The dangers of addiction and how to get out of it

Part 1 the first contact and the first gain

Hello, this is my first blog about recognizing when you are addicted and how it destroys your life over the years.

The blog will be split into several parts, as it reflects what I had to experience in life and how I managed to get out after 18 years.

The last part will show how I feel about the changes today. Maybe I can help someone who is in such in the same situation.

First of all, it must be said that any addiction, whether it is drugs, pills, alcohol or gambling, is dangerous. In my case it was the gambling addiction that destroyed my life. However, I can say that with the help of my immediate family and my own will I managed to change something.
Then let's start with the story and write the beginning.

My first contact with a slot machine was when I was 18 years old. It was a Friday evening when I put my first Pennys into a machine and didn't know what to do or what was happening. So many flashing lights with start/stop and left and right a ladder where underneath a button was flashing to press.

Ok I thought to myself, I'll press start. After pressing the button three rollers started to rotate. I must say it looked interesting. The first spin was of course nothing and money was deducted from my loaded credit. So I pressed start again and I had three of the same symbols after the next spin. I didn't know what to do when I heard a sound and the ladder blinked.
So I just pressed the button under the ladder and it moved one higher. I took this amount and already 5.20 DM stood on the account. I was very happy about the 20 Pfennig.
I pressed again and again three same came. Which I took away immediately. It went on in such a way, until I had all at once three suns and I got my first free plays. At the end of the free games I had in the counter at once 20 DM stand which I of course immediately paid out and a friend at that time to a drink invited. I felt like a king, although it was only a small amount, but I had earned 15 DM within 10 minutes.
From this point on, from today's point of view, the addiction has already begun, who earned at that time already in the few minutes so much money. We are talking about 1998.

This is the beginning of my life story and will be continued in further parts, otherwise it would become infinitely long for the first BLOG. I would be happy about comments and whether you have also already gathered experience with the addiction.

Thank you and best regards