GAMBLING is a fantastic escape and probably better than drugs !!

"I read that some people use GAMBLING to cope with stress, problems and traumatic experiences in life. It's an escape or coping mechanism whereby the gambler either consciously or subconsciously blocks out the world and uses gambling as a pain killer. Drug addicts do drugs for the same reasons."

"GAMBLING is a fantastic escape and probably better than drugs. With drugs, you're eventually going to come down and your life is the same. In gambling, there is the possibility for a big win, and part of that escape is the belief a big win will make your life better."

"People with certain types of depression are easily addicted to drugs…and GAMBLING is a drug."

"GAMBLING, like any addiction, is a distraction because you don't know what to do with your life. The most important resource you're given is time. Determine what you want to do with your life and how to spend your time getting what you want out of life. You have to do this every minute, every hour, every day of your life. If you don't know what you want, you'll end up with a life you don't want. Nothing in life happens by chance. You have to work hard for the things you want."

"Maybe that's the problem! You keep thinking you don't have a problem. That's denial. Denial is the first obstacle a GAMBLING ADDICT faces."

"It took me a long time to realize as addicts, it is never about winning or losing, that is why we blow every cent. All that provides is the electricity to prolong our guilt, anger, and shame."

"You will never find peace of mind as long as the gambling continues and you keep chasing your losses. The MONEY you've lost is gone forever…"

"When you GAMBLE, do drugs, drink, chase women, or even procrastinate, you stop growing emotionally and financially. You'll still be the same person as long as you're engaged in these activities…Anyone can be a critic and most people are. Go out and live your life the way you want to. Do whatever makes you happy, as long as you don't hurt anyone."

"They got me hooked on the motto that if you don't play, you can't win. Now, I know it's 'if you don't play, you can't lose.' "

"I knew there just wasn't enough money in the world to keep me at THE CASINO."

"The paradox with gambling is that if you win, you lose. If you lose, you lose. If you win, the high consumes your mind until you're back in action. If you lose, you crash and chase your losses to regain that high."

"'I had used my savings, my retirement, my inheritance. I used everything I could get a hold of.' That's when Roberta found her third occupation: drug dealer."

"On the outside you look and act normally and you can function normally. You can fake it."

"As gamblers we are trying to change our mood because we are depressed. We have to realize that depression is a key part in the gambling disease we're fighting."

"…gambling makes a mockery of the virtues of hard work."

"We believe in working for our money."

"Every morning I'd wake up and say 'I won't go near the machines'…"

"GAMBLING ADDICTION is a very serious problem... We create our own problems."

"I do feel better about myself since STOPPING GAMBLING. I'm now happy in my own skin which has taken a long time to reach."

"GAMBLING dulls the pain of deeper problems."

"My depression led me to GAMBLING. It was an easy escape."

"You can't escape yourself. Pleasure has a price."

"Who's fault is it that you are broke? Why do you expect me to give you money so you can lose it to a faceless company?"

"Gambling was my drug of choice. We all have our demons."

"Every night that I finished gambling, I'd say, 'That's it. I'm not going to do this anymore. It's gotta stop.' And the next day, I'd be gambling again."

"Face yourself; your shame, guilt, and subconscious aggression. You've made mistakes. Forgive people for what they have done to you. Only then can you forgive yourself. Only by forgiving yourself can you move forward and live a productive life."

"For the first time I have peace of mind…"

"I'm broke. I'm so screwed up. I was doing well and then I went back. Why do I do this?"

"My first bet was when I was 12 years old and it was exhilarating. I continued for the next 27 years because I thought I was still 12 years old. I didn't want to grow up, I was immature, I was escaping and I needed the action. It took me 27 years to figure this out."

"They worry about smoking, this disease is much worse for the community. I have never heard of someone spending a whole paycheck on smokes..."

"I am at the end. I've lost. This is the bottom of bottoms."

"I GAMBLE more than I can afford. I can't understand why it's got a hold on me. I never win. I just keep playing and playing."

"I GAMBLED because I wanted to feel better about me. While gambling I could take off the mask and just be nothing for awhile."

"The initial win got me hooked and retarded my life for 14 years."

"I'm sick. I can't take it anymore. I want back into gambling recovery."

"I have never felt such self loathing because of my loss of control over my GAMBLING PROBLEM. What do I do?"

"You can't make an addict do what they don't want to. No one can make a gambler quit. They have to want to do it for themselves."

"It's time to grow up. What are you waiting for?"

"Addiction is continued use despite negative consequences."

"You'll have to come to the realization that you no longer have the answers to your problems."

"GAMBLING is a fantasy world where the gambler feels challenged, powerful, free, influential and respected. It's la-la land."

"You can't solve your GAMBLING PROBLEM unless you first admit you have a problem. And that problem isn't with gambling. It's much deeper than that. Gambling is a symptom of deeper emotional problems."

"I read somewhere that people who become COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS are people who are afraid to gamble on their own abilities."

"I was running from my problems but soon realized I had to stop now, or I'll never stop."

"No matter how bad your particular situation is; if you are willing to be open, honest and seek help you can become a better person."

"The scariest thing to do in the world is to face yourself, having to admit your weaknesses, strengths, mistakes, and the wrongs you've done others. But most important of all, the wrongs you've done to yourself. The addict has to face himself or herself in order to move on. It takes a lot of soul searching and courage to be able to face that person in the mirror and accept him or her."

"I felt like a helpless victim at the BLACKJACK TABLES…They kept taking my money and I couldn't do anything about it. I kept increasing my bets giving them the opportunity to take all my money."

"We are not ADDICTED TO GAMBLING but we gamble due to emotional issues within ourselves. If gambling didn't exist we would be addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, eating, smoking, or something else. Gambling is not the problem. We choose gambling as an ANSWER to our problems."

"Look in the mirror and that's where the gambling problem is. Our gambling problem is reflected in ourselves…our beliefs, values and character. With hard work and perseverance you can change who you are. The question is, do you want to change and become a productive member of society?"