* aaaaaaaawe* blushing madly here, thank you Peggy, anytime. It feels so good to have someone whom I can relate with as well, there are so many diff. aspects to this dispicable disorder. I think talk therapy will really help, but don't expect a instant fix, it takes time, and your vigilance. I now leave my bankcard at home most of the time, and have a set amount in my wallet. I have a budget (grumbles) and it's not easy, but doing that compared to the stress of the after affects of binging are far better. I have to do the want/need every time I pick someone up, lordie it's annoying, but good at retraining my brain.
I know there are days where you just want to throw up you hands and say feck it, but keep trudging along!
All the best, Jane
Thank you, Jane! You're always so good about answering my posts!! I'm also a rapid cycler, just diagnosed, also on Seroquel (along with Lamictal), so hearing how you are dealing with very similar issues is SO helpful to me! I have looked for support groups in my area and haven't found any, but I'm going to start the talking part of therapy once I get somewhat stabilized on the meds, and I'm very much looking forward to learning how to deal with the negative self-critic in me. So much of my "habits" have been around for years, and I never knew they had to do with an actual illness, just thought it was the way I was :-), but the gambling is a new one, along with the major depression/thoughts of suicide, etc. so it's a whopping lot to deal with, along with trying to continue to work while adjusting to meds. Thank God my employer is understanding, but I know her patience will only last so long, and all of it puts so much pressure on me that I'm afraid I'll just explode some days. Sorry for the rambling (also a habit of mine for years)! The point being, without people like you online, willing to listen and help, my days would be even harder, so thank you ALL, but especially you, Jane, since you have been so kind to have given me a response every single time I have posted with a question!
Peggy
I went on a binge and blew 200 doing online gambling and I couldn't stop, holy cow!! I realized what I did and immediately curtailed it, it was really hard though, I still have urges, meds will help with the compulsion but you really have to stop the behaviour yourself, meds may not fix it all. I also realized I had a shopping addiction, and that's been much worse. I keep all my receipts and will return items if I feel they really aren't necessary.That compulsion I've done for years. I'm on Seroqual and that's helped a lot with the mania and the spending. I really budget myself now, but I have no choice, I'm on short term disability and making less money. Have you thought about going to a support group to deal with negative self talk? I started one about 6 weeks ago and it really has helped with repeated negativity, it's been a godsend.
Keep in touch, and take each day at a time, Jane