Thatdeliveryguy

I am on my 6th day sober drinking and making strides in the right direction, but I wanted to talk about my other addiction. All addiction is reacted and many of us are coaddicts or even triaddicts.

For me gambling started as a fun activity a way to pass time. I remember the first time I won over a $100 I was on cloud nine. It was what I made in a day plus 40%. I couldn't have been more happy with me. I thought I could rule the world with the pull of handle.

Sadly, time went on, and I gambled and gambled and gambled. I chased every win with a loss and every loss with another pull to win. All the while I was pumped with free things. At first free drinks, as I lost more free meals, then rooms, then many other things.

I thought I could win, I really believe I could win. In drunken stupors, I would gamble my check. I was always ok with it, I thought the next pull, roll of the dice, sports game would bring a win.

As time went on my addiction grew. I finally did it, I lost my job and was surviving on credit cards. I maxed them all out, I gambled every penny believing in my mind I was making an investment in my future. I thought it was a matter of odds, and the odds said that the six figure amount I was gambling on credit would lead to a big payoff.

My six figure investment didn't work out. I lost it all, everything, and then my and my family ended up homeless and all I had to show for it was the clothes on our backs. I mean I thought I could do it, I thought I was the one, I thought nobody can lose so much without losing everything.

Then the despair came and with that the more serious drinking came. I've been in a battle for my sobriety since the start of this year and have failed many times, I've been battling gambling too, but I am starting to make strides in the right direction. Coaddiction is tough, but can be overcome and I am poised to do it.

If you have issues with gambling hit me up, I would love to start a thread just dedicated to gambling and alcohol. I know that there are many of you out there, just let me know? Thanks, Powering through this weekend sober and gambling free.

SoberHoopsFan

I know a few friends that have lost almost everything to gambling, it's a sickness just like drinking. I'm guessing that staying sober will help in your quest to stop gambling, because as we all know our decision-making is terrible after taking a few drinks.

Stoogy

Most people I know who drink also smoke and gamble, are these related? Who knows maybe so, maybe it's a personality disorder that these things base themselves on.

Vanduara

Thatdeliveryguy ((hugs))

First of all, I'm glad that you posted. I'm am alcoholic, but I completely don't understand gambling addiction., for me personally anyway. I get that it must work on the mind in a similar way to alcohol or drug addiction, so know that I support you and am not judging you in any way, shape or form. I get angry at the human condition sometimes, why are we so prone as humans to become addicted to stuff? Aargh!

Anyhow, just wanted you to know that, much as I don't get gambling, I am still here for you, as I am an alcoholic and it must all come from a similar place.

freedragonfly

I have gambled too much too but not to the point of losing everything. However, I realized as I always spent more than I intended, I was really on a slippery slope. I felt the pull of it, and then decided I should avoid casinos and anything related to gambling. Casinos are always bad for me in other ways too. Too much free alcohol. Have ended some nights puking in my room. Have lost my room key and had to knock on the door to have my hubby let me in. Luckily I was not alone. Used to get free rooms and go alone. Would have some sort of spending limit, but always went over. The free room wasn't free at all after all my gambling. It was rather expensive. Quit smoking for a while, then went to a casino, got really triggered and started smoking again. I have had some fun, but overall its been bad so I really can't go to casinos anymore.

Vanduara

This topic fascinates me, thanks for raising it 'thatdeliveryguy'.

I'm British, but lived in the USA for two years a few years ago. (I absolutely ADORED the USA and the way of life, it is awesome. Yay for the USA, I love it). Anyway, as part of my time there we got taken to various casinos....they were lovely hotels, with beautiful rooms and great food. Something I noticed in one place was how incredibly cheap the drinks were.....I remember going up to the bar to buy me and my friend a glass of white wine and a Southern Comfort and coke, and it was $5 for the two drinks! Seriously?? Is that to get the clients drunk so that they will gamble more.....? I was gobsmacked at that, and I thought at the time that as a potential alkie cheap drinks like that were not a good deal for me! I didn't end up getting drunk that night (we had to get up early doors the next morning to go skiing) but in other circumstances I could have got bladdered there.

Something I remember about the actual gaming rooms, was the people who you could see were desperate and really sad. They were all uptight, especially at the machines, with sweat pouring off them. I thought that was dreadfully sad.

But hey, that's me with booze if I don't get a grip on it. So no judging going on here at all.