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tommy profile picture
NEW - Addiction Support Automated Taglist
by tommy
Last post
 July 11th
...See more Welcome to the NEW Addiction Support Taglist This thread is an auto-updating list. The list is regularly updated by forum leaders and can be found below. Having issues? Reply below and someone will help you! Why should I join the taglist? ✔ Never miss out on sub-community check-ins, discussions or events ✔ Get tagged and notified by community leaders whenever a new relevant thread has been posted ✔ Become a more active member of the community. What do I need to do? ✅ To add yourself to this taglist, press the Post to Thread button below and write the exact words Please add me. ❌ To remove yourself from this taglist, press the Post to Thread button below and write the exact words Please remove me. ------------------------- Current taglist as of Dec 2024 (updated by @tommy) @akshi2611 @BeautifulCurse @exuberantTalker9747 @freeman @Helentreat12 @Hobzz @HopefulMamaof4 @ivoryLime3964 @JasonneedsinTx @Jenna @joyfulUs2825 @kindShade3891 @matchamochi07 @Mhmdi @Oceansky93 @peachLime4859 @PFord79 @Property1094 @Rainboho @Ren1478 @Sahilwj @sensiblePine5487 @SerenelyClean @Snowy00 @tommy @tornwillow @xmoonsie16x0
DubstepDadT profile picture
what to do to help a friend
by DubstepDadT
Last post
 Friday
...See more hi all,  my gf is addicted to cocaine. she won't go to rehab. she is spending so much money, nose is bleeding, and stays up all night. im afraid she's going to far.  how do I help her...
gentleBlueberry8721 profile picture
New here
by gentleBlueberry8721
Last post
 September 3rd
...See more Gambling started within my family. Then I worked at a casino and finally developed an addiction to cope after my ex left me ten years ago. I have been doing counselling and support groups but just feel I hit my bottom again with in the last few days. Grateful for only a bit of debt and hopeful to quit and start dealing with my emotions more healthily.
JLL118 profile picture
Feeling a need to gamble again?
by JLL118
Last post
 August 24th
...See more It was last year in the space of a few months where I trialed with gambling and ended up getting myself into trouble. It was February actually, I placed a 1 bet on a football game and my team won 2-0 and I won something like 2/ 3 back and I put that on another match that later lost. Although I tried with online roulette where I ended up losing 10. It was really bugging me that I lost this 10 and I kept depositing more and more to try and win it back, before I got myself into 150 worth of debt.. I gave it up for a while but I really missed this 150. I'm a student and I'd been given that money as a gift for birthdays and Christmas' that I'd been saving up from. Yet I still kept playing and I actually won the money back and I was so happy about that but then that seemed so easy to win back, I got greedy and lost it all again. I loved the buzz it gave me. I could feel the relaxation in my body as soon as I made a really risky bet and it came off. And then it was around mid-April. I'd started to lose a lot of money again. This was more 200/ 300 of losses but I actually ended up winning a lot more, like 600- 800, something like that but I can't really remember. I promised myself that after all those scares and this big win, that I wouldn't do it again. But I did. But this wasn't just a 10 loss or 100. I lost nearly 1500, which was all the money I had. I didn't know what to do because I was meant to be booking a trip away to Amsterdam in a matter of weeks after that. I didn't know what to do or tell anyone. I did get the money back actually, even though I didn't deserve it and it still bothers me to this day. But I haven't gambled ever since that. I got that worried, I actually prayed and said that if I could get the money back, I would never gamble again. I went to Dublin with a friend in September and I saw a casino and I really wanted to go in it and I told my friend I did, he said we would. And then later on I remembered the promise I made and told him I just couldn't do it. He understood me. But I've been a bit down in the dumps and just generally fed up with life for a good few weeks/months now, and I think today that it's hit me quite a bit. And I walked past a casino this evening and saw a photo of roulette on the windows outside and the ball was on 0 and my heart just stopped and I just immediately felt a little buzz like what I used to feel. I just wanted to play, and it makes me wonder if my mind is just missing the fun and excitement.. Any advice out there?
