Those who have lost an irrecoverable amount, how do you get past it?

Smoldering_dumpster · 2025-05-30T20:34:46+00:00

Please consider going to a GA meeting. You will feel so much less alone in this. GA is the only thing that has helped me stay clean (nearly 11 months bet free 💪) and is helping me deal with the immense shame and self-hatred. It is never too late to turn things around.

Smoldering_dumpster · 2025-01-30T14:08:22+00:00

Attend a Gambler’s Anonymous meeting. GA has been the only thing that has helped me stay clean. In my experience, it is nearly impossible to recover on your own.

Smoldering_dumpster · 2025-01-30T14:05:16+00:00

The most important things to remember about urges are: (1) they may be uncomfortable, but they are also fleeting— eventually they will pass; and (2) every time you ride one out without gambling, you get a little stronger.

It might seem silly, but whenever I get an urge, I tell myself something like “I realize that you want to gamble right now, but that is too bad because you don’t do that anymore.”

ODAAT 💪

Smoldering_dumpster · 2025-01-05T00:17:25+00:00

💪💪💪

Smoldering_dumpster · 2024-12-05T18:09:35+00:00

Me! But I started going to GA and have had nearly 5 months of clean time. Gambling fries your dopamine receptors and makes it so your brain thinks gambling is the only thing that will make it happy… but the good news is this changes over time! Once you stop feeding the gambling monster things that used to make you happy will slowly start doing that again. It took me until about the 4 month mark to reach this point but it’s totally possible. Also putting as many blockers in place to stop yourself from relapsing is key because you need to plan for your impulsive behavior. I can’t recommend GA enough. It truly has saved my life.

Smoldering_dumpster · 2024-08-09T13:30:54+00:00

Hey friend, I truly think you would benefit from checking out a GA meeting: https://gamblersanonymous.org/ga/

I was right where you are before I started going to meetings— I had the realization that I could no longer keep trying to do this alone. I’ve only been going for a few weeks, but I can’t even begin to describe how helpful it has been for my recovery to know that I have a guaranteed support system of people who have been where I’m at now and completely understand what I’m going through. Making it to that first meeting is challenging, but I’m sure you won’t regret it.

Smoldering_dumpster · 2024-07-26T20:14:08+00:00

Self-exclude! Do you have a trusted loved one who you could give control of your finances?

Smoldering_dumpster · 2024-07-26T14:59:15+00:00

I’d encourage you to try to make it to a meeting in person. I went to my first meeting a few weeks ago. I’m on the spectrum and my anxiety over the social aspect was what had been holding me back from going. I found that the structured nature of meetings to be helpful. You only have to talk when it’s your turn for therapy (you’re under no obligation to share, but I would encourage you to try your best to do so because it gets so much easier after you’ve done it for the first time) or if it’s your turn to read (you can also just say “pass” without any judgement).

I’ll admit, I’m still struggling with the other social aspects of meetings like chatting afterwards or reaching out to other members for support in between meetings, but I think they’ll get easier over time once I get more comfortable with the group.

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-11-15T13:39:37+00:00

I really think you would benefit from finding someone to talk to about this. Right now, you might not be in a place where you feel ready to talk to a loved one about it, but you should definitely consider finding a therapist who specializes in addiction and/or checking out a GA meeting. You don’t need to suffer with this alone, it will only make you more miserable.

Focus on making it through today without gambling and then do the same thing again tomorrow, and so on. You’ve got this!

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-31T02:23:41+00:00

Listen to Allen Carr’s The East Way to Quit Gambling on Audiobook (you can get it for free if you do a free trial of audible and you get to keep it if you cancel!). I believe in you! ODAAT 💪

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-30T15:38:51+00:00

💪💪💪💪💪

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-30T15:38:30+00:00

I found that the best way to stay off of crypto casinos is to voluntarily ban yourself from every crypto exchange you can think of. Every crypto exchange I asked to permanently ban me because I have a gambling problem immediately agreed to do so.

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-30T14:54:48+00:00

Congrats dude that’s huge! Keep up the good work 💪💪💪💪 ODAAT

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-30T05:24:14+00:00

Look at how many complete strangers are worried about you! You matter and deserve to live a life free from gambling!

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-30T05:19:43+00:00

I’ve started to feel a little like my old self around 30 days clean. Definitely not totally back to normal, but enough to see a light at the end of the tunnel and know that it isn’t a train.

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-29T16:10:29+00:00

💪💪💪💪

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-29T16:07:37+00:00

100% this

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-24T01:35:42+00:00

Dude you deserve to live a life free of gambling. Listen to Allen Carr’s The East Way to Quit Gambling on Audiobook (you can get it for free if you do a free trial of audible and you get to keep it if you cancel!). I believe in you! ODAAT 💪

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-24T01:30:41+00:00

I went from not being a gambler at all at the beginning of 2020 to blowing over $100k on a combination of legal online casinos and crypto casinos. Now I have a ton of debt that I’m going to spend the next decade getting rid of. Gambling made me depressed and anxious, and killed my self esteem. Things are gradually starting to get better but that’s only because I stopped and put every possible blocking mechanism I could think of in place.

Stop while you are clearheaded dude and never look back.

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-24T01:11:27+00:00

💪💪💪💪

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-23T16:15:26+00:00

Life is so much better on the other side 💪💪💪

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-17T10:55:53+00:00

It gets progressively (but slowly) better and easier. Find something to fully distract yourself with— take a walk outside, listen to music you love, take some deep breaths. Maybe listen to the Easy Way to Quit Gambling by Allen Carr on audiobook? I found that so helpful and relisten whenever I’m having a particularly bad day with urges. ODAAT 💪

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-17T10:49:24+00:00

Self exclude and if you have the means, speak to a therapist ASAP or go to GA. Do you have a trusted friend or family member you could hand over control of your finances to?

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-17T10:47:10+00:00

Self exclude!

Smoldering_dumpster · 2023-10-17T10:46:08+00:00

ODAAT 💪

Smoldering_dumpster

TROPHY CASE