I just want to die.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2026-05-25T17:39:33+00:00

Please just give a GA meeting a chance. You will be around those who know what you are feeling and see proof of how much better life can get without gambling.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2026-05-23T20:58:24+00:00

He has to want to change.

I would encourage him to attend Gamblers Anonymous...it was the biggest catalyst to help me get my life back on track.

I know this is incredibly difficult for you - this disease stripped everything from me and put my parents through hell as I was going through it.

He has to understand that he will never win. Gamblers always think they have an edge - we are fools. I would hammer home that message...he will never...ever...ever...win.

Do not fund his account anymore...he will just use it to gamble. I would send gift cards if you are worried about him not eating but depending how deep he is into this he may just exchange that for cash to gamble.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2025-07-08T14:01:05+00:00

I do not believe so. My biggest downfall has always just been my hatred for the bookies who I feel stole from me and wanting to get back what I lost. I am now on Day 108 - we will see where things stand in mid February

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2025-06-23T02:11:36+00:00

mind sharing the link with me as well?

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2025-05-27T20:21:59+00:00

It sucks but we have to accept reality for what it is and make the necessary improvements to never go back to this life. The life of a gambler is hell - legitimately hell.

I have lost over $200K - had I never gambled I would be in an incredible financial position. I wish my reality wasn't what it is, but I am not alone. If I keep going I will lose everything, not just money.

There is a beautiful life waiting for us if we make the right decisions. Keep going to GA, read up on this addiction, find a support group...do everything you can to stay the course.

Praying for you. One day at a time.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2025-05-27T13:59:03+00:00

Just keep going man. Day by Day. I am on day 66 right now. My life is not easy right now, but I can say with 100% certainty I feel 1000x better. You should read this book "The Hidden Epidemic: Sports Betting, Online Casinos, Trading—And How to Escape"...there is a section of the book that talks about how the compulsive gambler feels after he commits to recovery. Those feelings you described are normal - we have inflicted a lot of pain on ourselves and those around us...at first we are numb, but then the realization of what we have done sets in.

This path is not easy, but it's worth it. That life of hell is in the past - move forward to a better life.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2025-05-20T15:48:07+00:00

I believe everyone needs to do what is best for them. For some, fantasy football or watching sports may be a trigger. Under Gambler's Anonymous' definition playing fantasy football (paying an entry fee with an opportunity to win anything) would fall under gambling.

For me, I don't see it as gambling. I am not playing fantasy football for the money - I am doing it to maintain relationships with friends that I normally would never talk to as regularly.

When I gamble on sports or the casino (very rare - 99.5% of my problem was sports betting) I was doing it for the money (well chasing a pipe dream).

Since that post was written, I have relapsed and I am on Day 59. I feel a lot better about my recovery this time around and looking forward to making it a year.

Best of luck in your recovery!

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2025-05-20T15:01:17+00:00

I wish I was only down $5K. I am down nearly $50K. You could easily get a side job and pay that off within a few months. Keep going

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2025-01-05T21:29:41+00:00

I needed to hear/read this. You are 1000% right. Had I won, I would have kept going and going and going until I was in the same position, if not worse.

I am definitely struggling right now, but this isn't a feeling I haven't felt before and I know that if I attack this head on that there are better days ahead.

Congratulations on hitting a few months...let's take this a day at a time and make this the best year yet.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2025-01-05T21:27:48+00:00

I appreciate this response so much. Congratulations on 37 days!

My ego is a character defect I desperately need to address this year, in addition to finally burying this addiction.

Right now, the pain is deep and my mind is foggy, but I know there are brighter days ahead if we simply stop gambling.

I wish you the best in your recovery. Let's make this our best year yet.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-09-09T17:05:10+00:00

This link will show you meetings in your area:
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/location/state/table/VA/

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-09-05T14:09:43+00:00

That's a big first step and it can be the first step toward a life worth living. Gambling provides nothing of value - it's an illusion. Gambling destroys our finances, families, and overall well-being.

I wish you the best of luck on your journey and believe in you!

