure, they have online group meetings there regularly and on some other gambling addiction websites and they are really useful, is like an online gamblers anonymous. I seriously recommend visiting this site.
GamCare provides support, information and advice to anyone suffering through a gambling problem.

There are most likely less resources available in the US as gambling is illegal, but I have found those two sites to be very helpful.

I read and I believe that the part of gambling that actually makes it addictive is not making a big win, but it is being very far down and then clawing it back and becoming even again, the euphoria and adrenaline that comes with that can rival any drug. I have experienced it many times, and I absolutely love that feeling. It hardly ever happens though, most of the time the feeling is of losing so much money and then of feeling like a total pathetic loser who has spent a ton of money and has nothing to show for it.

I wish you the best for your recovery and if you ever need anyone to talk to about gambling problems then feel free to PM me at any time.

Good luck

Mugz

:)
 
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