My head feels weird

HI

Not sure about the feeling fuzzy but the feeling really tired is something that I went through. 

SO I quit about 57 days ago now, and for about the first 10 days or so afterwards I would wake up tired, Now I am someone who does not need a lot of sleep so for me it was very strange to be so tired but I think it was the stress of everything that was going on around the gambling the debts the lies the sorting out of finances, telling partner etc. 

It will go away in due course, if not I would see a Dr. 

Hi,

I can relate. I have read that going gambling free is like any other addiction where you get physical symptoms. For me I think these symptoms are also related to depression and also not getting the dopamine ‘fix’ that you get from gambling. For me exercise has made such a difference. I know you won’t feel like doing anything because of feeling so tired but get out for a walk. I’ve joined the gym and it has made the world of difference. Also just listening to music has really lifted my mood and helped with all the other stuff like lack of concentration and the general  weirdness that you feel. But know you are not the only one xx  

@ae20 Appreciate the advice 

Hi,

I have been gamble free for well over 90 days. In the last days of my gambling I was betting ludicrous amount, anything from £300 to £600 a day. Money I was stealing from my employer. It got to the point I could take no more, and I pretty much had a nervous breakdown. I find abstinence from gambling easy. I do not feel the need to gamble but I too feel weird. I do not feel my life is normal and I feel as if i am in a transition period but I do not know what I am transitioning to. I have feelings of emptiness and hopelessness.

I go to GA every single week without fail. But i feel like GA is a small plaster on a gaping wound. It is not enough. There is often talk of the 12 steps at our meetings and that is probably the breakthrough that I need. The problem is, as helpful as these 12 steps are, it is not going to magic up £30k of debt that I have amassed.

When I used to gamble, my intention was to win even money on football betting. My bets were pre planned. If I stuck to them, I would have won. But bypassing the dreaded FOBT's were too much to resist, and that is ultimately where I lost my money. A long period of abstinence has made me realise that I will never win with as there will always be a house edge. Therefore I have thought about discipline gambling on sports betting to clear this debt that is crippling my family. I have no doubt I can resist the FOBT's. 

I get so much going to GA meetings and should I clear my debt, I would continue to go. And furthermore I would take the 12 steps programme to find out all about me.

My feelings of weirdness come from the dilemma of pure abstinence or attempting to regain my losses. Long recovering addicts will scoff at the idea of what I may attempt. But I am looking for a mixed response. Has anyone else been in or is in a similar situation?

Thank you in advance for responses.

@scotty19791 
Hi Scott, 

I really appreciate your time to reply to me, it means a lot. 
Over the last 8 years of being a gambling addict, I have spent well over 100k. I remortgaged a couple of times & also had crazy amounts of loans. 

I kick myself about how much I have lost & where my life would be today if I didn’t gamble so much away. Especially now with the cost of living crisis. 

I too only bet on football to start with & it wasn’t until Covid where I started using Blackjack & slots as football wasn’t on. That’s where I started to lose massive amounts of money. The sad thing is, even though I have lost so much money, I loved playing it, it’s all I did when I woke up, check who is playing & the odds. Even betting on teams in African 3rd divisions. 

I just need this all to stop now & regain some normality. 

I totally know what you mean about the fuzzy head. I get that fuzzy, foggy feeling in my forehead! It’s so weird. It’s like your brain is missing the spinning wheels.

im on day 1 now. 
let’s see how long that fuzzy feeling lasts. 

@c17ort 

Hi,

I hope you are feeling better?

I was having a think today and sometimes I think that during the 'good times' of gambling we have high hopes. During the bad times of gambling we hold on to a glimmer of hope. Although these are false hopes, they are hope nonetheless. When we abstain completely, that hope that we had is now completely gone. And our head has to get used that. I wouldn't say abstaining is a positive hope that we can get used to quickly. Perhaps that is why the fuzziness? Hope this helps.

Scott