From 12 Arrests to Freedom: A Gambling Addict's Story

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

Gambling addiction almost killed him: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYXTc6eor9SspZYsi=ULpQmethFr6fEVfd

[@batzorigjargalsaikhan444]

My last gambling was in 11.15.2024 and i hope i will never gamble again. It destroyed my mental health, got debt 20k, and relationship issue. I WILL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN

[@CraigThurston2014]

I hope you are still not gambling. I quit December 2nd !

[@declouxa]

This was a powerful episode Cudos to the courage of this man for coming on

[@seanfournia2652]

Amen God's Unwavering grace for us

[@seanfournia2652]

BTW it's people like you that offer us the courage to release all that pain and suffering. It's a continual process of letting go.Thank you for your support, motivation and encouragement

[@OlliePollie34-p8e]

Today I’m 102 days free of gambling. Sometimes I have gravings to gamble again but then I think and realise I never want to go back to that world again. All the hard work I put in would be gone only to play a game where the odds are against you. I never take that risk again. Life is not always easy since I stopped gambling. I think it’s good to face the hard reality and fight yourself tru it. It’s a very hard battle but I’m taking this fight to find some peace in my life.

[@zemzem8323]

@@OlliePollie34-p8e abstinence is awesome! But it’s not recovery. ❤️‍🩹 to recover you need to find out why you were gambling in the first place… addiction is what we do to temporarily relieve pain from Trauma…was it due to childhood traumatic event?

[@christinesmith3231]

Congratulations 🎉That is awesome. Wishing you continued freedom from the evil of gambling.

[@OlliePollie34-p8e]

@ Thank you very much!💕

[@seanfournia2652]

You are winning by not gambling. I'm extremely proud of you. Together, we can.. let's go 🎉

[@seanfournia2652]

​@christinesmith3231 Thank you kindly, Christine

[@LaurieHeatherGoldstein]

Wonderful video! Giving back within this disease is one of the best things us problem gamblers in recovery can do! I host GA meetings and am of support to struggling gamblers in recovery. This is a lifelong recovery and we can manage our recovery!

[@seanfournia2652]

That is so awesome Laurie Amen

[@LaurieHeatherGoldstein]

@ thank you!

[@seanfournia2652]

@@LaurieHeatherGoldstein You are very welcome

[@P.aolooo]

Thank you for sharing the story and a ton of awareness for gamblers 🙏🏽

[@seanfournia2652]

Thank you for sharing that. It truly means alot. You are awesome motivate me friend whoop whoop

[@patricialewis-payton7114]

I had watched this video twice, thank you sir for sharing. ❤❤❤❤. I love this video. I made a lot of mistakes. I paid all debts off. Keep up the good work.

[@metubeyoda]

Gambling for profit takes a ton of time and effort and some brains and a tolerance from casinos that is more than willing to refuse your action. It is not as easy or fast as most people think it is.

[@seanfournia2652]

No.. so many professional gamblers turn into problem gamblers. Gambling disorder is real, my friend . Thank you for sharing . You are super awesome

[@reneelewis4268]

God bless you Sean for sharing your story. Very powerful for us to hear. Thanks mucho. Thanks Rob for your very helpful show. You are helping lots of people. God bless you both.

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

Thank you so much for the support! It's been a pleasure having guests like Sean share such important stories

[@seanfournia2652]

You are so very welcome. Such an honor and a privilege that God has offered us to use our experience to help others recover from compulsive gambling today. One Day at a time!

[@BeautifulSky-m9h]

Thanks for speaking up about gambling addiction 🙏

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

It's an honor. I don't want anyone to go through what I've gone through and if someone is in the midst of it, I don't want them to have to keep struggling

[@seanfournia2652]

Thank you for sharing that. I am grateful for you Whoop Whoop

[@mjaydog1983]

I quit for 30 days .. but I will admit it's playing in my mind alot lately! With Christmas around the corner and bills pilling up , I'm very tempted

[@Bensway7]

30 days is ridic small like i quit gambling when i went to sleep lol so you did till next salary, also what does gambling have to do with bills unless you want unpaid bills lol haha

[@mjaydog1983]

@Bensway7 I have no clue why I lessen to this chanel. I always get stupid comments ! I'm sorry Rob but your followers suck . Probably gonna unsubscribe. No help this chanel

[@BradGCS1287]

30 days is amazing compared to 1 or 2 days, you always have to take it one day at a time, don’t give in to temptation, day 365 will be here before you know it. I’m on day 10 so don’t feel bad

[@mjaydog1983]

@BradGCS1287 thank you 😊 🙏

[@Bensway7]

@@mjaydog1983 you saying pills piling up and you need gambling as if its smart thing lol if you have bills stay the fk away from gambling as possible

[@patricialewis-payton7114]

Thanks for sharing your testimony.

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

Was an excellent share

[@seanfournia2652]

You are very welcome, Patrick.Thank you for reaching out and sharing that it means so much. It was very uncomfortable, and difficult to share all that mess. God's transformed it all in the purpose today. To help the compulsive gambler who still suffers.

