So I have been GF now for 12 days (probably the longest period for 10 years apart from being on holiday), I am actually enjoying going to GA meetings it a sense of relief, 3 a week for now, blocks are in place and fingers crossed for now its going good.
Just wanted to post something that was on my mind, during the past 10-12 years that I have gambled one thing has played a big factor - alcohol. Dont get me wrong there has still been many times when I have gambled without being P***ed and put myself in absolutley terrible situations, but drinking made it much worse. From a young age ive always played sports football, rugby, cricket etc...and I have always enjoyed watching sports - up until recently, usually with a beer. Tuesday night some random c**P league cup game 4 beers, first goalscorer and a scorecast (usually a loser) would lead to copious more beers and betting on foreign sports, then online slots doing in all my money - waking up for work feeling shocking. It was habit, the drinking and betting went hand in hand, something which went on more or less since late teens. If it wasnt drinking watching football, it would be drinking in the pub on the fruit machine, in the casino or sloping off to the bookies during a night out. I know some people drink to drown sorrows as a result of gambling, but for me the two kind of went together. Anyways to avoid the trigger I have decided to give up the drinking as well otherwise I will end up back in a much worse position than before.
I wondered if anyone else followed a similar path?
12 days GF, tomorrow is another day.
Hi
I have thought about this and I agree that alcohol as another escape mechanism doesnt help and probably has made me gamble more on certain occassions. I would probably have walked over to the machine anyway but drink certainly doesnt help and Ive pushed the wrong buttons while drunk
However I have lost most of my money while completely sober so I dont link drinking with my gambling. I would have ordered a drink and then wandered over to the machine. If anything I gambed all my money away so I couldnt afford more drinks.
I wouldnt have stopped anyway while sober so I dont think that drink clouded my judgement about starting or stopping...it just made me do a few silly mistakes while gambling as if the very act of gambling wasnt daft enough.
I cant really say that drink reduced any inhibitions about gambling but it certainly didnt help.
Its an interesting one though as they are both drugs of choice. Im not so much a drinker because a pint once a week is about it for me. I was a heavily addicted gambler though.
Best Wishes
Hi marrtyb88,
I have the same problem. Drinking and gambling are so linked for me that I can't seem to give up one without the other. And giving up 2 things at once that I'm heavily addcited to, just seems doubly difficult.
I used to like relaxing in the evening with a poker table open and a few beers. Things generally go reasonably well until I get p*s**ed, lose all of the poker money, and then move to online slots and lose a fortune there too. The number of times I make money at poker when sober, and the get drunk, and lose it and hundreds or thousands more is depressing.
And after a few drinks, I completely lack self-discipline so while it might be easier giving up gambling when sober, I give up giving up after a few drinks and then feel terrible in the morning.
I've been struggling this year, because I know I need to give up both. I've actually put off going to GA or AA, because I've been torn between which is my biggest problem so I've been to neither. Crazy, eh
Anyway, good luck marrty
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