It’s great that you were able to overcome the trap of gambling addiction in the past and now sometimes play in such a way that you know in advance that you will never fall into this trap again. This truly allows you to treat gambling as a hobby that generally provides hours of entertainment and only takes up as much money as you can afford to lose without having any major impact on your regular life.
It's very disheartening you know, to see that the higher population of gamblers are caught in the loop of gambling addiction and the worst part of it is that many of them do not even realize it and this has been the major probpem that has not just affected their personal life but of those that are also around them. This is the reason why people should try as much as possible to avoid falling into gambling addiction, because a lot more easier to break through from it when you discover it early and put a stop to it, rather than allowing it to grow and become completely part of you.
Some players are lost in details and won't, in due time, discriminate between hobby and addiction. Reflexively, a player continues his regular gaming routine, as usual, forgetting he's crossed the line that separates addiction and hobby. Subsequently, an action that was good for the body had missed regulation and quietly circulates, without notice, anxiety in a player's brain causing neurosis and leaving him vulnerable. An unchecked or unexamined gambling activity in form of hobby or fun, is a threat to players. Merely instigating to our brain that it's just a hobby rarely builds any fortress against addiction. Unless it's kept an irregular habit, every gambling hobbyists is exposed to this compulsive threat just as any other player who doesn't assume he's indulging in gambling as a hobby.
Some folks end up lost in the jungle. It's those folks who don't understand the game isn't just about the cards. It's about knowing your own damn mind. You gotta be self-aware, man. Like a seasoned fighter, you need to know your weaknesses. When you understand the triggers, the urges, you're not just gambling; you're mastering your own psychology
It's not about quitting, it's about balance. Treat your brain like a high-performance engine, you wouldn't fuel it with just sugar, right? Same goes for your life. Don't make gambling your only hobby. Expand your horizons. Read some philosophy, hit the gym, learn a new skill. That way, gambling stays a fun side quest, not the whole damn game. Knowledge is power. Understand yourself, and you'll find the sweet spot where gambling stays fun and doesn't take over your life. It's not rocket science, it's self-preservation