plumTalker7970 profile picture
How do I get out?
by plumTalker7970
Last post
 August 24th
...See more Hi everyone, this is my first post here. I'm 25 yrs old and maybe I just don't want to admit it but I think I have a gambling addiction. It all started years back, and last year, I lost a significant amount of money. I told myself that I would stop, but then every time when something triggers me like an ad or a post that somebody won big through gambling, it would lead me back to try again. I was able to stop doing it for a few weeks, and then last night, I went back at it again -- I lost another significant amount of money. I wanted to stop. I always remind myself that no one wins in gambling, but I think I'm always hopeful that somehow, I would win and get back what I lost. I wanted to stop. This is not me anymore. This is my first time sharing what I've been going through, and I shared to strangers. I'm not the type of person who is vocal and shares their problems, but I think it is much better to share it to someone I don't know. I feel a bit relieve while typing this. I need some advice to be better. I want to be better and stop this cycle. 
MukShah381 profile picture
🌱 Addiction Support: You Don't Have to Face It Alone 🤝💙
by MukShah381
Last post
 August 16th
...See more Addiction can be incredibly difficult to talk about. 😔 Sometimes people struggle silently because they're afraid of being judged, misunderstood, or treated differently.  But struggling with addiction doesn't make you a bad person. ❤️‍🩹 It doesn't mean you're weak. 💪 And asking for help doesn't mean you've failed. 🙏 Recovery isn't always a straight line. 🌱↗️↘️ There can be good days, difficult days, setbacks, and moments when you feel like giving up. 😞 But every step forward matters. 👣✨ Sometimes the hardest step is simply saying: 💭 "I think I need help." And that's okay.  Whether you're currently struggling, trying to stay sober, supporting someone you love, or simply trying to understand addiction better — your voice matters. 🗣️💙 💬 What's one thing you wish people understood about addiction? 🔹 The stigma? 🔹 The cravings? 🔹 The difficulty of staying consistent? 🔹 The fear of asking for help? 🔹 The pressure from people around you? Share only what you're comfortable sharing. 🤍 Let's make this a judgment-free space where people can listen, understand, support, and remind each other that recovery is possible. 🌈🌱✨ You don't have to go through everything alone. 🤝💙
Lilachocolatecake profile picture
Addiction
by Lilachocolatecake
Last post
 August 13th
...See more I'm not sure if this is an internet addiction but I just spend the whole day watching TV shows on my and it's just wathever I do in my room I don't do it without watching TV. When I wake up on weekends or in the holidays I start watching. It kinda keeps me from learning or when I'm learning I learn and watch TV on the same time. I think it's also kinda a escape from reality because I just don't have to think about all the things that scare me in my real live. I also always wear my headphones so I am less in ,,the real world". My family is technically great but my brother for example is not really a silent person so the headphones kinda help shutting those noises out. On the one side I won't it to stop or get better because got example I don't know how my life is supposed to be when Im grown up and still watch TV the whole day and it kinda ruins my life. But on the other side it also makes my life more liveable so I don't want it stop. I don't know... I also think that my father is kind the same
olivePal3034 profile picture
I need to be honest
by olivePal3034
Last post
 July 30th
...See more I’m struggling with a cocaine addiction.  Nobody knows, I’ve never said it out loud, I’ve never even written those words. and I feel like I have to come clean somewhere. So here I am.  I’m not ready to open up to anyone in my life, not even my therapist. 
ListenerRick profile picture
Life Recovery
by ListenerRick
Last post
 July 27th
...See more God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 To be created in God's image is to be made to desire the things God desires, to love the way he loves. When we were in bondage to our addiction, we experienced the demeaning of that image. We became less like our Creator and more like our abusive slave master. Our recovery is, in part, a restoration of the image of God in us as we turn from looking into the face of addiction and, instead, look into the Father's eyes. That gaze alone brings us closer to healing. Closer to once again bearing the image of God, From the Life Recovery Prayer Devotional.
