Hi everyone,
I’m reaching out to share my story and hopefully connect with others who face similar battles. I’ve been struggling with gambling for 21 years. I’ve never managed long-term time off, but recently I hit a Personal Best (PB) of 11 weeks. During those weeks, I felt so happy. I actually had money, and I was throwing myself into other activities to keep busy.
The biggest hurdle for me is that I have ADHD. I get bored incredibly easily, I constantly need to be on the go, and my brain craves high levels of stimulation. Whether it’s food, drink, or gambling, I rarely feel satisfied unless I’ve gone completely all-in on a binge. I definitely have what you’d call an addictive personality, and gambling has been the ultimate, destructive dopamine fix for my ADHD brain.I need help to stop for good, and I want to know: how do those of you with ADHD cope with the intense urge for stimulation without turning back to the bookies?
Thanks for reading.
I can relate to that. I would not be surprised if I had adhd too, though not been diagnosed. While I was in full time work in a highly pressured and fast paced job, that stimulation craving was satisfied. When I retired early (because I could financially- that’s a joke now), I accidentally discovered slots. How I wish I could turn the clock back 7 years! The annoying thing is that I have a fulfilling ‘hobby’ life. How I wish I had become a fitness fanatic instead of gambling.
We need things to throw our whole self into.
Best wishes
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