[@zemzem8323]

Thanks for the interview Rob. These videos are priceless. It is a reminder that A. We are NOT alone. B. There is hope for recovery ❤️‍🩹

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

Never alone ODAAT!

[@seanfournia2652]

Amen to that . Thank you for sharing, my friend. You are super awesome

[@thedevollsadvocate]

Thanks Rob thanks Sean

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

Thanks for watching!

[@seanfournia2652]

@@thedevollsadvocate Thank you both for being a part of my healing journey.

[@JonealTV]

Very relatable

[@seanfournia2652]

Thank you so much for sharing that. I am grateful for you my friend

[@Harry-si9wd]

Mate i also struggle with gambling as a internationall student for 4 years .. i get motivation from your videos now i am. Goona start to get recovery from this

[@seanfournia2652]

Excellent. That is so great to hear. There are so many recovery pathways from problem gambling. Embrace as many as you can. Look for the small wins in life being with our family being present being able to watch a game without watching the bets. It's the little things. Those are the big wins. I can ride by a casino and flip it the bird, and thats is my win, because i'm not losing today

[@froggy_days]

I really recognized the part about the 'craziness', all the constant mental calculations of money, losses, cashing out and 'planning' for next times, and definitely the zombie mode you're in when you're constantly thinking about gambling, the new games, when you can gamble and how much, and the win-loss statements in Excel, and the list goes on. Same with Sean it took my quite some time to level back down from the rush and 'involvement' you get from gambling. Now I don't even think of it anymore and am genuinely not interested in all the silly, kind of childish in my opinion, online games (I wasn't that attracted to real casino's ever to be fairly honest, maybe a few times a year I would go there but it's kind of dusty and a lot of old people).

[@seanfournia2652]

Amen the desire to gamble had been lifted. That is awesome my friend. You are a superhero Whoop Whoop

[@shawnhaqqani3227]

He sounds like Steve-O lol

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

I get that actually

[@seanfournia2652]

I've never heard that before ..too funny.

[@Cnote50Trey]

He sounds like an older Steve will do it

[@andrerodriguez7603]

Hi Sean, I had an uncle that was an addict his whole life. He recovered many times but always went back to substance abuse, because he would get bored in that down time where he had nothing to do. Or he’d bump into an addict old friend that would get him started again. Have you been challenged in that way yet? What if your old girl friend showed up at your doorstep. What do you think you would do? Go back to it all again? Or get her help? Thank you!

[@seanfournia2652]

That is a great question, and I appreciate it. I've had many re occurrences over the years, but in this specific case that you just spoke about. I've tried that a few times over the years, and it only led me going back to active gambling and substance use. So today, it's important I set healthy boundaries to protect Sean first so i can serve others. And to know that I am not captain, save anybody. But I can try to support, encourage motivate and guide them towards the help and support. I loved that question thank you so much for reaching out and allowing me to speak to truth to you. You are so super awesome motivate me friend. Whoop Whoop

[@andrerodriguez7603]

@ Thank you for your honest answer. I know every day must be a challenge for you. I’ve been an active gambler for over 3 decades. I’m 68 now, and played slots last month. I tend to go to a local casino once a month for the last ten years, before that I was at Vegas 4 times a year playing Craps. I have been very fortunate to have won 70% of the time, but this last year I have upped my betting and managed to win some very big jackpots. I decided to call it quits while I’m ahead. I’m probably a compulsive gambler, but after watching these videos on KZbin. I’m not going back. During Covid I didn’t go for over two years, I even lost all my status at the casino. I know I can stay away, so I’ll do what’s best for myself, and do more constructive things in my life. I don’t want to push my luck any further, I’m out. Wish me luck, I know it will be hard. I wish you all the best too. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@zemzem8323]

Childhood exposure to Casinos in itself may not be harmful. If your parents had family sit downs and closure regarding the harms of gambling you may be ok. If there was no traumatic events during childhood it may still be ok. If you have trauma from childhood traumatic events and exposed to Casinos then you most likely have a gambling addiction.

[@strawberryseason]

Truth!

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

I can’t imagine the majority of parents are sitting their kids down and talking about gambling harm right now

[@zemzem8323]

@ the majority aren’t, however, those who have gambling addiction due to traumatic childhood events are and should. If you don’t want your children to repeat the pain and hardship of gambling addiction sit with them. Children’s first school is at home.

[@seanfournia2652]

Very interesting perspective. I like it. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. You are super awesome, my friend.

[@zemzem8323]

@ thank you Sean. I realized after 24 years of gambling why I have this addiction. It took this long because I was in denial. I thought I was addicted because of my exposure to casinos when I was a child. It was not the exposure rather the neglect at the casinos we were left all alone with no hotel room paging our parents till 4 am sometimes. My father verbally and psychologically abused us. The only time I saw them happy was at the casinos. As an adult when things get stressful I relate happiness with casinos. Addiction to gambling temporarily relieves the pain from my trauma. All addicted humans know that ALL addictions are harmful in the long run but the temporary relief is so great that we don’t care about the long term effects. Now that I understand my addiction I am working on getting closure from my childhood traumatic events that created these wounds inside.

