Urge surfing?

I wouldn’t do that, just easily a way of being close to the action and falling in to it. A bit like if I watched some one play blackjack, with enough time I would want to bet myself regardless of breathing techniques.

I just want to add this point

When you face the cold facts about gambling, there is no such thing as "responsible" gambling.

It's is always an irresponsible act whether people like that fact or not. Addicts certainly don't accept that fact until well into a proper recovery.

If you have a pound and decide to gamble it even on the flip of a coin ....its an IRRESPONSIBLE act as you RISK losing it and it leads to another go because nobody likes losing money

Then you add the cold fact that its a highly addictive act.....highly addictive! Its a mental state because gambling superstition alters the mind and soon becomes a mental illness, addiction and full blown craving

Few understand the drugs that flow such as adrenaline and dopamine are addictive....there is even a soup of drugs flowing in a losing state which is confusing but still addictive. Many people are triggered by stress anxiety and depression but gambling only makes it worse once the escape/last hope drug wears off again

We are hard wired to want a reward for our actions. So it's not difficult to see how many become addicted almost instantly in many cases........Next go.....next flip of the coin

The people ruining their lives and wondering how it all got to this have experienced how mind altering and highly addictive it is

It's a vice a mugs game and it makes billions for the gambling dens....its set up to take your money..not the other way round 

You can't smoke drink or take harmful drugs responsibly so it actually angers me that we have let them slip that word into the advertising and marketing

Some people may say lighten up Joydivider but I challenge any of you to say its only a bit of fun when you can read about the misery on here. The fact is most people are gambling their lives away for no real reward......trickle gambling like the machines creating zombies

How it all remains legal is a scandal of monumental proportions. The proper protection just isn't there

Recovery helps people face these facts. I don't accept we are a tiny minority of acceptable casualties....why are they even paying lip service to "responsible" gambling if its not an exponential problem

Best wishes to everyone on the forum 

Amen to that. There is a lot of sense in what you write. This Urge surfing has got to do with mindfulness and every time I mention that here it feels like I am saying a dirty word online so i will change it to light meditation. We drift in and out of consciousness everyday and when our subconscious take over we are on autopilot. When you use mindfulness or light meditation you try and steer the ship (your mind) back to the conscious side again as it is there we take our rational decisions.

Urge surfing seems to be the step the Aussies are doing to confront their impulse control. They look at the urges in waves. The first impulse is strong to get you going. The second one is even worse than the first one but the third one starts to slow things down again so their idea is that if you can get the mind used to three rounds of urges you can start to get your control back. 

Look it up online. It is a new and different way of tackling this problem. It is definitely not for everyone but this forum is a place where we should share all news. Even new types of treatment and tackling of this problem that I do agree with you is relentless and very difficult for people to get out of.

I wish you well!

C