“My wife stopped gambling, but money is a trigger for her. As soon as we get a tax refund or any extra money, I can see the excitement in her eyes. It is as if she had a "big win.” She never wants to do anything practical or useful with the money.”
Source: GAMES COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS and WE PLAY Second Edition
“This book is focused on preventing the despairing gambler from committing suicide.”
Source: Gambling Addiction: The complete guide to survival, treatment, and recovery from gambling addiction.
“The twelve-step program has no benefit to a dead person. In order to recover, the addict must stay alive.”
Source: Gambling Addiction: The complete guide to survival, treatment, and recovery from gambling addiction.
“Slot-machine addicts don’t commit suicide because they have lost all their money, or feel guilt, or shame, or feel weak or are tired of lying. They commit suicide when they finally conclude that they will never be able to quit gambling, that no amount of will power or treatment will ever help them to stop. They commit suicide when they finally decide that all hope is gone.”
Source: Gambling Addiction: The complete guide to survival, treatment, and recovery from gambling addiction.
“It is possible for all slot machine addicts to stop playing. There is no one path to that outcome. Everyone is different. The paths are long and hard and full of failure. But if you keep trying, you can get there. Something will eventually work. Know that, stay alive, and don't give up.”
Source: Gambling Addiction: The complete guide to survival, treatment, and recovery from gambling addiction.
“Please don't kill yourself today (you can always do it tomorrow).”
Source: Gambling Addiction: The complete guide to survival, treatment, and recovery from gambling addiction.
“Compulsive gambling is curable; thousands have done it. By curable, I mean that the compulsive slot machine player no longer plays slots. This doesn't mean that they don't have a desire to, just that they don't act on that desire. That is the goal after all - to not waste time and money sitting on that stupid stool endlessly pushing that stupid button.”
Source: Gambling Addiction: The complete guide to survival, treatment, and recovery from gambling addiction.
“I visualized these dishes, imagined their flavors, and then taught myself how to make an "airline" cut, using my boning knife to bone out the breasts but keep a drumette attached. I brined the pieces overnight in a water bath of sugar, salt, and bay leaf before roasting them off in the oven lathered with butter and surrounded by clusters of sweet grapes. I taught myself to shuck oysters, and broke into dozens of them each week to get good practice before plating them on a bed of cold seaweed and beach rocks that I harvested from the bay. I dressed them with a tiny spoonful of finely diced shallots with vinegar and black pepper, and some chopped cucumber and fresh dill.”
Source: Margo's Got Money Troubles
“First you must understand and accept that there is always hope that you can stop gambling. Then read about all the choices and try as many as you want. If GA doesn’t work, try mindfulness. If it doesn’t work try DBT. Combine them - do GA, financial controls and mindfulness. Try them all. Just keep trying. If you do, you will find the right path. You will succeed.”
Source: Gambling Addiction: The complete guide to survival, treatment, and recovery from gambling addiction.
“A little past 4 on a January morning in 2005, I dragged myself out of a casino north of Seattle after twelve straight hours on a slot machine, pushing the play button as fast as I could until I had lost all my money. I got into my truck and sat in the parking lot for several minutes. I finally decided that I would take the one path that absolutely guaranteed I would never gamble again. I unclipped my seatbelt, pulled out onto the I–5 freeway, and pushed the accelerator of my ten-year-old F-150 to the floor. To my surprise within a minute or two I was doing 110 mph. My goal was to find a solid concrete bridge abutment and plow into it head-on.”
Source: Gambling Addiction: The complete guide to survival, treatment, and recovery from gambling addiction.