TJ sits down with Elizabeth, a former Golden Gloves boxing champion, to talk about her journey through gambling addiction and long-term recovery. Elizabeth shares how her upbringing, athletic drive, and devastating losses fueled her compulsive gambling, and how she eventually found hope, healing, and connection through recovery.

From the thrill of Las Vegas to the crushing impact of debt and shame, Elizabeth’s story shines a light on the risks athletes face, the hidden dangers of gambling, and the importance of connection in recovery.

• Overseeing Gambling Prevention, Intervention and Treatment at Nicasa Behavioral Health Services: https://nicasa.org/program/adult-gambling-treatment/
• Educating collegiate athletes about gambling harm at EPIC Global Solutions: https://www.epicglobalsolutions.com/about-us/
• 💜 September is National Recovery Month—and this year, we’re making sure recovery from gambling disorder is part of the conversation. Share a few words about what recovery means to you, and your message could inspire someone who feels alone.  https://forms.gle/NxngSPjZRrL9TtUa9

00:00 Introduction and Host's Recovery Journey

00:15 Guest's Background and Early Gambling Experiences

00:32 Family Influence and Gambling Culture

02:06 Athlete Mentality and Gambling Addiction

05:53 Boxing Career and Injury

07:57 Loss and Escalation of Gambling

09:17 Realization and Attempt to Control Gambling

14:42 Quitting Gambling and Early Non-Recovery

15:48 Facing the Past: Compartmentalization and Shame

16:15 Specializing in Gambling Disorder Counseling

17:12 The Turning Point: Seeking Recovery

17:37 First Steps in Recovery: Meetings and Support

20:07 Understanding and Forgiving Yourself

21:03 The Importance of Connection in Recovery

23:26 Financial Consequences and Genuine Accountability

25:18 Recognizing Lingering Risk Behaviors

28:43 Gambling Education and Risk Factors

33:43 Advice for Early Recovery

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