First time self-excluding

Hey bro, you are certainly not alone, I feel your pain. We are all here with the same struggle. I for example haven´t told anyone up close the extend of my gambling problems but letting people here know helps a lot since they can relate. 

The dopamine fixes are so hard to swallow, quitting weed and smoking is extremely hard and naturally your mind is looking for a different way to get dopamine. I don´t know maybe try some training for your mind to accept long term instead of short term pleasure. Yes said easily but so hard to do, anyway I hope you get better, you can do it. 

@mark7 Thanks bud, it ain’t easy. Gambling is so subtle. I don’t necessarily get a lot of cravings to play but if I have some money to spare and it gets late on at night in bed, I’ll just load up and spin and it never normally ends well just me losing money or not knowing when to stop. I will keep trying the best I can to halt these false pleasures, rest and recharge and start healthy habits such as more exercise, meditation ect. Had a shocker of a weekend, a friend was sadly lost in a car crash and I’ve been hitting the joints and drinking, been so sad. Will keep trying and trying. I hope you find someone you can talk to about things as it is too much to do alone most of the time, go easy my friend. Be good to yourself. 

@gadaveuk Thanks my friend. My inner child must be hurting a lot as all I seem to crave is unhealthy things etc. Gambling is just another vice. Beneath all the layers of conditioning and ego pain, there’s a lot of love, kindness, compassion and potential. Which I’m thankful I do get to practice a fair bit. A lot of these vices including gambling is almost like the forbidden fruit you know it’s bad but it feels good so you keep going regardless of the pain and destruction that will follow. I’m not particularly religious either but there’s a great couple videos I’ve seen by Justyn Rees Larcombe who was a successful gentleman who fell into a very destructive gambling life, it is really great to watch if you ever feel like you’re having a bad day or going to relapse at something etc. Blessings to you.