I am a gambling addict and I need to quit.

[Hman]

Anything can be habit-forming

ANYTHING

It's up to the person to remain in control has nothing to do with the event or hobby or so-called habit

[JAKEPEAVY21]

You need to learn how to manage your addiction. Chances are you will never kick it completely.

[Four33]

Stop watching sports

[jjgold]

That does nothing
Many gamblers do not watch sports

Stop watching sports

[Unrivaled]

Losing money is part of it but lost money you can earn back.

The real problem is the stress and time consumed. Instead of relaxing on weekends I am consumed in this addiction.

I have overcome a couple addictions before but this one is hardest to quit.

[stevenash]

Losing money is part of it but lost money you can earn back.

The real problem is the stress and time consumed. Instead of relaxing on weekends I am consumed in this addiction.

I have overcome a couple addictions before but this one is hardest to quit.

Try diverting your attention to another passion you may have such as reading for instance.
Get involved with something other than sports or poker that you like to do is what I am trying to say here.

[shadymcgrady]

Try smoking crack or heroine, you'll forget about gambling real fast...as if you were shot out of a cannon

[stevenash]

Try smoking crack or heroine, you'll forget about gambling real fast...as if you were shot out of a cannon

Rock solid sound advice from Shady here.

[RudyRuetigger]

Try smoking crack or heroine, you'll forget about gambling real fast...as if you were shot out of a cannon

thread winner


Good job

[jjgold]

Drugs way less $$ destructive compared to gambling

[stevenash]

Drugs way less $$ destructive compared to gambling

Oh yeah, losing a 50 dollar bet is way more devastating and destructive then laying on the floor doing 'the flounder' from a fentanyl overdose as trained EMS personnel pump NARCAN into you trying to get you to breathe again.

You got that right Goldy.

[JIBBBY]

This thread is depressing.. Enough will all this nonsense we got games!!

[Roger T. Bannon]

All I do is gamble. All my life is consumed by this. Lost alot of relationships because I am an addict and distracted. Gambling consumes my thoughts.

I need to stop. But I say this often. And I never stop.

"And then one day you'll find, ten years have got behind you". I don't want another 10 years to pass. Wasted my 20s being an addict and this needs to stop.

Has anyone stopped at any point in their life for a long period or can share advice? I know I'm on a gambling forum but thought I'd ask.

Tried GA once before and didn't like it. Was too religious and I have nothing against anyone who chooses to believe, but I personally don't believe there is a higher power.

First, you have to ask yourself why you gamble? You know you are not going to win so why is it you keep doing it?

Probably the biggest problem you have is that you do not have anything better to do. That's a big problem.

If you want to quit, you have to make it harder to gamble. Make some rules for yourself. Make yourself have to win. Responsible gambling is boring. If you gamble responsibly, you will have no hard time quitting because you will be bored to death.

But you really have to find something else to do with your time.

[jjgold]

Drug habit way cheaper than gambling habit

Man some guys dumb here

[stevenash]

Drug habit way cheaper than gambling habit

Man some guys dumb here

Not if you have a 200 dollar a day heroin habit and your gambling addiction is only playing five dollars a day on scratchers.

[Roger T. Bannon]

I will add that gambling is not an addiction. It is an obsession. An obsession is a state of mind that can be easily changed. You just have to stop doing it and you will find that you do not miss it. But that requires doing something different and breaking habits is hard.

But if you have ever had a big sporting event you wanted to watch and you can't watch it, you find that you actually don't miss it and don't really even care what the outcome was when you come back.

[jjgold]

I bet for a challenge mainly

Not money anymore

I made 25 .10 parlay bets yesterday and felt good

[DwightShrute]

I will add that gambling is not an addiction. It is an obsession. An obsession is a state of mind that can be easily changed. You just have to stop doing it and you will find that you do not miss it. But that requires doing something different and breaking habits is hard.

But if you have ever had a big sporting event you wanted to watch and you can't watch it, you find that you actually don't miss it and don't really even care what the outcome was when you come back.

for most people yes but not for all people like so many things in life.

