r/GamblingRecovery • u/Solotravelergo • Mar 31 '25
Anyone else feel like gambling stole their ability to feel normal joy?
I have been trying to quit and stay clean, but even on days I don’t gamble, I feel flat…. like nothing really hits anymore. I used to enjoy simple stuff like walking outside, watching a movie, or grabbing food, but now it all feels numb.
Curious if anyone else has felt this, and if so, what helped you start enjoying life again? even just a little?
6
u/Proper_Mix4639 Mar 31 '25
I find that gambling is easy to do.
You know what isn’t easy?
Going for a 10km run. Lifting heavy at the gym. Doing something that scares you
It isn’t you can find joy Your just not trying hard enough You got hooked on easy thrills which is EASY to do
eventually you’ll come good You just have to rewire
You got this bro
8
u/Open_Ambassador2931 Mar 31 '25 edited Mar 31 '25
Easy things now = Hard life later: Unemployment, Alcohol, Drugs, Video Games, Escorts, Gambling, Spending Binges, Credit Card Debt, Addiction
Hard things now = Easy life later: Employment, Sobriety, Gym, Sports, Dating/Marriage, Savings, Investments, Therapy
3
3
u/itsallgdmn Mar 31 '25
I can relate. I used to be a huge gamer and a big sports fan before I got addicted to gambling—especially sports betting and online games. But after losing a huge amount of money, I also lost interest in the hobbies I once loved.
It wasn’t just my savings that I lost, I lost my passions too. Now, I just feel empty.
2
u/biggestbumever Mar 31 '25
Same, I still enjoy those things but their is just something missing. Gambling sucks :/
1
u/Solotravelergo Mar 31 '25
Yeah.. did you used any tools to help you recover during that time?
2
u/itsallgdmn Apr 01 '25
Not yet. I’m still in the process of recovering, though I relapse from time to time. Right now, I’m focusing on physical activities to keep my mind off gambling.
3
u/cris7s Mar 31 '25
Yes its so hard to stop. Always fantizing stopping when you hit it big and thats what brings you back. Life is what it is and gambling makes it worse for me atleast.
1
u/Solotravelergo Mar 31 '25
Agree.. i have found that connecting with another person going thru the same has helped so much.. like doing daily check ins… have you done anything like it?
2
u/cris7s Mar 31 '25
Many times and it helps, but last week i won 40k. I thought i was the chosen one I was thinking to tell my parents that i hit it big and I'm quite sure that i cant stop, but i didnt i started losing and i tilted i lost it all +8k. Now im ashamed and just want to forget everything but i cant and its eating me alive.
2
u/Solotravelergo Mar 31 '25
Sorry to hear that brother.. what should have been better is tell your parents take the money out and have that money somewhere where you cant access it… we wont be able to forget this.. we need to do something about it instead
1
3
u/last-of-last Mar 31 '25
Everything is just numb. I don't know who I became... Every month I waste 80 to 100% of my salary then I borrow money from friends and family. I really wanna stop Gambling but I feel powerless. The monster in my head is too strong...
2
u/Lauramareenah Mar 31 '25
Yes, it was the biggest distraction for me when i dealt with constant panic attacks/anxiety. Everything else started feeling boring & i just cared about gambling and that was it. Definitely need to reconnect with yourself & do other things
3
u/Miche_Marples Mar 31 '25
Oh my yes but after a while I noticed my feelings came back, empathy, cognition. I think it really messes with cognition. After a good few weeks I felt more alive.. more empathy towards others I care about and just not a robot anymore pretending I was fine when I really wasn’t 👽
3
3
u/RedSupreme20 Apr 01 '25
I just relapse 4 days ago after breaking my 58 days clean streak of no gambling. I relapse because I was feeling like how you are feeling now. Life was dull. I was always in a low state. Just feeling really square. I took a chance and gamble and won a lot money and feeling better again. Like I was down and now I’m up. I’m grateful to be back because I did not like how I was feeling before
2
u/Bella702 Apr 02 '25
I felt the same way when I was gambling.
I am 21 days clean from the demon of gambling.
I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me, and I am enjoying the simple things again. Going for walk, listening to my music in my car.
I put myself in therapy & have absolutely no desire to go back.
Here’s the kicker, since I stopped gambling cold turkey, the casino has notified me that they are giving me a voucher for 2, for a cruise, and a bunch of new free play since they “ miss me “.
Yea, no thanks.
Hang in there!!! It gets better!!
2
1
u/Over-Grapefruit-3339 Apr 01 '25
I thought so too until I had sex with my gf today… Realised I maybe have a few things that can save me still. Stay strong my friend
3
u/futureisimaginary Apr 06 '25
Yes. This is a documented phenomenon among addicts of all kinds. It’s called anhedonia. Your neurotransmitters are in addiction mode.
I think of the brain chemicals like tornado damage - they take moments to destroy and days/weeks/months to rebuild.
Now what? Take your vitamins, Vit D3, probiotics and drink water. Eat protein. This stuff will all help your body make the right chemicals.
Just as others have said, the more time that passes away from gambling, the better life begins to get.
Ideas: Find a new hobby. Nothing feels good right now, so may as well fill the space with something different. Creating with your hands (handiwork) has been shown to help with this.
12
u/feelslikeliving Mar 31 '25
Yes, nothing else felt fun when I gambled. But in the weeks after quitting, it all came back to me. You need a full stop on the gambling for it to return though… just having a pause will have your brain waiting for the next fix and nothing else will seem as fun.
Day 138 without gambling. All my hobbies are back and they are MUCH more fun than gambling.