Alcoholism and gambling
Alcoholism and gambling
Hi everyone,
This is an issue that I've struggled with over the past while.
I was asked when I entered rehab last year if I gambled and the answer was yes, I regularly played online pokers a few times a week. Well that set off the alarm bells and I was told by all the counsellors throughout the 6 week programme that I would need to quit poker as well as alcohol.
The were a couple of people in the group who had major gambling problems and were facing huge financial difficulties as a direct result. That wasn't the case with me – I had stuck to very low limit tables where the standard of play is pretty poor and overall made a small profit over time. I knew I had a huge problem with alcohol but wanted to ignore the part about gambling.
I reached a year of sobriety back in July – its been tough but I'm so glad and my life had improved in so many ways.
However I've been gambling away and saying nothing until a few weeks ago when guilt finally got the better of me when I admitted to my after-care counsellor that I wasn't being entirely honest. I agreed to stop playing for a couple of months and review things after that. It was a relief that I was at last able to be honest – for me that's an important part in recovery. Also I now have a few extra hours a week to do other things which is a definite benefit. At the same time I feel in conflict – have these guys have got it all wrong? – I'm addicted to alcohol and should be able to play a few hands of poker etc etc – on and on its goes!
I would be really grateful to hear from anyone who's experienced anything similar.
This is an issue that I've struggled with over the past while.
I was asked when I entered rehab last year if I gambled and the answer was yes, I regularly played online pokers a few times a week. Well that set off the alarm bells and I was told by all the counsellors throughout the 6 week programme that I would need to quit poker as well as alcohol.
The were a couple of people in the group who had major gambling problems and were facing huge financial difficulties as a direct result. That wasn't the case with me – I had stuck to very low limit tables where the standard of play is pretty poor and overall made a small profit over time. I knew I had a huge problem with alcohol but wanted to ignore the part about gambling.
I reached a year of sobriety back in July – its been tough but I'm so glad and my life had improved in so many ways.
However I've been gambling away and saying nothing until a few weeks ago when guilt finally got the better of me when I admitted to my after-care counsellor that I wasn't being entirely honest. I agreed to stop playing for a couple of months and review things after that. It was a relief that I was at last able to be honest – for me that's an important part in recovery. Also I now have a few extra hours a week to do other things which is a definite benefit. At the same time I feel in conflict – have these guys have got it all wrong? – I'm addicted to alcohol and should be able to play a few hands of poker etc etc – on and on its goes!
I would be really grateful to hear from anyone who's experienced anything similar.
recoverystarter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 273
For me they go hand and hand. I have nearly lost everything due to both.
Having a drink because you have a bet or having a drink I will have a bet.
Over the last 5 years I have lost 50k plus and I am trying to get a grip of it. Ran up loads of debt etc.
The reason you need to quit the gambling as when you up your stakes and you will eventually and you have a really bad loss you will turn to drink to forget about it.
It will happen do quit the gambling before it gets worse.
Plus most of us have addictive personality so best kicking it before it gets worse.
Having a drink because you have a bet or having a drink I will have a bet.
Over the last 5 years I have lost 50k plus and I am trying to get a grip of it. Ran up loads of debt etc.
The reason you need to quit the gambling as when you up your stakes and you will eventually and you have a really bad loss you will turn to drink to forget about it.
It will happen do quit the gambling before it gets worse.
Plus most of us have addictive personality so best kicking it before it gets worse.
I never really got much into gambling, mainly because I was terrible at it and only ever lost money I couldn't afford losing.
That said, I only ever gambled while drinking. They definitely seem to go hand in hand for most people.
I can say however that gambling is clearly used as an addiction - and any addiction in my experience that we feed, tends to keep our addictions alive and hungry. For me, I thought along similar lines to you with regard to marijuana. My first real attempt at sobriety, I took that attitude that alcohol was my problem - not pot. And I should be able to enjoy a puff or two here or there. Pot never caused me any issues. It wasn't the thing I struggled with. It wasn't ruining my life so why should I have to give that up?
Turns out, that thinking (not even the pot itself) was what led me right back to drinking.
You took a similar path. You lied. You kept on gambling. You fed an addiction and you stayed holed up in your own dishonesty about it. Kudos to you that you eventually came clean - but the very fact you were so reluctant to give it up that you hid it, lied about it and kept right on doing it is enough evidence to suggest that you have an addiction and that it is problematic. You are willing to compromise your own honor and your own integrity for gambling.