marvelousCupcake6711 profile picture
Small Steps Matter: What Has Helped You Stay on Your Recovery Journey?
by marvelousCupcake6711
Last post
 July 21st
...See more Recovery from addiction is rarely a straight path. Many people experience setbacks, moments of doubt, or days when progress feels slow. However, every small positive choice—whether it’s asking for help, avoiding a trigger, attending a support meeting, or simply getting through a difficult day without giving up—is a meaningful achievement. One thing that often helps is remembering that recovery is about progress, not perfection. Being kind to ourselves after a difficult day can make it easier to keep moving forward instead of feeling defeated. Building healthy habits, staying connected with supportive people, and celebrating small victories can strengthen long-term recovery. Everyone’s journey is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. Sharing experiences can remind others that they are not alone and that hope is possible, even during challenging times. If you’re comfortable sharing, I’d love to hear from you: * What is one habit, mindset, or activity that has helped you stay on your recovery journey? * How do you encourage yourself when you’re facing cravings or difficult moments? Thank you for being part of this supportive community. Your story, no matter how small it may seem, could inspire someone else today.
Bhrigs profile picture
Recovery isn’t about wanting it all the time
by Bhrigs
Last post
 July 18th
...See more There are days when staying sober feels easy, and days when you question why you even started. Both are part of recovery. Progress isn’t measured by never having cravings or never slipping up. Sometimes it’s simply choosing to try again after a hard day instead of giving up completely. Be proud of the quiet wins that nobody else sees. They often become the foundation of lasting change.
Gamespy56 profile picture
I want / need this to end
by Gamespy56
Last post
 June 26th
...See more My gambling started 3 years ago or so, my friends went to a casino one night, and the next time i went with them, i started out Playing roulette, it was fun, I've never gambled or was much of a betting man before that.... Until i discovered slots. Since the first time i won big on a slot machine I've been hooked, i have tried stopping more times than i can count, i don't believe myself at all anymore when i tell myself that "this was the last time" i know it's not, i know I'm lying to myself. I know i have a huge problem, since i started gambling I've been broke, every paycheck i would get i would lose in a day, and then lie and borrow money from friends and family, every time i think I've hit rock bottom i surprise myself and fall even lower. I did manage to stop for a year or so, i moved away, and didn't really have money to gamble with anyway, but i didn't even think about it during that time, as soon as I moved back though, the first thing I did was go to a casino and it started all over again, i am exhausted, i am so tired, i want to stop so bad but at the same time i guess i don't, it's a love hate relationship. More hate... The feeling i get when gambling and i win something, or even get free spins on the slots with a decent bet size.... It's better then anything I've ever experienced, better then sex. Nothing really comes close to it. This post doesn't really have a point i just needed to vent i guess. This has been a really bad day
SunflowerAnxiety profile picture
My husband is addicted to video games
by SunflowerAnxiety
Last post
 June 26th
...See more Hello so my husband is always playing video games with his friends online. When I say always I mean always. As soon as he gets home from work he sits on the desk. He takes a break for dinner and goes back to his desk. His desk is in the living room which is the bedroom as well. He sometimes turns to say "I love you baby" and goes back to playing until bed time. he prefers to stay home and plays then going anywhere. Lately he even gave up going to do groceries with me which is the only thing we actually do outside. I sometimes say it must be stressful at work he needs it. but I have no one here to talk to or to interact with. No friends no family no work nothing at all. even when I ask him to watch a movie together or anything he switches to playing on his phone. When we make plans to go to a lake or to a park he says ok sure tomorrow or this weekend and he never goes through it. I am so sick of this and I don't know what to do

