My name is Diana and
I am 38 years old and married with three kids.
I grew up in a small town in Connecticut, United
States of America. Our crime rate was low and
there wasn't a lot for the kids to do after school
and on weekends. We created our own games
which happen to involve gambling. I remember
back then that we played for pennies and even
chores. Everyday after school we played poker
for money. By the time I turned eighteen I was
gambling fifty dollars a week. I remember
February 15, 1986 a year later I was now
losing $75.00 week. I had already graduated
high school and had no interest in going to college.
We never studied and gambled for our excitement.
We would pop into the liquor store every Friday and
picked up what we needed for the week end. We
once played cards for twenty six hours straight.
Overall we were never really bad kids, we respected
our parents and stayed out of trouble. No one
really cared that we played poker. In
order to feed my addiction I worked full time at the
mall. I still lived at home and took home two
hundred dollars every week. Now to fast
forward so I don't bore you I am now realized I am a
compulsive gambler with a gambling addiction.
I couldn't say that six months ago. I would
have never admitted it to anyone.
Around a two years ago I realized I was addicted
to gambling. All the signs were there, but no
one picked up on it. I kept believing it would
turn around and I would finally hit the jack pot on
the dollar slot machines. Poker became to slow
for me. I then went to Black Jack and finally
ended playing slot machines. I never hit that
jack pot and I almost destroyed my life. I
wished I had found help before I lost all of my
savings and maxed out all of my credit cards.
I knew I had a problem, but I don't know why I
couldn't stop gambling. I always though of my
self as a practical person who was always
responsible. I took good care of my husband
and kids. Around a year ago I
became extremely self cantered, distant and hostile
towards my family. I didn't know why. I
also didn't understand why I kept digging a bigger
hole each and every day. I loved my family.
I know they loved me. My kids are now
teenagers and realizes I had a gambling problem.
When they asked me I said no, gambling lets me blow
some steam off and allows me to clear my head.
My husband made a good living and I worked full time
in a dentist office. We have a beautiful home
and are able to travel. My kids noticed how
cheap I became when it came to spending money on
simple things like milk. They picked up on me
saying "Wow milk went up twenty cents." My
kids are smart and I give them a lot of credit.
My husband was upset with me, because I made no time
for him, stopped cooking dinner everyday, made
excuses to go out for a couple of hours. I
would return four hours later with no explanation.
When he asked I would tell him I was chatting with
the girls. I was actually at the local casino
playing the slots. It was a twenty minute car
ride. Sometimes my money would last ten
minutes, other times hours. I had a girlfriend
who covered for me. She didn't realize I had a
major problem and I would ask her to cover for me
two times a month. Of course I was very
creative and manipulative and had a few other
friends who did not know each other so I was
covered.
My husband picked up on what I was doing after a
bill collector called. The first time I told
him the check must have been lost in the mail.
The second and third bill collector opened his eyes.
The story continues
with
How
Diana
A
Compulsive
Gambler Started Gambling
page 2
