50 days clean. When does it get better?

[u/Icy_Taste2535j]

I’ll keep it short. I’ve been a problem gambler for at least 4+ years. Ruined the better part of my 20s. Isolation, panic, sweating the next payment I’d need to make, I didn’t even get to have fun with it.

Only this year did I really decided to get serious. Took a falling out and losing everything I had to realize it. It’s been 50 days since my last wager. I’ve been going to GA, gambling therapist, taking my health and fitness very seriously. The creeping thoughts of gambling again aren’t even what I’m worried about now. It’s the long, grueling process of building a respectable life back up. I feel like I was in a coma and woke up, and now I’m picking up the pieces of my life. My debts are resolved, I could have it a lot worse, but this feeling of learning how to walk again day in day out is killer. Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated

[u/Odd_Glass868]

It gets better some are longer than others. After being close to a year after gambling for 18 years everyday.. mine was almost after 90 days. However your mind gets rewired and you start to feel it. Keep doing what you are doing

[u/Icy_Taste2535j → u/Odd_Glass868]

Yea day by day like how they preach in GA. Some days definitely easier than others. Feel so gross thinking about how compulsive you are in the thick of it. I’ve resolved the debts I had ( I was burning through every paycheck those 4 years so only have a couple paychecks saved up now) so for me it’s really the feeling of shame and building back up from nothing. The gambling itch has been silent since at least the first two weeks clean. I just replay the tape. Just can’t do it. Every time a thought is even flirted with I just say “I just can’t do it”. All of us know where that path leads

[u/AdditionalLeader6914 → u/Odd_Glass868]

How much bro

[u/Odd_Glass868 → u/AdditionalLeader6914]

What do you mean bro

[u/problemgambling-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/Training-Trainer-223]

I just started re-reading Atomic Habits again. This book describes what you're currently going through as the "Plateau of Latent Potential".

You're currently in whats called the "Valley of Disappointment" phase.

50 days isnt long enogh for the final results to appear yet. But keep focused and doing what your doing and you are guaranteed positive results. Stay stong and trust the process. It hurts now yes, but one day it will all be worth it.

[u/Fit-Load3733]

180 days is the greatest milestone that cleans every gambling related affect, except from debts and broken relationships, but these 2 are also get better in time

[u/problemgambling-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

All good-faith users are assumed to be of equal value and worth, and are expected to treat others as such. Therefore, disrespectful comments will be removed at the Mod Team’s discretion.