Tuesday, August 2, 2016
BY ARNIE WEXLER CCGC
Compulsive gambling is a progressive disease, much like an addiction to alcohol or drugs. In many cases, the gambling addiction is hidden until the gambler becomes unable to function without gambling, and he or she begins to exclude all other activities from their lives. Inability to stop gambling often results in financial devastation, broken homes, employment problems, criminal acts and suicide attempts.
The gambler is eventually able to remove themselves from reality to the point of being totally obsessed with gambling. Eventually, they will do anything to get the money with which to stay in “action”. They will spend all their time and energy developing schemes in order to get the money to continue gambling. Lying becomes a way of life for the gambler.
They will try to convince others and themselves that their lies are actually truths and they will believe there own lies.
After they hit a real bottom they will have to do something if they want to try to recover. Most gamblers at that point will want to stop but can’t (they wont be able to).
Most even at that point will keep gambling some will end up in jail some will attempt suicide some will die from their addiction as they will not take care of their health or the stress will kill them.
And a small group of addicted gamblers will seek and find real help but the real trick is to get in to real recovery. Not just abstinence. By the time the gambler comes for help they have broken brains (Meaning their brains don’t work like they used to when they were not in there addiction).
To get real recovery the gambler needs to work on them self’s one day at a time and get someone to do there thinking for them who has been in recovery some time and has there brains are working right (a sponsor) After some time in recovery there brains will start to work again. They will become productive on there job and become a good father and husband. Recover is a process and does not happen with out a lot of work on your self . and making a moral and financial inventory. But people can recover and do.
MYTHS
THE BIG WIN IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER—WITH THE NEXT BET I MAKE
I CAN GET EVEN AND THEN I WILL STOP
I AM NOT LIKE THOSE DRUG ADDICTS OR ALOCHOLICS
I CAN STOP ANYTIME I WANT – JUST DONT WANT TO STOP
GOING TO A GA MEETING – AND THEN FELLING I AM NOT AS BAD AS THOSE PEOPLE
I AM TO YOUNG TO BE AN ADDICTED GAMBER
IF I HAD MORE $ I COULD WIN
I KNOW I CAN BEAT THIS GAME
I AM NOT WINNING NOW BUT I KNOW ITS GOING TO TURN AROUND
I AM SMARTER THEN THE REST OF GAMBLERS
EVEN IF I SEE ALL MY FRIENDS ARE LOOSING I KNOW I CAN BEAT GAMBLING
IF PEOPLE WOULD LEAVE ME ALONE I COULD HAVE A CLEAR MIND AND WIN
THE LOOSES ARE NOT MY FAULT RIGHT NOW I AM RUNNING IN BAD LUCK
IF THEY DIDENT CLOSE THE CASINO I COULD GET MY $ BACK
IF YOU BAILED ME OUT I COULD GET A FRESH START AND WIN
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TRUTHS
COMPULSIVE GAMBERS CANT WALK AWAY WITH THE $ WON THEY WILL CHASE THE WINS TO MAKE THEM BIGGER THEY THINK
IF THEY LOOSE THEY WILL PUSK TO DO MORE GAMBLING TO GET THE $ BACK
THE BIG WIN IS NEVER ENOUGH SO IN THE END THEY WILL GO BROKE
THE PEOPLE WHO RUN GAMBLING DONT DO IT TO GIVE AWAY $ TO GAMBERS
Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement
Has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling
Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
Lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling
Has committed illegal acts, such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement, in order to finance gambling
Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling
Relies on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling
GAMBLING ADDICTION WILL MAKE YOUR HOME LIFE UNHAPPY
IF YOU KEEP GAMBLING YOU WILL GO BROKE AND IN THE END USE OTHER PEOPLE $
Arnie and Sheila Wexler have provided extensive training on Compulsive, Problem and Underage Gambling, to more than 40,000 gaming employees (personnel and executives) and have written Responsible Gaming Programs for major gaming companies. In addition, they have worked with Gaming Boards and Regulators, presented educational workshops nationally and internationally and have provided expert witness testimony. Sheila Wexler is the Executive Director of the Compulsive Gambling Foundation. They also run a national help line (888 LAST BET)