Compulsive gamblers of all ages continually fear the day they know they will have to stop gambling. Most of them realize this when their personal resources are dwindling with each passing day.
I remember the day I had ten thousand dollars still left in my savings account. The next day I had five thousand and a week later I had overdrawn my account by $150.00. Even though I realized I had a problem, I couldnt stop my addiction. I wanted to gamble and win back all the money I had lost. I knew what I should to stop, but I refused to and the end result was devastating for me. I had no money and no where to go. I still had my job and my dream of winning big someday. I thought I could never beat this gambling addiction, so I figured why bother. Then I realized I wanted to change my life for the better. I realized I had to take one day at a time. I needed to slow my thoughts down and focus on only one thing at a time. I learned to think about today and did not worry about tomorrow.
When I woke up each morning usually not to grumpy I made the decision of whether or not I was going to gamble today. I gave myself the choice and at the same time I thought about all the destructive behavior. This morning I made the choice I did not want to gamble today. I realized if I told myself I could never gamble again I was adding to much stress to my life.
Compulsive gamblers compound their stress when telling themselves they will never gamble again. Life is to short and its time to live to the fullest.
It’s important for the compulsive gambler to take stock in themselves and to educate themselves on gambling addiction, in order to find the appropriate reecovery program. Not everyone needs a program but a majority need some form a support. Support can come in a self help book and a stop gambling chat room or from family friends. Always remember what works for one indiviudal may not work for another, but learning about what’s available to you.
Once compulsive gamblers realize that they are good people and they deserve the best in life their recovery seems to accelerate.