This was my first weekend without gambling for as long as I can remember. Instead of having my phone glued to my hand, I played with my kids and had an active weekend with them. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, I think I can do this!
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Awesome! Your kids deserve 100% of you, and casting this shit aside one day at a time will solidify that!
Well done mate.
One day at a time. That’s all you gotta do.
That great. Your kids deserve you to be present! Keep it going
I’m so proud of you ! I hope you find the strength to keep doing better not only for your kids, but for yourself ! ☺️
I did as well! Deposited $3500 and withdrew it!!! Critical thinking has returned after my meds were titrated again. I hope the below helps someone. It’s not our fault Bipolar is an actual disease
Why Bipolar Disorder Strongly Increases Gambling Addiction Risk
Being bipolar significantly increases the risk of developing a gambling addiction because of how the illness affects impulse control, reward processing, and judgment—especially during manic or hypomanic episodes. In these states, the brain is flooded with dopamine, which increases risk-taking, creates exaggerated confidence, and weakens the ability to foresee negative consequences. Gambling fits perfectly into this neurochemical environment: it is fast, unpredictable, and provides immediate rewards, all of which intensely stimulate the same brain circuits already overstimulated in mania.
Mania also distorts thinking in ways that make gambling feel rational. People in a manic state often believe they have special insight, winning “systems,” or exceptional luck. They overestimate their ability to control outcomes, which leads to chasing losses, increasing bet sizes, and ignoring financial limits. The brain’s normal braking system—fear, caution, and long-term planning—is impaired, so decisions are driven by emotion and sensation rather than logic.
Even outside of full mania, bipolar disorder involves chronic mood instability, which makes gambling especially appealing as a form of emotional regulation. During depressive phases, gambling can temporarily relieve numbness or despair by providing stimulation, hope, and a sense of possibility. Over time, the brain learns that gambling is a fast way to escape emotional pain or amplify excitement, reinforcing the behavior through powerful conditioning.
This creates a destructive loop: mania fuels risk-taking, depression fuels escape, and gambling becomes the bridge between the two. That cycle is why people with bipolar disorder develop gambling addiction at far higher rates than the general population.