Addiction Support

Please note: bolded grey text is hyperlinked.

Welcome to Addiction Support! We are so pleased that you have stumbled across our little corner of the internet. Our community is here to support you through any recovery and/or pathway from substances to gambling, internet, self-harm, porn addiction, sex addiction, and more. All are welcome to participate whether you are a family member watching a loved one struggling or if you are struggling yourself. Feel free to discuss anything and everything related to addictions.


What are the different forum topics for Addiction Support?

Community Space: A place for you to introduce yourself and take part in our community check-ins.

Games and Icebreakers: A place for you to get to know other community members by participating in fun games!

General Addiction Support: Do you have a question or want to share more about your addiction? Do it here!

Journals: Want to share your story or involve us on your journey to recovery? Do it here!

Loving Those With Addictions: Got a loved one with an addiction? Share your story here!

Sex and Porn Addiction Support: Struggling with a sex and/or porn addiction? Discuss it here!


How can I help?

You can help us by simply responding to threads and sharing your story (if you're comfortable to). Alternatively, you may wish to join us as a Forum Leader. Check out this thread for more information.


Helpful Threads

Taglist: Do you want to stay up to date with our community? Then join our taglist to be notified every time a new discussion or update is posted!


Addiction Support FAQ

Are there any sub-community specific guidelines that we need to adhere to?

All sub-community specific guidelines can be found below and should be followed in addition to the general forum guidelines.


Help... I still have a question! 

You can ask your questions in this thread and someone will respond to you as soon as possible.

Community Guidelines

Remain professional, kind, and respectful towards one another. 
Even if you do not get along with an individual listener, it is up to you to act appropriately. If you must, step away and do not engage.

Prevent hurtful rumor/gossip spreading. 
Rumor: a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
Gossip: idle talk especially about the personal or private affairs of others

Aim to grow and learn as a Listener & person. 
In this light, learning to accept feedback thankfully.

Be aware of how to use the forum correctly and what may happen when you do not do so. 
See more detailed forum guidelines below.

Refrain from sharing personal contact information
including, but not limited to, social media accounts, home addresses, phone numbers, messaging apps/sites, or any other medium of contact off-site. Learn more about internet safety in this forum. If you use the scheduling tool YouCanBookMe, you are required to remove the email submission step. Learn how to do this here.

Maintain a confidential atmosphere. 
Between you and member/guests and between you and other listeners. All conversations between you and members are confidential. Do not share any chat details with any other listeners or members. Additionally, do not write or blog about any issues you are supporting people on.

Engage in healthy problem solving. 
This means problem solving with the goal to continue to make the community better. Engage in healthy debates and conversations which lend themselves to problem solving and working together. Read more on the topic of healthy problem solving in this forum.

Use proper conflict resolution skills with every person on the site 
Proper conflict resolution means dealing with conflict in a supportive manner that benefits both you and the other person involved. Read more on conflict resolution in this forum.

Respect boundaries of other community members. 
This includes a total ban on stalking and harassment of any kind. 

Choose not to engage in sexting or flirting. 
We have a zero tolerance policy for these behaviors. Even if it is consensual, it is not allowed on 7 Cups. Read more about sexting and flirting in this forum.

Never create second accounts on the site. 
Each person is only allowed one listener and one member account. There are no exceptions.

Protect your log-in information to all accounts on 7 Cups and not allow anyone else to use it besides the person whose name is in our system. 
We expect that you will be the sole user of your listener/member account. If it comes to our attention that another person has accessed your account, we will need to immediately close your account for security reasons. This includes log-in details for 7 Cups Admin accounts.

Do not engage in hateful behaviors of any kind. 
Showing hate towards any gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, racial or cultural background or imposing your view point on any of these items on another user is forbidden.

We now have a behavior point system.
We ask each user to live by the guidelines outlined in this thread. Each behavior mentioned will be assigned a behavior point, once a certain number of points are accumulated within 6 months, consequences will be enacted.

Read the 7 Cups Guidelines