Many escape gamblers were suffering from depression prior to developing the addiction...in fact...the fact that they were depressed probably contributed to the likelihood that gambling would 'hook' them.
When we are in the cycle, mood swings become the 'norm', we are often irritable and lose our tempers easily. The inablity to stop gambling (control the addiction) increases and we begin to harm ourselves...we isolate from people that care about us, we neglect our health, we become preoccupied with gambling (or thoughts around gambling) even when we are not in action. We rationalize things that are not rational.
Someone asked me, when I attended my first g.a. meeting if I'd ever left my (very young) children alone in order to gamble..and I was horrified...of course not!
The lady who asked me this...looked me squarely in the eye and said 'yet'.
Well...I didn't go back to g.a. for a few years..and while I never did do that particular thing...I did many things that I thought I would never do.... and, from talking to cg's...it's clear that as we deteriorate....we are able to rationalize more and more things...we will lie, steal (from family, friends, employers)...often we steal under the illusion that we are just 'borrowing' the money- we will win and promptly replace it....we pawn things that we love...we sell our bodies....we lose our homes, our families....we kill ourselves.
Suicide rates are higher among Pathological gamblers than with any other addiction.
You are not stupid.
You are not weak.
You are not bad.
This is not a behavior problem, this is a brain problem.
There is help....
Alone is too lonely.
Reach out.
1 comment:
Thank You for your blog. I have been tormenting myself with this addiction for many many years and I can relate to many of your entries. You have helped me for another day. I will try and read more each day and see how I go. Thanks again for taking the time to write all of these!
Post a Comment