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 $