Why am I so foolish and stupid when it comes to gambling?

Question

I'm not a stupid person. I was top of my class in high school. I am studying finance and economics at a very prestigious university. I understand the statistics behind gambling very well. I can count out chips faster than most roulette dealers.

And yet when it comes to gambling, I have no control. I set myself a limit, lose it, go to the ATM, lose that money, go back to the ATM, end up losing $800 in a night when my limit was $100. Even though I'm supposed to be an intelligent person, I do such stupid and foolish things at the casino and then want to cry myself to sleep afterwards.

I have no control. I'm at rock bottom. I have lied to everyone about how much I've lost and how often I go to the casino. I skip uni classes to go to the casino (even though I worked so f**king hard getting into this university in the first place). I can barely afford to pay my rent anymore when I used to have so much money in savings. I have contemplated suicide just to end it all. I want to die. I hate my life and even when I tell myself that I'll quit gambling for good, I end up relapsing.

Is there any hope for me? The tunnel just seems so dark at the moment :(

Answer 1

I've been where you are now. I know that dark, lonely, desperate place all too well. I'll tell you the biggest mistake of my life - it was NOT getting myself hooked on gambling and getting into huge debt. No. The biggest mistake I ever made was to try to "get over it" all by myself. Because I chose to keep everything to myself, it cost me an extra decade of my life.



Don't make the same mistake so many other people do. TALK WITH SOMEONE! I know, I know - the last thing you want to do is to allow family and friends to find out what you've done and how bad off you are right now. Trust me - that's exactly what you need to do if you want to get your life back on track. Admit you f'd up. Admit you are out of control and need help. ASK FOR HELP! Make people understand that you have a very serious problem and that you need very serious help - not financial help. You need counseling and monitoring from family and friends. You need a hand getting professional help.



Don't try to "get over it" by yourself. You think things are bad right now - I promise you that things can and will get much, much worse if you don't take concrete steps to stop this problem. #1 - talk with family and friends.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

You need a 12-step meeting and some counseling. Find the phone number for a councillor (usually in every lottery commercial).



I've been there. You are describing how I was ten years ago, an out of control gambling addict.



Interesting side note: most gambling addicts have an IQ over 120. Getting addicted does not mean you're dumb.



A lot of states have a "self-ban" program, where you can sign a contract that says if you step foot in a casino, they are to arrest you for criminal trespass. They'll interview you first to make sure you're sober, because it's serious business. But it has been sufficient to keep me out.



Trust me, you're not alone.

Answer 4

even if your losing, winning creates a false sense of security and is more of an adrenaline rush then most forms of entertainment. let's just say in a cold state you are rational and smart. In a casino you're more primal/reptilian and you make difference decisions you otherwise would.



Find other ways to entertain your time or make/have a hobby. understand that gambling is a bad habit that makes you do things you are not proud of and eliminate that habit before it becomes worse. It is in you whether you gamble or not because you have gambled. I haven't roller bladed in forever but if I did it will take me minutes to make it like i never quit in the first place. Understand that you cannot gamble. I had a vice that i cannot do because it makes my life crap and i get hooked. I have avoided it for a long time. Be strong ;/

Answer 5

A lot of intellectual people do stupid things, because being book smart doesn't mean being practical in all aspects of life. I'm pretty intelligent, I was moved forward a grade and had a full ride scholarship, but I still developed addictions and made stupid mistakes.

Answer 6

I won 44k on the pokies and that started me down the same path it seems allot of us here know all too well, people notice! I lost my partner of 5 years and house full of items etc. And live with my mother in the slums now, for me winning a few grand didn't stop me, it was never enough and I know that I wont be happy until I have that once in a lifetime win. I liked the observation in previous comments in relation to IQs It just feels relevant.. I have settled for online lotto games, its given me some stability and focus , trying to crack the winning code still. :) but even tho I have some money now I've found it easier to limit my spending curb and limiting myself. Ultimately I think there's allot of us that could walk away with that one big win. Anyways I am comfortable where I am at now, and yet its all a struggle filled with stress on a daily basis :D true story! But I have limited my spending. Power To The People. Viva La Revolution.

Answer 7

You should enter gambling anonymous or some other group like that. You can't stop on your own once you have addiction. It's the same for everyone with this problem, not just you.

Answer 8

You can ask to be banned from your local casino. Extreme situations call for extreme measures. Then, if you go back they will throw you out and consider it trespassing.

Answer 9

Why Am I Stupid

Answer 10

You desperately need to find Gamblers Anonymous and have them HELP you, it is free.

Answer 11

Gambers Anonymnous is real.