Oftentimes, a person with a gambling addiction also suffers from bipolar disorder, depression, ADHD or obsessive-compulsive disorder, so medication or therapy to treat those conditions can alleviate gambling addiction. Gamblers Anonymous and other self-help groups help many people as well. A therapist who specializes in gambling addiction can help you formulate a coping strategy tailored specifically to you and your circumstances. At the very least, attending a Gamblers Anonymous meeting and speaking with others who face the same challenges can help, and you may be able to find a sponsor. Welcome to GT and congrats on looking for help. There is help available here and at Gamblers anonymous meetings, counselling, rehabs. You can ban from places you gamble depending on your area. Try to limit money you have available and don't carry cards or lots of cash on you just the minimum.
I started gambling with Texas Hold'Em at age 16... I never played slot machines until I was 22, and that's where the problem started. I'm 27 now.I never really won big, I just won 800 bucks after a year of playing slots. I don't know how I went from saying, 'those machines are a trap' to becoming addicted to them. I usually would win a quick 25 bucks within a few minutes which turns into 1,000 Php and it goes a long way here. But I would get stuck and end up 250 bucks in the hole. It sucks!
I recently made like 500 bucks a few months ago, and things started getting really bad. I would pay off everything then blow the rest of my paycheck, living off 8 dollars a week. I told my girlfriend 2 months ago, but nothing happens. I just don't tell her that I go. She wonder's where my money is going, and to everyone else I just lie and say that I send it to my kid when in reality I don't send her that much.
I just slept for 12 hours last night. I knew that if I went out, I might head to the casino. I dunno if my body is experiencing withdrawal, but I constantly think about gambling. My last bet was 2 weeks ago where I was just supposed to play $25, I won $25 in the first minute and realized I shouldn't be there. Instead of leaving I blew through that and ended up in my 250 dollar hole as usual.
Walk of shame leaving the casino, saying the same things as everyone else. How could I be so stupid, what's wrong with me, why can't I control it?
Slot Machine Addiction Recovery
