How do you know when you have overcome your gambling problem?

To an extent, I would say 'never' - but it depends how you define 'recovered'.

I have been gambling-free for over 5 years (today is actually day 2,000!). I don't consider myself 'recovered' or no longer a gambling addict. If I waged a single bet I know it would still spiral out of control, so I am and always will be a gambling addict. It's just I'm a gambling addict who has chosen not to gamble - today or ever.

I think it can be a bit dangerous to consider oneself recovered at any point, because the temptation may arise to gamble in small quantities again. It's good to keep the guard up.

On the other hand, am I now able to live and enjoy my life without temptation hanging over me all the time? Yes, absolutely. So I suppose some would classify that as 'recovered'. I know it's semantics, but I would probably choose a different term - perhaps in remission or something!

How long did it take to get here? Again it's not a black and white answer because it's an ever-changing road with so many fluctuating factors, but I would say after about 3 years I felt 'out of the woods' - that the worst was behind me. Never letting my guard down, of course - but the worst is done. And by god I do not want to go back there again.

Hi Demar

In my experience you are never recovered

you are always recovering.

There is no cure for gambling addiction but it can be arrested.

I have met people who have not had a bet for over 10 years but tell me its always lurking in the background and still everyday they wake up and have to be focused and not let their guard slip.

Recovery is very complex and varies from person to person and i guess some may find it slightly easier than others.

I have to ask why you are interested in a 'recovery period'? if you reached this goal would you consider yourself 'cured' and then try gambling again? (just a thought)

Take it day by day and wk by wk mate.

I read one of your previous posts and it will soon be a gamble free wk for you. Well done!!! now say to yourself here's to next wk being gamble free as well.

Try not to focus too far ahead.

I wish you all the best in your recovery. Keep it up!!

Ben.

Recovery is a journey and not a destination! If we arrived at the destination of recovered where would we go? Maybe we would get back on the gambling bus for another go! Take it easy

Hi guys. Thank you for your replies it has given me some great insight. I think after I have not gambled at all at a casino for 2 years straight I will personally feel like I have beat it but I know that its possible to go back to where I was If I start gambling at a casino again.

Hi Demar, some good and knowledgable replies received here,

I have stopped for around six years after gambling for twenty - they say that the first year is by far the hardest, and I wouldn't disagree with that.

I felt different around the two year mark too. Eventually, odds, adverts mean nothing to you and those losses feel like they were committed by another person.

I also learned that you cannot be complacent; a lot of people feel like they are "cured" in long-term recovery, which leads them to think they can return to gambling at small stakes - I have been a member of this Forum for over seven years and seen literally hundreds of examples of this; people are horrified how they can spiral into oblivion so quickly after many years of not touching upon it at all.

It does vary - the best way is to judge for yourself, judge how you are coping and judge how much help you need.

JamesP

I would saty you know when you dont have to rely on amy blocks i.e. no self-exclusion, no-one else looking after your cash, no blocking software in place etc. and you can return to your place of gambling without getting an urge so you can go into the bookmakers or the casino or you can go online without blocks and you dont even consider gambling.

If you are in this position you have learned to live without it and are no longer relying on any assistance to help you control and recover.

Having said this you do always have to guard against complacency...once a problem or compulsive gambler, always a problem or compulsive gambler.

If you are wondering this so you can evaluate what sort of challenge you are up against, please dont.

Im a very factual person, and like you thought each day at the start, how do i get through today, what happens tommorrow etc.....

as time goes on, im 134 days clean, you forget looking too far forward. i dont for one minute consider myself cured, but its not an issue as i dont intend to ever gamble again.

--when you dont have to rely on any blocks i.e. no self-exclusion, no-one else looking after your cash, no blocking software in place etc.--

I'm with you so far. That's a good definition of "overcome the problem". The other important part, for me, is the permanent statement

-- "Gambling? Sorry, mates, I can't do that."

Because I can't. Maybe other people can, maybe they are fooling themselves, but I can't go there. Not now. Not ten years from now.

When you continued with

-- and you can return to your place of gambling ..go into the bookmakers or the casino --

No! Really NOT a good idea! That's right in the category of "sorry, I can't do that"!