There are many pastimes that do not create addiction, but gambling is one of the most dangerous, as it is easy to fall into the net of this habit. Pathological gambling transforms the person into someone irrational and impulsive where gambling is concerned. The problem does not only touch the individual, his judgement, and his behaviour. It also affects family, work and personal relationships already built.
The potential pathological gambler starts gambling in an innocent way. Sometimes he wins something; other times he loses. But then he ends up becoming obsessed with the idea that a big stroke of luck will happen any time soon. This attitude leads him to:
- Lose all available money he has
- Apply for bank loans or even to illegal money lenders
- Lie to prevent his intentions being discovered
- Ask for cash advances at work
- Borrow from members of his family and friends
- Steal to pursue gambling or betting
When displaying this conduct, the individual does not have any bad intention, but, step by step, he progressively sink into difficulties.
Some use gambling as a means of evasion from problems or stressful situations. Sometimes, the behaviour appears after the loss of a dear one, separation, or divorce.
HOW TO OVERCOME PATHOLOGICAL GAMBLING
Gambling can be linked to a drug without the chemistry. Thus, solutions to pathological gambling are very similar to detoxification treatments:
- Stop gambling. To break completely away from gambling, it is necessary to quit once and for all. It is useless to reduce the betting or leave the door open to gamble once in a while.
- Carry out activities to fill the spot. Compulsive gamblers invest their time each day preoccupied with raising the money and planning for the next game or beet. This time must be filled with healthy activities, such as those conducted outdoors or by keeping busy through reading and cultural and spiritual activities.
- Develop a healthy self-esteem. Many gamblers feel inferior and want to win a lot of money as compensation. However, self-esteem is not fed with money, but with the conviction that personal value lies in what one is, not what one has.
- Seek the support of other people. Pathological gamblers very rarely attain victory over their habit by themselves. It is necessary to speak about the problem with a close person or psychotherapist. Together with your confidant, develop a plan to pay off your debts and look forward to a hopeful future. Self-help groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, can become very valuable in the detoxification process.
- Find support in divine power. As with any other addiction, it is necessary to trust in a supernatural and omnipotent power in order to leave the pathological behind. Abandoning oneself to that power of the Ethical God through prayer, private and corporate worship, and the reading of Holy Scriptures are basic steps that help one to obtain benefit from that infallible force.
- Change your lifestyle. Freedom from gambling requires a radical change of lifestyle. It is imperative to find new friendships, frequent different places and change pastime habits.
TEST YOURSELF
Ask yourself the following questions and provide answers to them:
- Are your thoughts absorbed by gambling?
- Do you feel the desire to bet a greater amount next time?
- Have you attempted-without success-to stop gambling?
- Have your failures to quit gambling caused you irritated?
- Have you used gambling to improve your mood? For example, when you felt sad, guilty.
- Have you lied to your family, boss, or therapist to conceal the extent of your gambling?
- Have you failed your subjects or lost your employment because of gambling?
- Do you depend on others to face the financial trouble caused by gambling?
- Have you ended up committing fraud to raise funds for gambling?
Ask yourself all these questions and provide answer to them, then you will know maybe you are a pathological gambler.
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