Sounds like addiction to me.
And one addiction leads to another.
That said, I only ever gambled while drinking. They definitely seem to go hand in hand for most people.
I can say however that gambling is clearly used as an addiction - and any addiction in my experience that we feed, tends to keep our addictions alive and hungry. For me, I thought along similar lines to you with regard to marijuana. My first real attempt at sobriety, I took that attitude that alcohol was my problem - not pot. And I should be able to enjoy a puff or two here or there. Pot never caused me any issues. It wasn't the thing I struggled with. It wasn't ruining my life so why should I have to give that up?
Turns out, that thinking (not even the pot itself) was what led me right back to drinking.
You took a similar path. You lied. You kept on gambling. You fed an addiction and you stayed holed up in your own dishonesty about it. Kudos to you that you eventually came clean - but the very fact you were so reluctant to give it up that you hid it, lied about it and kept right on doing it is enough evidence to suggest that you have an addiction and that it is problematic. You are willing to compromise your own honor and your own integrity for gambling.
Sounds like addiction to me.
And one addiction leads to another.
As I understand it, there are effects on the brain of all of these things - alcohol, drugs, gambling, overeating, etc. there is also the concept of "transfer of addiction" - which means that when one addiction is under control, we tend to switch to another one as our "go to" addiction.
In that context, addiction specialists often consider all addictive activities.
In that context, addiction specialists often consider all addictive activities.
a
Mac1...
I have had various substances or things that have made me sit up and take notice. For some reason, gambling has not been one of them. I personally think it is one of the most cruelest addictions. My advice, pure an simple, would be "stop it", "stop it right now ". It's a sick bastardo that will never give you what you want. It will strip you of your spiritual depth.
mac
Mac1...
I have had various substances or things that have made me sit up and take notice. For some reason, gambling has not been one of them. I personally think it is one of the most cruelest addictions. My advice, pure an simple, would be "stop it", "stop it right now ". It's a sick bastardo that will never give you what you want. It will strip you of your spiritual depth.
mac
Thanks for all the replies. It has confirmed that my growing sense of unease was well founded.
FreeOwl this struck a definite chord with me
For me, I thought along similar lines to you with regard to marijuana. My first real attempt at sobriety, I took that attitude that alcohol was my problem - not pot. And I should be able to enjoy a puff or two here or there. Pot never caused me any issues. It wasn't the thing I struggled with. It wasn't ruining my life so why should I have to give that up?
Turns out, that thinking (not even the pot itself) was what led me right back to drinking.
You took a similar path. You lied. You kept on gambling. You fed an addiction and you stayed holed up in your own dishonesty about it.
Sounds like addiction to me.
And one addiction leads to another.
Turns out, that thinking (not even the pot itself) was what led me right back to drinking.
You took a similar path. You lied. You kept on gambling. You fed an addiction and you stayed holed up in your own dishonesty about it.
Sounds like addiction to me.
And one addiction leads to another.
I played online poker whilst I was at University. I won some money that enabled me to buy a new laptop, I also lost the money for my rent a few months later. It was a slippery path I didn't wanna tread no longer.
I dunno man, sounds like you're just trying to justify a crap pastime. Is it worth it? Or is it just another cheap thrill? A sniff of instant pleasure that is distracting you from filling your life with more wholesome and rewarding pursuits. I think gambling is vacuous bollucks, It's the same as drinking for me.
I dunno man, sounds like you're just trying to justify a crap pastime. Is it worth it? Or is it just another cheap thrill? A sniff of instant pleasure that is distracting you from filling your life with more wholesome and rewarding pursuits. I think gambling is vacuous bollucks, It's the same as drinking for me.
The issue for me in recovery is listening to others and following directions. This has always been a huge problem in my life - always the smartest guy in the room, so to speak.
When I asked for help I made a decision to listen to the instructions I was given. Many times I've found in recovery thus far that I take the action and then see the results and the why's.
Surrendering my will at times has become a very healthy practice.
Thanks for the thread, it's a good question.
When I asked for help I made a decision to listen to the instructions I was given. Many times I've found in recovery thus far that I take the action and then see the results and the why's.
Surrendering my will at times has become a very healthy practice.
Thanks for the thread, it's a good question.
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