Teenage Gambling Addiction - Teaanagers Speak Out

I was in the eighth grade when I started gambling. There was no way for anyone to find out since I was gambling in school. At first it was small bets. For example: if I could shoot ten baskets in a row I win $5.00 if I lost I had to pay $5.00. From there I gambled on sports. It felt real good to be on top of the world. I had money in my pocket and I could do anything I wanted. I wasn't into drugs and my school grades were pretty good. I never really understood how this could happen to me, but I no longer gamble and my life is turning around. Oh I left out that I was suspended from school, my parents found out I was gambling and my grades were bad. I became irritable and impossible to live with. The teachers in my school new what was going on, but they didn't know what to do. I was a compulsive gambler, now I am a teenager trying to pick up the pieces.

It was my first year in college, I had just turned eighteen and my life was just beginning. I was accepted to an ivy league school. My family and friends were really proud of me. I was living on campus when my friends decided to go to the casino for some fun. I won $220.00 on black jack. It was so exciting. I started to go every Friday Night, then it was two days a week then three days. Before I knew it, I spent all of my next semesters college money and I was broke. I never knew I had a problem. I thought I was smart but in reality I was stupid. I never went to any meetings to stop my habit, but I did learn everything there was to learn about gambling. I called my family and they were quite upset, but in a bizarre way they were okay because I never ever was in trouble and to them this was the first time they thought I was normal. The one thing that helped me was chatting with other people who are addicted to gambling and learning I was not alone.

No one understands me. I gambled because I enjoyed it. I never wanted to hurt anybody. I was having fun. I worked hard and I liked to play hard. I wanted to give my girlfriend lots and lots of presents. Before I knew what was happening I lost all my money and my girlfriend. I was alone at seventeen. When I was winning big playing poker, I was an arrogant person. I don't know why, but I was unhappy and wanted to stop. My mom helped me to beat my addiction by educating me and purchasing self help manuals. I was so mad and upset that I wanted to either rob a bank or hurt myself. I couldn't sit still. When I learned that I should take it one day at a time, things fell into place. I am now eighteen and hope I have a good future.

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