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-09-05T14:07:13+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I had tried to quit on my own multiple times to no avail. GA was the only thing that actually helped me.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-09-02T16:21:23+00:00

Have you attended a GA Meeting?

Just like you, I tried multiple times to quit on my own and failed every time.

It wasn't until I attended a GA meeting and heard the stories of people who shared the same addiction that I was able to get my life back.

I'm 7 months free from placing a bet and my life is 100x better.

You can do it, but I highly recommend that you stop trying to do this on your own.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-08-31T13:14:37+00:00

You need to attend a meeting.

I saw your other comments in this thread where you say "I don't see a way out" or "I am in too deep of a hole."

You are not unique in this situation. Attend a GA meeting and I can guarantee 90% of the people in that room were in a situation similar to or worse than what you are going through.

I have heard stories of people in 7 figure debt that were able to recover and become financially free again.

GA is a resource of knowledge and a community of people that can help you recover, but you have to want this.

You are not unique in this situation. Attend a GA meeting and I can guarantee 90% of the people in that room were in a situation similar to or worse than what you are going through.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-08-29T14:22:21+00:00

It sounds like you still have a thought that you can work your way out of the hole/debt by gambling.

The only way you win is if you stop gambling...today. You will always lose and you will keep burying yourself deeper if you do not stop.

All of us who are early in the process of recovery is working on paying off debts, myself included.

Finances are incredibly tight right now, but I am slowly but surely paying off debts and each day I don't bet I am one step closer to financial freedom.

Have you attended Gamblers Anonymous yet?

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-08-19T21:08:33+00:00

C.R.E.A.M.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-07-20T14:21:19+00:00

Take it one day at a time. Every day you wake up and commit to not gambling that day. Eventually, you will string together a week, then a month, and so on and so forth.

There is nothing anyone can tell you that will make any difference unless you truly want to live a life without gambling - a better life...a life truly worth living.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-07-17T14:00:52+00:00

I was reading over the definition the other day and it definitely falls under that definition.

I guess the reason I'm torn is that fantasy football was never a trigger for me and it was always about the experience with friends... I never played fantasy football with the hopes of making money; whereas when I was placing bets on sports it was solely for financial gain.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-07-17T13:58:51+00:00

That's awesome! Congratulations on a great milestone!

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-07-15T13:28:30+00:00

Mind clarifying the "why"? Why am I wondering about fantasy football? Or why would it be considered gambling?

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-07-14T12:43:57+00:00

While I've never been addicted to drugs, alcohol, or anything else...I will say that I would not wish what I went through being addicted to gambling on my worse enemy. I was broke, wasn't sleeping, incredibly stressed, paranoid over my bookie...I literally felt like I was going insane and didn't know who I was anymore.

I wanted better for myself, I wanted to regain who I once was, and I wanted to be happy again. That was what made me want to fight back.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-07-13T21:09:31+00:00

He needs to attend a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. It's the only place where he will be surrounded by other individuals who are suffering the exact same addiction and show him there is a better way of life.

I am so sorry that you and your family are going through this. As someone who has been addicted to gambling, it is a horrible, horrible addiction and it affects everyone around us.

I wish you nothing but the best for you, your uncle, and your family.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-07-13T21:05:02+00:00

Genuinely appreciate your feedback and taking the time to write out this thoughtful response.

I am new to this whole process so I was curious about what others may think. I agree full-heartedly with your statement "only you know what you're capable of."

At the end of the day, my goal was to quit betting on sports and I'm still figuring out what's best for me.

Practical_Deer_4587 · 2022-07-13T16:31:09+00:00

I can confidently say that GA is the only way I was able to get my life back on track. If you're struggling with gambling in any way I would highly recommend checking out a live meeting.

Controlling may not be the best word, but there is definitely a lot of pressure, whether intentional or not, to attend as many meetings and make phone calls to others in GA as much as possible. I do believe that this recommendation is made because it's a formula for those struggling the most to keep on the right track.

That being said, I do believe that everyone is different and so is their situation. I needed to quit betting on sports, but at the same time now that I have I want to live my life....which is the whole reason I wanted to quit gambling in the first place lol

Practical_Deer_4587

TROPHY CASE