[vividjohn45]

Id move in with jj, then after seeiing his mangled shins from bookies tire tools, you will quit gambling.

[Roger T. Bannon]

for most people yes but not for all people like so many things in life.

Addiction is a word that has been overused to make people feel better about themselves. An addiction is something you cannot give up. An obsession is just something you cannot stop thinking about. That is because you do not have anything else to think about. Nobody that has a weird obsession has a normal life and gamblers are not normal.

The problem is not really gambling. The problem is that you cannot replace gambling with something as interesting. That is why you have to make it about winning ultimately.

People cannot take the losing so they continue on until they can win for at least a while or somehow. When you have to face up to the cold hard reality of losing, gambling is not any fun. It is only fun if you win. And even then, it is not all that much fun. It is satisfying but not fun.

[Sawyer]

All I do is gamble. All my life is consumed by this. Lost alot of relationships because I am an addict and distracted. Gambling consumes my thoughts.

I need to stop. But I say this often. And I never stop.

"And then one day you'll find, ten years have got behind you". I don't want another 10 years to pass. Wasted my 20s being an addict and this needs to stop.

Has anyone stopped at any point in their life for a long period or can share advice? I know I'm on a gambling forum but thought I'd ask.

Tried GA once before and didn't like it. Was too religious and I have nothing against anyone who chooses to believe, but I personally don't believe there is a higher power.

You don't have a gambling addiction/problem. No, not even close.
You don't have a problem with gambling.
You have a problem with losing.
Your problem is losing.

When people are sick, they go to doctor. When people don't feel mentally good, they go to pscholog. Well, now you know your problem. You need a professional handicapper..

[jjgold]

Roger your not making sense today unlike you

I love losing like most here love the potential climb back

Compulsive
Personalities = compulsive gambler

You can still have many hobbies and gamble a lot but usually not normal

I see though if you get some new interests it will help

[DwightShrute]

Addiction is a word that has been overused to make people feel better about themselves. An addiction is something you cannot give up. An obsession is just something you cannot stop thinking about. That is because you do not have anything else to think about. Nobody that has a weird obsession has a normal life and gamblers are not normal.

The problem is not really gambling. The problem is that you cannot replace gambling with something as interesting. That is why you have to make it about winning ultimately.

People cannot take the losing so they continue on until they can win for at least a while or somehow. When you have to face up to the cold hard reality of losing, gambling is not any fun. It is only fun if you win. And even then, it is not all that much fun. It is satisfying but not fun.

I tend to agree with you for the most part and I definitely can see your points. But there are some people with all sorts of addictions who just can't stop. No matter what.

The human brain is a complicated nervous system as you are surely aware. A little off subject but still relative to this discussion is suicide. Many think about it but some actually go through with it. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't stop themselves.

[Roger T. Bannon]

Here is a little challenge for you to maybe help quit the habit. As I say, you have to make yourself have to win.

So instead of placing your bets in your account, start tracking them on paper. Keep a record. The only way you can gamble again is by winning over 500 bets. Make this a challenge.

You will find that this is going to be mental beatdown. This is the point that people double up, but you have to try to stick it through.

If you cannot complete that exercise, you are not a gambler.

[Roger T. Bannon]

I tend to agree with you for the most part and I definitely can see your points. But there are some people with all sorts of addictions who just can't stop. No matter what.

The human brain is a complicated nervous system as you are surely aware. A little off subject but still relative to this discussion is suicide. Many think about it but some actually go through with it. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't stop themselves.

Yes, people get in holes. But an addiction is something you will have withdrawals from. The only side effect of not gambling is boredom.

[stevenash]

I bet for a challenge mainly

Not money anymore

I know where you are coming from.

I'm a stat/math geek.
The money is not the thrill for me.
The thrill for me is sitting down with all the numbers associated with an individual game, analyzing those numbers, and then forming a conclusion off of the data I just analyzed.

And if this comes across wrong I apologize in advance.
And my baseball analysis is often spot on.

