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Member Since Feb 2015
Location: California
Posts: 345
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#1
I have decided to join gamblers Anonymous because if I did not have enough mental or physical health issues it turns out I am also a degenerate gambler.
This year I have lost $60,000 and in my lifetime maybe $250,000 altogether in the forms of Poker, day trading, stock investing, etc. Recently I am only in the stock market but I had a disastrous year in 2021, 2020 was not much better. I am 65 in December and my retirement account is not even at $100,000. If I live too long I will be truly poor. The reason I am posting is not to seek sympathy but to draw the connection between bipolar and gambling and how the stock market can be addictive if one trades frequently. __________________ Cyclothiamia - on Depakote with occasional Thorazine for severe insomnia. |
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Anonymous40506, downandlonely, hvert, Rose76, Werewoman
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Aviza, Werewoman
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Location: Italy
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#2
So Sorry for what you're going through! Please Do not give up! Hugs. gambling can be an hard situation but i am happy that you're at least acknowledging and that you joined a group to (Hopefully) assist you with it. Perhaps it will take time but if you do your best i think you may be able to get out of this situation. Please do update us if you want if possible. You matter. Sending many Safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @TimTheEnchanter, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!
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TimTheEnchanter
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Poohbah
Member Since May 2014
Location: Betelgeuse
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#3
I live in Oklahoma where I think all 39 tribes have at least one casino. They are everywhere. I made up my mind, knowing I have an addictive personality, when I arrived here to avoid them and so far I have.
When I began taking Abilify, my pdoc warned me that a side effect is gambling addiction. I hope GA works for you. I gave up on AA and NA and ended up working together with my pdoc on an outpatient basis. I've been sober ever since. I wish you the best. __________________ You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. ~ Robin Williams Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? ~ Pink Floyd |
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TimTheEnchanter
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TimTheEnchanter
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#4
Sorry you lost so much money, but it's good you're recognizing that you have a problem now and have joined Gamblers Anonymous. Overeaters Anonymous has helped me quite a bit.
Yes, I have heard that when manic bipolar people take risks, and the stock market is often where they will turn to do it. Have you looked into getting a financial manager to handle your investments so you don't take such huge risks on your own? |
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TimTheEnchanter
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TimTheEnchanter, Werewoman
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#5
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__________________ "I carried a watermelon?" President of the no F's given society. |
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Poohbah
Member Since May 2014
Location: Betelgeuse
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#6
@TimTheEnchanter how are you doing? Have you stopped gambling? Are you taking better care of yourself?
Just being a pest and checking on you. __________________ You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. ~ Robin Williams Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? ~ Pink Floyd |
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Member
Member Since Feb 2015
Location: California
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#7
Thanks for the question, it is kind of you. I am better now. Stopped day trading stocks and visited my old workplace (ironically a casino) where I lost $30 and went home after an hour, with money in my pocket. I found that when I work on a project that is a good distraction and I do not do anything stupid (i.e.compulsive).
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__________________ Cyclothiamia - on Depakote with occasional Thorazine for severe insomnia. |
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Werewoman
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#8
I have known two compulsive gamblers very well. It is mind-blowing what their addiction did to their lives. They each had issues with depression, which I believe the gambling seemed to somewhat relieve short term. You need help managing your mood disorder as part of your plan to address the compulsive gambling. I think it's great that you have decided to join GA. Finding alternative ways to keep your mind busy also sounds like a good plan.
My friend who has gambled addictively has told me that she would look at the money in her wallet and think, "I could possibly double my money, if I bet it." At times she would draw up elaborately detailed budgets on her computer and projections of when she would have her credit card debt paid off. Every year she'ld be deeper in debt. The other day she called to ask if she could borrow some money to do her laundry with. She's literally down to nothing. She's smart and she's educated, but this habit seems to me like being possessed by the devil. She buys very little food, in order "to pay my bills." She looks seriously malnourished with a lot of muscle wasting. Her gaunt appearance is what really alarms me. Your symptoms may be different, but I suspect you have your areas of self-neglect. Good luck with your recovery. If it goes off the rails, start over again. |
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TimTheEnchanter
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Member
Member Since Feb 2015
Location: California
Posts: 345
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#9
In my case I have slightly better impulse control, even commented by my pdoc. I never borrowed money never used a credit card. The other side of the coin is age and loneliness. What pleasures do I have and what opportunities can I have to leave the house. I cannot walk much due to a bad back/legs, I go out to swim, eat, drive(waste of gas) and sometimes I go to the casino, now that my wife is not home.
I quit day trading where I lost $27,000 in one-day trading testa options. If I play with a couple of hundred dollars that is no problem gambling for me. I play poker only and that I must play very cautiously. I thank all of you for caring. I take my meds and hope for the best. In the past whenever I had a manic phase and woke up in the middle of the night, I went to the card clubs and obviously, I lost as manic playing with no meds is like burning dollar bills. __________________ Cyclothiamia - on Depakote with occasional Thorazine for severe insomnia. |
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downandlonely
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#10
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Hey @ TimTheEnchanter i wanted to share some snippets from my "bipolar files" because even though mental illness and disorders like ADHD have well documented studies on the mental health/addiction connection- oftentimes the gambling and shopping addicts are put in the corner as if their addiction isnt real and that it was just their poor judgements and moral failings. Check out the DSM info about "problem gambling" __________________ "I carried a watermelon?" President of the no F's given society. |
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Werewoman
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