Every compulsive
gambler has uttered
the words “Please
help me stop
gambling” at one
point or anther in
their life.
They continue to
struggle on a daily
basis to stop their
hidden addiction.
Unfortunately it
goes unnoticed by
co-workers, friends
and family until
things have gotten
way out of control.
They become frantic
individuals looking
for away out but no
one hears their
cries for help.
Those closest to
them know
something’s wrong
but don’t know what
it is or what to do.
The struggle
continues until the
compulsive gambler’s
admits that they
have a problem
gambling. Even
then it still is a
struggle for the
gambler to refrain
from gambling.
The compulsive
gambler's bills
begin to pile up and
they realize
everyone is going to
discover that they
lost everything on a
game of chance. The
compulsive gambler
looks back over the
past few years and
realizes what they
had done to their
life. They knew a
year ago there was a
problem gambling and
they could have
stopped, but they
could not. They
ask themselves “why
is this happening to
me?" And "What did
I do to deserve
this?” They never
hurt deliberately
meant to hurt
anyone. Their
struggle to keep it
in control became
more and more
difficult with each
passing day. They
sometimes begin to
panic and see that
there is no way
out. They exhibit
signs of hostility
and emotional
outbursts. Then the
smallest amount of
good news brings
back their
optimism. Their
mind begins to
wander and before
you know it they are
gambling again.
Only to repeat the
negative self
destructive pattern
over and over
again. This is a
terrible way for the
gambler to live and
their struggle to
stop gambling
continues.
Compulsive gamblers
refuse to tell
anyone how they are
feeling inside which
cause the self
destructive behavior
to continue. They
don’t want anyone to
know especially
their family.
However there are
brief moments where
they let their walls
down and admit to a
close friend that
they are in
trouble. The friend
listens intently but
has no immediate
solution. The next
time they see one
another, nothing is
mentioned and the
friend assumes you
have it under
control. In reality
you do not. You go
back into your
fantasy world and
continue to gamble.
If a friend or
family member
realizes the
struggle you are
going through it’s
time for them and
you to take the
initiative and
confront the
situation. There
are self help stop
gambling manuals,
stop gambling
websites and or
Gamblers Anonymous.
Starting to educate
you on compulsive
gambling addiction
will help in the
recovery.
A compulsive gambler
needs their family
and friends to help
them with their
struggle to stop
gambling. This may
be difficult for all
involved since the
gambler may have
borrowed money in
good faith and has
no means to pay it
back. This alone
causes a compulsive
gambler’s self
esteem to decrease.
This is also another
reason there is a
high rate of suicide
among pathological
gamblers.
Looking at the world
out of a compulsive
gamblers perspective
is unique since
there is limited
statistical
information on this
addiction. A
compulsive gambler
once told me “I
didn’t wake up one
day and decide to
lose everything I
had worked the past
twenty years for.”
The same can be
said for many other
addictions.
Everyone is unique
and needs a recovery
program tailored
specifically to
them.
A common mistake a
compulsive gambler
will make in their
recovery is taking
part in a recovery
program they can not
relate to. This
slows down their
recovery. The also
may go back to
gambling.
The gambler needs to
start some where.
With all the new
alternative programs
they eventually will
find a program that
will help them
recover and rebuild
their life.
More information
on
Stop Gambling
Addiction
