Hello. I have been gambling since I was 15 and now I am 31, everything what I have done in this period of time was for gambling. I will wake up every day thinking about gambling, my motivation to go work will be gambling. The time I spent with my family/girlfriend/friends it was just to make the time to go quicker until I will be able to play slots/ roulette again. I never been able to enjoy and be in present in the moment a part from when I was gambling. And it feels that I wasted not just a lot of money because of it , it feels that I wasted 16 years of my life just constantly waiting to have money to play again. So is not just about quitting a addiction is about changing who I am, finding a new purpose. How do I do that? How can I start enjoy the time with my family/friends ?
You will waste another 16 years if you continue , it is a path that leads absolutely nowhere
Hi
The illness is also why you were not enjoying some quality of life without gambling. Gambling addiction builds on other mental illnesses like depression stress and anxiety.
Was I really enjoying gambling?? No not really. It was a delusional drug hit based on nonsense in my head that something monetary was to be gained.
Its highly addictive and tbe drug it creates in the body and brain very soon becomes a craving
I am a complex character and overall a depressive. The hard truth is Ive been very lonely most of my life despite the pretence that I can get anybody and that everyone loves me
Ive lived in a world of delusion to try and combat or escape the hurt and emptiness.
I tried buying fancy things but that doesnt ultimately help a depressive spirit. Gambling was my drug of choice as I was jaded with life and escaping from life.
What I didnt understand is how I became so hooked and addicted.
So the real question is about an illness and the therapy you need to find out who you really are.
with gambling abstention you can start with a clean sheet of paper and deal with the truth of who you are and how you can enjoy life
Best wishes from everybody on the forum
It's not too late to stop.Take one day at a time.
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