Gambling can be defined as playing a game of chance for stakes. Gambling occurs in many forms, most commonly horse and dog tracks, off-track-betting, lotteries, casinos, bookmaking, card rooms, bingo and the stock market.
For some gambling is a fun and harmless form of entertainment, yet to others it becomes a pathological addiction which they can't seem to stop!
Current estimates suggest that three percent of the adult population will experience a serious problem with gambling that will result in significant debt, family disruption, job losses, criminal activity or suicide.
So, what is it that causes someone to gamble their entire life savings away, lose their job, and destroy their family?
Well, the proponents of the disease theory have somehow attempted to link compulsive gambling to an incurable brain disease. However, it is impossible to do because their chemical dependency factor is missing. In other words, would they have us believe that there is a chemical in the handle of the slot machine at the casino that addicts a person to gambling? Of course not!!!
These proponents also suggest a model of three phases that are inherent to Gambling addiction which are as follows:
The winning phase - Gamblers experience a big win or a series of wins that leaves them with unreasonable optimism that their winning will continue. This leads them to feel great excitement when gambling, and they begin increasing the amounts of their bets.
The losing phase - Gamblers often begin bragging about wins they have had, start gambling alone, think more about gambling and borrow money legally or illegally. They start lying to family and friends and become more irritable, restless and withdrawn. Their home life becomes more unhappy, and they are unable to pay off debts. The gamblers begin to "chase" their losses, believing they must return as soon as possible to win back their losses.
The desperation phase - There is a marked increase in the time spent gambling. This is accompanied by remorse, blaming others and alienating family and friends. Eventually, the gamblers may engage in illegal acts to finance their gambling. They may experience hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and attempts, arrests, divorce, alcohol and/or other drug abuse, or an emotional breakdown.
So, why does someone choose gambling over another addiction and why can't they stop gambling? Choosing an addiction is usually a learned behavior from family, friends or surroundings. However, that's not what causes the compulsion!!!
As with any addiction, the compulsion generally makes people feel better or happier, and it diverts them from their emotional pain. Therefore, when someone realizes they are happier when gambling, the addiction begins. For some this is a better solution than facing their emotional pain although it always ends in disaster.
The key to ending a gambling addiction as with any compulsion is not necessarily focusing on the phases stated above, but rather to uncover and remove the emotional pain and trauma that caused it in the first place.
Take a moment and put aside the thrill you feel from rolling the dice or placing that bet and ask yourself a question; what emotional pain does the gambling divert you from and why does it make you feel happier?
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