[b]Dear brothers and sisters of Islam,
Do you know how to get relief from a major gambling addition?
I've been emotionally killing myself with an 2 years gambling addiction that I've kept secret from my parents, work colleages and friends.
Naturally I've lost a lot of money... I don't know exactly how much
The problem is my parents think that I have money in the bank as I've always been working 2 or 3 jobs. But little do they know I do this to feed my gambling habit. I live out of home. I don't have social life and all I've done (and know) is WORK only to just GAMBLE it away.
Unfortunately I don't have any close friends because of this gambling.
I'm a single person and one day would like to get married to a good muslimah but am in a constant state of emotional pressure with the lies and deception of my current livelihood and financial position that I've kept secret all these years... predominately from my parents.
Even though I'm Muslim my parents assume I pray daily and fast every Ramadan. I don't drink or take drugs.
I've tried traditional ways of quitting such as:
-Gamblers Anonymous
-Several Gambling counselers
-Self help books and videos
-Banning myself from clubs and casinos
-Writing a log book and journal
-Will power
-and other conventional strategies i.e. not carrying much cash
Fortunately I'm self employed so I do make more than enough. I don't have any debt and have some money saved, but not a great deal.
I'm lost as I don't know the righteous thing to do for myself. I want to get my life back and be a good muslim instead of wasting my life away.
Can someone please help me out here.
Thanks in advance.
The Lonely Brother.
PS: I really want to deal with this without telling my parents
#@mod...pls help move this to FP....realy needs some help
tnx once again[/b]

GOBE!!!

Pray to Allah to help you overcome this addiction and stay away from anything or anyone that trigger the desire to gamble in you. In addition, you might seek the help of a psychologist, they could have practical tips to help you out.

You seem to be financially stable. What you need is something to get your mind off gambling(probably a hobby or something you like doing other than gambling). You also need to keep the few you trust closer to you and tell them about your problems. Best of luck!

.

In addition to the above advice:
Learn and understand the judgement of gambling in islam.Learn y it is haram and the punishment associated with it. Putting this in mind might assist one in moving away from it.
Also, from what the prophet taught us is that telling people to abstain from a bad deed makes u too abstain from it. A man came to meet the prophet and told him he engaged in a particular sin (i can't remember the particular sin),the prophet told him to forbid people who do it and remind them of its punishments. Gradually, he stopped the sin majoyly because he became ashamed ,that he who forbade people from doing an action,did it,and he didnt want that.
May Allah make it easy on u.

Change the people you've made ur tightest friends...walk with pious people.I believe this is a major step to take