I hate gambling.. But...

[Borno]

Here is one of those psychology forum typical rants kind of.. but i'm looking for some advice too.

I don't like gambling. The foremost reason is because I feel at times it consumes me and I spend more time with it than I should. In general, my relationships or school do not suffer as a result.. but its still too much time. My school may suffer slightly from gambling, but that it is difficult to say this because I'd likely be wasting my time doing something else.

Seeing someone lose money at the poker table usually upsets me. I'll bust my own grandmother as a famous poker player once said... but I still feel remorse for the addicted loser.

I feel that I'm bound to my regular local game for the income I earn, the friends I have, and the club owner's expectation of me to go. I can quit.. I have before for a little while.. but I like going, its fun.

Its hard to say what I really don't like about it.. I think the risk also plays a part. And poker is alot of what I talk about with friends and family. Being the subject of conversation, playing, or wearing a Party Poker shirt, I just feel poker is everywhere. And it is. Poker is everywhere. I can't escape it. You can't escape it. Unless we plan to become Bobby Fisher and disappear... or move to Khandahar I think we are all stuck with poker overload.

I play online a little. Not nearly as much as I used to.. for a few reasons. The biggest one being that I don't have the time to study poker right now and unless I keep up I can't consistently win online. I'm a student and need the money. I cannot afford to take a 400BB hit from 1/2 (something I may do online if I take a shot at 3/6 for example). But even still I know many people in my local poker community and I just can't escape it.

Recently I've taken a liking to casino bonuses. I've done very well. I started this week. I have spent about 30 hours in the last 5 days. I'm sick of it. I need a break for several days. Now I feel consumed by black jack. I only played bonuses but I'm even more consumed by gambling than I was last week.

I want to escape but I want the money. This hurts. Evil is taunting me at both ends.

My school work this week has suffered from casino bonuses. I've missed class because of it and I haven't kept up with readings this week. Something I usually do religiously.

I can't find a job for $50 US an hour.. I'm in Canada so thats about $60... Black jack and poker are easy enough to play but the recourse may not be worth the financial reward.

I find gambling stressful and depressing.

I'm also a nit. This causes me to buy in online for say $50 or $80 and play. I'll play for a bit.. if I'm up I'll cash out. Then buy back the next day for $50 or $80. I see how this doesn't make sense really.. but I do it anyway and have been doing well. I do this because I know if I have money on the site I cannot keep my discipline and I will play higher stakes than I usually do or I will play recklessly or drunk. Sometimes I just want to gamble because I play poker and black jack so much and I just gamble to gamble because I know I can make it up. Self control is missing and I've tried but never been able to really curb it.

I don't know how good of a player I am. I don't even think I'm that great. I win but that doesn't mean much. My girlfriend and parents worry about me playing.. but I'm not nearly as hardcore as some of the other addicted losers or even winners that will play until 4am and then get up the next day to study for their afternoon exams.


I don't like the hold gambling has on me. But I can't get away. I like the connections, friends, money and excitement.

Any comments or suggestions? Has anyone else had similar experience and got help? How can I be better off?

I thought about exercising although I'm not very athletic. I think that might make a huge difference.

Thanks for listening.

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I find gambling stressful and depressing.

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You need to stop gambling ASAP. This statement is a bad sign.


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I thought about exercising although I'm not very athletic. I think that might make a huge difference.


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Excercising is hands down the best stress reliever. Ignoring excercise is IMO a recipe for mental strain. Unfortunately excercising regularly requires a LOT of discipline especially while attending school. (Are you going to college/Uni or are you in high school?) I excercise on and off and it never ceases to amaze me how much better I feel and how much better my mental state is during periods which I am excercising regularly. I can safely say I play poker significantly better when I am excercising regularly.

Good luck. Don't be afraid to ask friends/family for help.

[Poldi]

Just want to say I agree with the whole exercise-stuff. It makes me feel a lot better and I am sure I play better because of it.