Can U Stop Gambling Cold Turkey

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Hi. I'm new to the forum and joining because my 'gambling for fun' over the past 25 years has taken an ugly turn the past two years. When it was for fun, it was just a nice break now and then, sometimes with a friend, occasionally on my own. I spent no more than $50 every few months. I'd buy a Scratch & Win ticket as my treat or place a small ( no more than $10 bet) on sports occasionally. It added fun to the game. I might have spent $200 per year which I could well afford.

In fact, when it comes to some drugs, going cold turkey can lead to very serious health issues. National Library of Medicine reports that people with an addiction to alcohol can experience very serious withdrawal side effects when they attempt to quit use quickly.

'I'm sure that online gambling is an issue. If you have someone who is into their addiction big time, it is very difficult to stop cold turkey. I’m sure people have found another option.” Andy.
Quit (something) cold turkey. To stop doing something abruptly. The phrase is most often used to describe the sudden cessation of a drug. After smoking for so long, I should have never tried to quit cold turkey—the withdrawal symptoms are unbearable. I'm so impressed that you quit gambling cold turkey! See also: cold, quit, turkey.

Generally speaking, I'm very good with money and not wasteful. If I put some money in a slot machine now and then and got some playing time, I walked away relaxed and happy.
However, things changed and this past year I've realized my once upon a time pastime has become an addiction which has held a lot of power over me lately and is stealing my time away and losing me more money than I can afford. Last year I spent about $2,500 on gambling, and this year I've already
spent about $1,500. Where will this lead? No place good, I'm sure.
Recently, I won $425 at the slots at the casino and can't believe I gambled it all away. How foolish! I also spend too much on the Scratch & Lose tickets now too. I don't do much sports gambling though.
Anyhow, this has escalated to where I'm doing online gambling which has cost me lots of money and just leaves me frustrated and even angry at myself and the whole gambling system.
I don't have any dependants so I don't have guilt over cheating anyone financially. I have to quit though because I can see where this is heading. I'm going to end up poor if I don't stop this gambling.

So, my first step is coming to this forum to confess and tell you all I aim to stop cold turkey. Now!
I plan to fill my time with more useful things like phoning people I owe phone calls to, spring cleaning my place, exercise and spiritual devotions.

Can U Stop Gambling Cold Turkey Trot

I'm hopeful because I'm not in too deep at this point... have no debts, still have a nice retirement fund. The other day I got to the point where I wondered if I should cut back on supporting my two World Vision children. The only thing that caused this awful thought was wanting to free up more money for gambling. Can you imagine? Sinking so low as to take money out of a hungry child's mouth so that I can play slots! That really woke me up to the fact that this is an addiction.
I miss my playing for fun days, but I'm not there anymore, so must stop totally.
Will let you know later how I'm doing.
Thanks for listening to my story. I wish you well in your quest for freedom from addiction. Turkey

Gambling has become more and more prominent in our society andaccess to gambling is very present, especially in Oregon. I have agreat deal of experience treating problem gamblers and theirfamilies. I have included here a short article that I wrote aboutproblem gambling and recovery.

Nobody wakes up one day and decides to become a gamblingaddict. Gambling usually begins as a recreational activity - it's away to spend time with friends while enjoying the game and theexcitement of the chance to win a few bucks. Recreational gamblersgenerally stick to a time and money budget. When they reach theirlimit, they stop and move on to the next activity.

Not so for the pathological gambler. Gambling addicts are notreally all that interested in winning or losing. Their main goal is tostay in action as long as possible. That action increases the levelsof certain chemicals in their brain, primarily dopamine andadrenaline, and those chemicals cause the gambler to feel happy andexcited. These are the same brain chemicals that are activated bycocaine use. Using modern imaging tools, we see that brain scans ofgamblers in action look practically identical to brains that are highon cocaine. Winning is good because it provides money to extend thegambling action. Money represents nothing more than the fuel to keepthe gambling going and the action keeps whatever painful thoughts andfeelings that the gambler is seeking to escape, at bay.

There are usually several distinct phases of gambling addiction:the winning phase, the losing phase and the desperation phase. As thedisease progresses from winning into losing and desperation, gamblersoften turn to criminal activity to fund their addiction. They will lieand steal from those close to them - family, friends, husbands, wives,parents and children. Some gamblers ultimately turn to suicide. Infact, gamblers attempt suicide at a rate that far exceeds that ofalmost any other clinical population. Forty-eight percent of gamblersin treatment in Oregon have had suicidal thoughts and nine percenthave made suicide attempts.

All of this occurs despite the fact that gamblers are generallybright, creative people. Many gamblers are educated and professionallyaccomplished. In this sense, gamblers' behavior is said to beego-dystonic, which means that it is incongruent with their truenature. Behaving in ways that run so counter to who they really are,gamblers generate a great deal of internal distress as they violatetheir own personal values time and time again. As they progress in theillness, they become more and more disconnected from loved ones, theirprofessional lives and themselves. Their dishonesty is not only towardothers, but also toward themselves.

Cold Turkey Stop Drinking

Many people believe that if a gambler is losing excessive amountsof time and money gambling, they should just stop. The fact is,gambling addicts cannot 'just stop' any more than an alcoholic or drugaddict can stop using their drug of choice. Gambling addiction causeschanges in the gambler's brain in ways that require treatment andrecovery to arrest the addiction.

When gambling stops (usually when there's no more money), thegambler crashes - financially, physically, mentally, emotionally andspiritually. This crash is a combination of the gambler's realizationof the money and time lost, and the decrease in dopamine levels in thebrain that can lead to desperate thoughts and behavior. This is alsowhen gamblers may realize that they need professional help.

Recovery from gambling addiction begins with the gambler making anhonest assessment of his or her situation and deciding that they wantto stop gambling. The gambler must initiate abstinence and putbarriers in place to prevent access to money. Family members andfriends may be enlisted to help the gambler manage finances and theymust understand that the gambler is incapable of handling moneyresponsibly at this time.

Can You Stop Gambling Cold Turkey

Once the gambler has some time away from gambling and their systembegins to regain equilibrium, the confusion and mental fog created by gamblingwill begin to ease. Therapy can then address the issues that led themto gambling in the first place. For many, gambling is not their firstaddiction. Often gamblers have had previous problems with alcoholand/or other drugs, or compulsive shopping, spending, sex oreating. It is important to note that until the core issues areaddressed and resolved, individuals disposed to addiction will simplytrade one addiction for another. It is an attempt to mask the pain intheir lives. True recovery is achieved by doing the hard work tounderstand and make peace with life's difficulties.

Recovery from gambling addiction is a marathon, not a sprint. Itrequires effort, diligence and lifestyle changes that keep one healthyand safe from the cravings to gamble that will most surelyarise. Exercise, sleeping well, eating a healthy diet and maintainingnurturing relationships are all important parts of healthyrecovery.

The ready availability of gambling has made it possible forgambling addiction to run rampant. In Oregon, gambling is as close asthe corner deli. Gambling addiction destroys lives and familieswithout bias - it affects men and women, young and old, rich andpoor. Like all addictions, it is a disease. But there is hope. Whenaddicts and families seek and engage professional help, true recoveryis possible.