[@mortadhashanef2127]

So why youtube show people winning alot of $$$ by their experience gambling . I wana quit gamiling by moving to San Antonio tx far away from winstar casino ... is it good solution ???

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

Because they make money when you lose money so you’re led to believe you can win when in reality you can’t. Because if you keep trying to get rich you’ll actually make others rich

[@seanfournia2652]

I like what Rob said. I can maybe add 1 thing to that. No matter where I tried to run, I always took me with me, the problem. Now, no matter where I go, I still take the problem, but I carried the solution with me as well . That solution has removed the desire to gamble one day at a time. No matter what emotions I'm experiencing, I am discovering that I can move through those emotions without running from them with the help of others. No matter what, we don't gamble today, and as time goes on one day at a time, we learn to live without gambling through the ups, the downs, the good, the bad, the ugly, the in between. So let's go. No gambling today! Deal?

[@japantrader20]

Question from Osaka Japan: Why does youtube allow all those Slot Streamers who are mostly rich to begin with and dont always play with their own money or even fake slots?

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

Well in fairness they banned live streaming it, but it’s big money. They’re videos that hold an audience well so they make a lot on advertising them

[@japantrader20]

@Odaat_Recovery ah ok? Wasn't aware live streams were no longer allowed

[@zemzem8323]

@@OdaatGamblingAwareness when was you tube live on slots banned?

[@MarcoK6969]

@@OdaatGamblingAwareness Because it's not North Korea you can't ban everything.

[@seanfournia2652]

Very interesting. I was not aware of this.

[@WallOrange]

try patrick foster next

[@MarcoK6969]

Close your eyes and this is Steve-O. Just kidding great guy who seemed to have landed back on his feet! More lives than a cat! But he probably knows it's his last chance. God bless him

[@seanfournia2652]

So true. Undeserved, favor my gods grace and your support and motivation. Thank you for sharing. You are super awesome. Yahooooo

[@MarcoK6969]

@@seanfournia2652 Is it fair to say your substance abuse was a bigger problem than your gambling or was gambling the biggest issue you would say?

[@seanfournia2652]

@MarcoK6969 it's the gambling and gambling behaviors that has led me to the substances over and over

[@culturechangers5911]

Skiing in New Mexico with his family? Sounds like this guy already came from a well-to-do socioeconomic status. It's a shame he felt he needed to get rich by gambling when he's already privileged.

[@seanfournia2652]

I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to experience homelessness. The jails, the psychiatric wards. Et cetera. It instilled compassion, empathy, understanding, kindness, gentleness, and love. I found humility only through humiliation. What a blessing 🙌 I am not the great I am. I have not arrived. I do not have all the answers.I'm a person who lives with a gambling disorder, a substance use disorder, and I am in recovery. I'm one bet, spin, scratch, drink, or drug away from death, and i need help. So, y'all help me now to stay on the path of recovery. Without you, there is no me. Whoop whoop

[@Bensway7]

some people are so bad you need to consult professionals atleast for a bit there are pros who make living of gambling if you dont you likely gonna lose way more money and when i say professionals i dont mean people who show off flashy cars lol and try to scam you if you get some info how to gamble you likely to lose way less i think

[@OdaatGamblingAwareness]

Source: Trust me bro

[@Bensway7]

@@OdaatGamblingAwareness there are people who are coaches or used to coach now they do quite succesfull or atleast not depressed sports betting and there is poker and blackjack where people are making money and holding some edge i know its hard to admit but there are succesffull and less sucessfull gamblers if you gamble atleast try do it right instead monching on slot machines

[@seanfournia2652]

Seeking clinical support from a problem gambling, a clinician is an evidence base pathway to recovery. They can help people discover the reasons of maybe why they're gambling or learn how to walk through emotions and feelings of wanting to gamble. Gambling is surface level. It's only a symptom of deeper issues in most cases. A problem, gambling clinician, can help peel back the layers that might be the reasons of gambling. You are super awesome motivate us friend.

[@josephinerodrigues586]

This guy is very confusing. How does gambling get you to substance abuse. You need to be straight to be a gambler.

[@seanfournia2652]

I'm so glad you asked. So I wreck my finances by gambling. I lose all my belongings from loan sharks, payday loans, booking debt,pawn sell all my stuff to money to gamble, etc. then it's very easy to put alcohol and substances on top to make all that go away temporarily. Now im drinking and gambling, using substances to gamble longer, days at a time leading to homelessness. It's a cycle of addiction in my old life. They told me if I don't change, I'd be bumming, change, and that's exactly what happened. Never believed that one but to rang true for me. I hope that helped provide a deeper understanding of how. There's a relationship between gambling and SUD,AUD and. There are linkages to them all. THERE'S SIMILARITIES AND THERE'S DIFFERENCES.

[@josephinerodrigues586]

@seanfournia2652 Sean, I'm a compulsive gambler. But I never thought of drinking or taking drugs. How can you gamble when your drunk or under the influence of serious drugs. Did you stop gambling to do the other addictions? Or did you gamble at the same time?