Let's start with the simple choice: Do you consider yourself to have a gambling problem affecting your happiness, security, relationships, finances, etc? (Yes or No)
Now, here is something a bit different: Do you have a "gambling problem" which you can sometimes control for years? Either you make enough income to call it "adult play", so you do not have real problems, and/or you simply stop for a long time. Then - months or years later - it gets worse again and you are in trouble.
(First question was above)
(Second question) Either way, when it's time to stop, how exactly do you do it? (For example) Change other habits, go new places, exercise more, stop drinking, simply "swear off" gambling... How exactly do you stop? Thank you.
Yes this defines my situation. I have for times lost everything on a gambling site and I once, lost all of my balance rage betting as I lose more and more. Not only the balance on gambling sites but also depositing all of my bank balance.
I was in a relationship at that time and I went to a severe anxiety that I could not do my daily task and my work for days. It was my partner who consolidate and made me promise I'll not gamble again.
The promise was not a legit one from my side but since than I have been able to stop me after emptying balance of some gambling sites on rage bets. It might be controlling your brain or learning from your mistakes but since that day I didn't lost more than I was willing to gamble.
Read through your response, and must say that you escaped a tough problem gambling and your partner is quite a good therapist to you in fighting the addiction. Giving it up entirely would be very hard, but glad you stopped putting all your funds into gambling. It could be risky to many gamblers, and lots of addicted gamblers weren't lucky like yourself, who had somebody to help you out of such a rigorous experience or problem. I've experienced some conditions that affected my productivity, but it wasn't gambling per se, fought it by standing up on a decision to always complete my daily goals. Some days was very difficult to execute my plans, but given a month of practicing the idea of maintaining to promise of finishing a daily goal, I was able to regain a magnitude of fortitude in finishing tasks and being productive. Sometimes it's important to share our problem with somebody with whom we have a close relationship, as they'll easily help us and won't condemn our actions.
Unlucky gambling addicts end up complaining to people who don't care much about them and blame the fact that they're addicts. That's why most people keep the problem to themselves and end up losing everything they've got and facing greater anxiety and depression each day. Gambling problem or addictions grows every day, and when not attended to, the gambler ends up suffering more severe pains, and may not achieve other financial responsibilities. However, as you said, it controls the brain, and the player can't control his actions anymore, I don't seem to understand how this happens, but since I've worn such a shoe, it's unimaginable to be in that condition. Most times I'd notice that my funds were almost gone, but wouldn't be myself if I didn't spend the money on the things I wanted at that particular moment. Nothing dwindles productivity more than problem buying or gambling addiction.