Tipsfromthebookie

Lost myself to gambling. Found myself in recovery. Sharing the journey so someone else doesn’t feel alone.

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

My gambling addiction didn’t start with losing… it started with winning. A $117,000 first-TD parlay turned into almost $450,000 in a month. I thought I was untouchable… buying gifts for everyone, covering every dinner, buying whole bars shots… I always made sure everyone else was good.

But I wasn’t.

When the winning stopped, I didn’t. I chased everything. And at night, while everyone I loved slept, I’d lie in the dark with my phone lighting up my face… losing money I didn’t have, feeling myself slowly disappear.

The worst part wasn’t the money… it was who I became. Lying to everyone. Lying to myself. Smiling in public while I was destroying my life in private… losing the trust of the people who loved me most.

Every night I’d say, “I’m done.”
Every morning I’d wake up and check the lines before I checked on the people I loved…a spouse, a sick parent, a newborn child.

That’s a kind of sadness I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

If you’re living like that… hiding, hurting, exhausted… I see you. I was you and you are me. My DMs are open. You don’t have to go through this alone.

Blaise B❤️

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@Slovestogamble A compulsive gambler? The only time I was ever a liar was when I was gambling. Through a recovery I have found out and worked through my character defects… I was not always a liar though… that was when I was in the throes of gambling.

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

My gambling addiction turned me into someone I didn’t recognize.

I became a liar. A good liar…

Not because I wanted to hurt people.

Because I was ashamed.

Ashamed of how much I lost. Ashamed of how much I was betting. Ashamed that I couldn’t stop.

So I lied about why I needed money.
I lied about where I was. I lied about being fine…

The real me wasn’t a liar.

The real me loved helping people. The real me cared about family. The real me had character.

My addiction slowly buried that person.

That’s why recovery has been about so much more than quitting gambling.

It’s been about becoming myself again.

And if you’re struggling right now, don’t confuse who you are with what you’re going through… Your addiction is not your identity.

Recovery gives you the chance to meet yourself again. My DM’s are open.

Blaise ❤️

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@70nn4r A life without gambling is the life that I always thought gambling would give me… It is so much more beautiful. I hope you have a great day, brother.

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@CabbageFred44 I get it, Brother… I was also that big winner that was making a lot of money. The compulsiveness gets to you and you will lose every penny and continue to chase and ruin your life… This is why I post. That one lotto is not going to change everything..

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@RanjitBawa69 I’m on it brother. Appreciate you, proud of you too!!!

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@Cubsz2016 That’s why it’s so important to put the roadblock in place… find your support group and gamblers anonymous… Self exclude from all sports books through your state as well as casinos… and download bet blocker.

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

Nobody stops on the arms of an eagle my friend… we all stopped because we crashed and we burned like crazy….. You have to look at it full circle and see if it’s ruining your health not just your financials…. You’re losing time and presence with your family and friends and yourself….

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@Fred_Williams4 For sure brother. Feel that. Appreciate the comments Fred and I really hope you have a great night brother… I’m happy that you are investing your money.!!!! Showing that the program works.

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@SkiloBuckz Brother, I was the biggest loser. I will never be a loser again because I am in recovery. Lmk if u wanna talk man! A life without gambling is the life that I always thought gambling would give me….

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@LerouxHannes Yesir !!!

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

Great question bro. I was trying to quit for years, but I was doing it all alone… It wasn’t working and I hit rock bottom…. When I joined gamblers anonymous, I was not taking it seriously and relapsed a few times… when I started taking my recovery seriously I have never relapsed again, and I will never relapse again. This program really saves lives, especially if you follow those 12 steps..

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@LerouxHannes @Fadeplayssss Day at a time!

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

One thing people don’t talk about enough with gambling addiction is the constant exhaustion.

You wake up tired because your brain never shuts off. Your nervous system is fried from the constant highs and lows. Even when you’re relaxing… your mind is checking scores, checking your account, checking for a miracle.

You stop living in the moment because your happiness becomes tied to an outcome you can’t control.

I would hang with my family while my heart was racing over a 11pm West Coast game nobody else in the room even knew existed.

Sobriety is weird at first because your body is still stuck in fight or flight. All you’ve known for so long is gambling, chaos, panic, dopamine, and stress. So when it all suddenly stops, your brain doesn’t know how to function without it.

You feel restless… empty… irritated… lost.

A lot of compulsive gamblers aren’t bad people. They’re exhausted people pretending they’re okay.

If that’s you right now, keep fighting. Your brain and body can heal. I promise. My DM’s are open.

Blaise ❤️

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

I feel you brother… And I appreciate you, Fred! The reason that I keep them mainly is to show other people how bad it can get…. The more clicks these post to get the more people that can get help.. unfortunately as a compulsive gambler, I never screenshot the losses, cause I was ashamed.

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@LerouxHannes I’ll def check it out my guy! Thank you!

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@LerouxHannes My guy! Is it beautiful! Heard parts of Africa are really scenic!

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

Congrats on quitting brother, really happy for you! Not flexing them by any means… they are a reminder of what destroyed me… also I post to get more people to view the posts so they can reach out to get help! God bless you man, sorry you are not happy with the way I try to help others and support the community.

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@LerouxHannes USA brother. Pennsylvania! Lmk if you’re ever in area, we can grab lunch and share stories!

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@LerouxHannes Thank you brother. Made me tear up there. Genuinely thank you. You help my recovery so much more than you know.

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@LerouxHannes Gets better❤️

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

Hit 5 months without gambling today.

After reflecting, the biggest changes have nothing to do with money.

For years, I lived with an anxiety so heavy I didn’t even realize it wasn’t normal anymore. Waking up sick to my stomach. Checking my accounts nonstop. Lying to people I loved. Promising myself every single night it was my last bet… then waking up and doing it all over again.

I can’t count how many times I said: “If this hits, I’m done forever.”

I even promised God countless times.
Then I’d bet again an hour later.

That’s what compulsive gambling does. You isolate. You hide. You stop being present. Even when you’re sitting with family or friends, your mind is somewhere else…chasing a number, a score, a dopamine hit, a way out.

Today, life feels completely different. I sleep better. I laugh more. My relationships are healing. I’m present again. The constant panic and pressure that lived in my chest for years is finally lifting.

There was a point where I truly didn’t think I’d survive this addiction. I was supposed to be another sad story. Instead, I’m here… with family, with friends… trying to give back and help people who feel trapped the way I did.

Recovery isn’t easy. Some days are really hard. But living without the shackles of addiction is a freedom I can’t even describe.

If you’re struggling and feel alone in this, please know there are people who understand, and there is a way out.

Blaise ❤️

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

@LerouxHannes Yes sir! Head up!

[Tipsfromthebookie @Tipsfromthebook]

Mike, so happy for you! Way to go… guarantee you that $$ would be gone by end of week if you placed it.. nothing changes if nothing changes! Keep going one day at a time and please use me as a resource… It is good to be with like-minded people. I call it “my lifeline” … if I’m ever struggling, I contact one of my fellow addicts and we talk through it prior to me ever replacing a bet which I will never do again…