See?
I told you I was a geeky nerd. (that's a tad full of himself)

[Zlaniner]

This thread is depressing.. Enough will all this nonsense we got games!!

Lets go !!

[jjgold]

I just bet a $1 parlay for day action

Even bet $10 a game
You can easily lose $80
In a week and that adds up for a guy say making $35,000 a year


Most people cannot figure out formula for income coming in vs gambling bankroll

Break down how much you make in a week cash with a job

Say you make 500 a week you cannot lose more than $50 gambling per week

Learn stuff like that and gambling is a great hobby and great for your mind

I know where you are coming from.

I'm a stat/math geek.
The money is not the thrill for me.
The thrill for me is sitting down with all the numbers associated with an individual game, analyzing those numbers, and then forming a conclusion off of the data I just analyzed.

And if this comes across wrong I apologize in advance.
And my baseball analysis is often spot on.

See?
I told you I was a geeky nerd. (that's a tad full of himself)

[GzaTheGenius]

Just start winning and you'll enjoy your life more

[Roger T. Bannon]

Learn stuff like that and gambling is a great hobby and great for your mind

Yes, you have to find ways to make gambling more of a mental challenge than money. Gambling is not about money. It is about action or challenge. If you are an action gambler, you have a big problem because you have to bet more money to get the same kick. But you are not even betting money. You are really just playing a video game.

So play videos. It is pretty much the same.

If you can get to the point that you can gamble smaller amounts, you will either get bored and quit and get some control over what you are doing. But you have to kick the action thing.

[Roger T. Bannon]

Honestly, SBR is probably the worst place for gamblers but it is really a great way to gamble. When you start betting betpoints, it does feel like real money. You can knock yourself out gambling at SBR and never lose a dime. When you do eventually cash out, you cash out to a sportsbook and bet that and lose it and start all over. You never lose.

If I had things to do all over again, I probably never would have deposited a dime.

[MarkMakers]

Sorry man. You're Brain has been rewired to experience dopamine release as you cap, place bets, watch bets ect. Quitting not necessarily a will powered thing. Better take a look if you think you are addicted

^^^ This! After two decades of gambling I turned to a psychiatrist who basically told me the same thing. It was the dopamine and adrenaline my brain was addicted to not necessarily the gambling. Abstinence didn’t really solve my problem either as I found myself having the ability to stop gambling for up to 6-9 months at a time but the cravings were still there. I tried prescription drugs, self help books, and an array of meditation techniques. Ultimately I decided to treat my gambling as someone who would treat their diabetes or chronic arthritis. You can still live a productive happy life if you take control of the condition and regulate your tendencies.

[stevenash]

Honestly, SBR is probably the worst place for gamblers but it is really a great way to gamble. When you start betting betpoints, it does feel like real money. You can knock yourself out gambling at SBR and never lose a dime. When you do eventually cash out, you cash out to a sportsbook and bet that and lose it and start all over. You never lose.

If I had things to do all over again, I probably never would have deposited a dime.

SBR sportsbook and casino.
Where dreams can come true.

[Jayvegas420]

GA weekly or you will never stop

I have tried pills and shots to curb urge
And never worked

I met jayvegas and his lovely wife once

Kid was broke and he said this ....

“JJ do you think I can club someone in legs and rob them and get away with it”


I cut down bet sizes and really helped

That was a really good time JJ and I appreciate you telling this story... My legs are healing up just fine by the way and thank you for asking

[pattymayo]

Losing money is part of it but lost money you can earn back.

The real problem is the stress and time consumed. Instead of relaxing on weekends I am consumed in this addiction.

I have overcome a couple addictions before but this one is hardest to quit.

I think Roger is on to something here.. you just need a new hobby. Something else that can get you even a quarter of the thrill you get from gambling. What other addictions have you successfully overcome?

Most degens get to this stage when they are completely barreled in, behind on bills, negative balance in checking account, etc etc. The lost money doesn't seem to be your driving force here. What else do you like to do?