What do you think of this gambling problem? Please help.?

Question

I am 25 years old and have been a problem gambler for all of my adult life. If I have an extra buck, I will gamble with it to try and get more. I don't know what I think but I continue to lose all my income, sometimes barely paying rent. However I always get that paid.

Last night I made a huge mistake that may be detrimental to my relationship with my sister, who I live with. I gambled away almost 1000 dollars on her check card without her permission. This is now that I realize that I have a real problem. I told my sister what I did and she seemed a lot more hurt than pissed. I regret doing this greatly and I am looking to get help. What are some of my options and how would you handle it if a family member did this awful act of betrayal to you?

Answer 1

what you are doing right now is part of the problem. you are trying to rationalize what you did by asking strangers for ways for your sister to feel better. you should be working on making yourself better, not how to "fix" your sister.

Answer 2

Your best option is to cut off from all things that are gambling related and find a project or hobby which will occupy 100% of your free time.  Keep this going for 3 months and your brain should adjust to your new life style and it would be much easier for you to control your gambling problem.  

It helps to have someone to talk about it, preferably a close friend.

Answer 3

As the first person said GA is where you need to go. Your sister should throw you out. I hope she does, because you need to hit rock bottom to change.

Answer 4

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/

Gamblers Anonymous offers the following questions to anyone who may have a gambling problem. These questions are provided to help the individual decide if he or she is a compulsive gambler and wants to stop gambling.

TWENTY QUESTIONS

Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?

Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?

Did gambling affect your reputation?

Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?

Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?

Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?

After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?

After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?

Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?

Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?

Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?

Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?

Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?

Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?

Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, boredom or loneliness?

Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?

Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?

Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?

Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?

Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.

If you did, get some help, go to the website NOW!