Activity – Brakey95

Brakey95 posted an update in the group Community 3 years, 3 months ago

Hi I’ve been a gambling for 7 years now, I came out about my addiction to my family a year ago, I’ve still been having slip ups pretty consistently and it gets me pretty depressed, to make matters worse it caused me a lot of financial stress over the years, Ive been missing bill payments creditors have constantly been calling me, all I am asking is maybe some tips or anything that may help me, I want out of this so bad but I can’t seem to completely stop, my counselor says I’m improving but it never feels like it, I trick myself all the time into doing it, I get this huge rush from it and I start with 20$ but it always turns turns into more, usually thousands more
- Mitten08 replied 3 years, 3 months ago
  
  Don’t wait till you the rock bottom and you will if you continue. I know we want to hear something else. But the truth is that is self destructive. But you are not alone. I am glad you are here.
  - Brakey95 replied 3 years, 3 months ago
    
    Thanks I appreciate the reply
- b1055 replied 3 years, 3 months ago
  
  I totally understand. I’ve been clean and sober but can’t stop gambling
  - Cat Lyon, Gambling Recovery Advocate, Speaker, Mentor replied 3 years, 3 months ago
    
    b1055 … I have actually have heard that in many group meetings and GA meetings. Most say they were able to become sober and clean, but gambling was the hardest to beat. My own experiences were and “NOT EVER DOWNING GA.” Still, my addicted gambling was so bad, and I had two failed (thankfully) suicides from my addiction, and I was also undiagnosed with several mental health issues. Both together sent me almost over the dark edge of life. I had to find and do anything I could get my hands on. It was not easy, but I wanted some form of LIFE back without gambling!
    I went through the Oregon Lottery Gambling treatment offered and attended the in and then the out-patient group meetings, and had counseling through that program. Attend GA meetings, went to a behavioral center to manage my dual-diagnosis, and worked with a gambling addiction recovery specialist for a year. All of this within my first 4-yrs of maintaining my recovery. He helped me with my step-work. I began journaling and branched out and attended “Celebrate Recovery” group meetings at a local church.
    
    Today, most everything I do like recovery writing for publications, write on my gambling recovery site, mentor (sponsor) others, I write a column in a free Recovery Newspaper called “Keys to Recovery” and a column called “QUIT To WIN”… We can recover “-)
    CAT
  - Brakey95 replied 3 years, 3 months ago
    
    Thanks for your reply, I can understand that I’ve recently been admitted to the hospital by local police for a suicide attempt, also I used to get high on anything I could get my hand on just to make me feel better from the depression the gambling was causing even if it was momentarily I needed to feel good for just a little while, I’ve been clean now for 5 months but like I said I am still struggling with the gambling and I plan to look into some of the options you listed above, thanks again
- Cat Lyon, Gambling Recovery Advocate, Speaker, Mentor replied 3 years, 3 months ago
  
  It would be best if you had a Gambling Prevention Plan. Your counselor can help you make one. Also, to help get a handle on the Financial side, which may be causing stress and push you out to continue. Look to Consumer Credit Counseling org as they can help with the debt, and you make one payment to them, and they do the bill paying. We have to take accountability and ownership of the debts we racked from addicted gambling. There are several places to turn to for that type of help and help relieve some of that financial stress.
  CAT
  - Brakey95 replied 3 years, 3 months ago
    
    Thanks I appreciate you taking the time to respond I will definetly look into that, and yes I agree and am taking full accountability of the debts I’ve accrued over these years
    - Cat Lyon, Gambling Recovery Advocate, Speaker, Mentor replied 2 years, 11 months ago
      
      I wish you the best, and I know you can handle this and gain your life back. Recovery gives us an even better life than we had B4. We got sucked into the “cycle” of this cunning disease. Our experiences are very similar. Police came to my home and did the same, and I had 2 failed suicide attempts. See, 1 in every 5 problem or addicted gamblers may try suicide, and this addiction is currently the #1 addiction claiming lives by suicide in the USA. Those are the current statistics. That is why I advocate about this issue.
      Look, we know gambling will never be banned or prohibited as that wouldn’t be fair to those who can gamble as fun. But the public needs to be informed and know the negative sides as well. Just take it a day at a time as not to feel overwhelmed. Cat