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Gambling addictions
By Mick Conway
Addictions
Of all the addictions that are rampant in our society, pathological gambling may be one of the most destructive. Families are torn apart by the consequences of gambling, just as alcoholism or drug addiction reek havoc at every level of family life.
What is pathological gambling? In 1980 the American Psychiatric Association accepted pathological gambling as a “disorder of impulse control.” A person may be diagnosed as a compulsive gambler if he or she has been unable to control chronic gambling, if the gambling has continued despite harm to the family and to the person who gambles or to their employment. The main features of pathological gambling are emotional dependence on gambling, loss of control and interference with normal activity. Those behaviors are also characteristic of alcoholism or drug addiction.
The progression of pathological gambling has three phases: the adventurous or winning phase, the losing phase and the desperation phase.
Gamblers often call the adventurous or winning phase Action. The excitement is intoxicating. The Action provides an escape from worries and cares and also gives the gambler a feeling of power, especially with wins. Most compulsive gamblers win, lose and break even often. Losses are easily recouped through further gambling or short-term loans from friends or family. Borrowing is perceived to be a way of increasing entertainment. Even borrowing from household money is seen as an innocent strategy in the general scheme of things.
The losing phase is called The Chase. Continued gambling inevitably brings increased losses, so the gambler must up-the-ante to recoup the money. Credit cards, ATM machines, check writing, loans and stolen cash are commonly used in the losing phase. It's a roller coaster ride that can go on for years.
The Desperation Phase occurs when the pathological gambler has a full-time obsession with getting even and paying off debts. This obsession often impacts employment because the gamblers mind is not on work but on the next bet, the big bailout. A prime feature of the Desperation Phase is the panic of realizing that Action will cease if credit dries up. Greater risks are taken as irrational gambling increases. Without fail, this irrational gambling has devastating consequences - more and greater losses and heavier indebtedness. Suicide is not infrequent at this point. Just as the alcoholic/addict realizes the absolute devastation of their life, so, too, does the pathological gambler.
Another interesting correlation between pathological gambling and alcoholism or drug addiction is that the spouse becomes an enabler by helping pay off loans and lying to creditors, bosses and others. Anything to keep disaster at bay.
By this time, of course, the family may have lost farms, homes, estates, savings and hope.
Even paying the utilities and ordinary living expenses becomes a challenge. Is there a way out of
this awful situation?
Gamblers Anonymous is a spiritually based program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous and it has been highly successful in making abstinence from gambling a reality. The only requirement for membership in Gamblers Anonymous is a desire to stop gambling. The primary purpose is to stop gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.
Another resource for gamblers is this toll-free number: 1-800-BETS-OFF.