Activity – Cat Lyon, Gambling Recovery Advocate, Speaker, Mentor

Cat Lyon, Gambling Recovery Advocate, Speaker, Mentor posted an update in the group Community 1 years, 10 months ago

Hello Group and friends,

Happy Belated Canada Day to those who live in Canada! I’m in the USA, and we are celebrating Independence Day tomorrow, but as I write this, I hear fireworks outside. I guess some wanted to start it EARLY… Awe, just the little things. I say this because I sure know I had a lot of crappy 4th of Julys when I was still deeply in my gambling addiction.

This brings me to Thanking Ken for the “Thoughts of the Day” today and tomorrow, depending on where you live. (what country)…

As Ken shared, “Change is a part of the flow of life. Sometimes we’re frustrated because change seems slow in coming. Sometimes, too, we’re resistant to a change that seems to have been thrust upon us.”

For those who may be having a rough time or struggling to maintain recovery from this awful and insane addiction, CHANGE is a vital part of our humble beginnings within our recovery path and the willingness to make it.

To have a much better life for you, your spouses, your family, etc. CHANGE doesn’t have to be feared or scary. Wouldn’t it be great to have a life without this addiction dictating it? Or it sucking the life out of you. It is possible. I have been doing it BET FREE for over 15 years. I know it is possible. Was it a rocky road at first? Heck yes. But I truly was sick of being sick and tired.

It took me two failed (thank GOD) suicide attempts and two times through a crisis center and gambling recovery treatment program.
No kidding. But? I NEVER GAVE UP.
WHY?
Because I knew I was living one bet away from death. True. I knew if stayed out there gambling I’m sure another suicide attempt would be looming and as they say, “third times a charm,” and I know I would not be here today if I kept gambling addictively. It is true that every 1 in 5 gamblers WILL try suicide. It’s a fact.
And even though at that point I lost just about everything, almost my marriage, and my life, I was one HOT MESS!
Today I live a much better life than the one had before I became a gambling addict. I am very proud that I just completed and graduated from my Freedom Debit Relief program! I finally have paid off all the old debts and collections I had and it was a lot of $$$$$$… I feel so proud of myself for not only getting my finacial inventory in order, but been accountable for paying all those old debts off.
It IS an amazing feeling!
So, never give up trying to stop if you have a gambling problem or it is a full-blown addiction. Your life is worth more than that.

And you deserve to be happy and have peace in your life. Our past doesn’t have to define us nor dictate our future!

Cat L

1
- jodi71 replied 1 years, 9 months ago
  
  Thank you cat for sharing that story with us. How long have you quit gambling for? Can you shares some tricks got you through the first few months?
  - Cat Lyon, Gambling Recovery Advocate, Speaker, Mentor replied 1 years, 9 months ago
    
    Besides the two times through the Oregon Lottery Treatment Program, after the second time in 2006? I then worked with an addiction/recovery specialist for a year who helped me learn and break the “cycle” of this disease. I began journaling as well and you have to Work and keep Reworking your 12-steps for a lifetime.
    
    Both looking at your early journaling and earlier steps worked, you begin to see what you still need to work on and also see how far and well you are doing maintaining recovery. The honest truth about stopping the triggers, urges, and cravings to gamble? Is to not place a bet. Seriously. Each time you stop a few months and then go back out or gamble in any form? You start having them AGAIN… That is what makes it difficult as the diseased thinking talks you right back out there. Calling a sponsor or mentor b4 you gamble helped me a LOT too. But the journaling is really what helped. My recovery date? Jan 29th, 2007… 15+yrs and counting! “-)