Gambling Addiction & Recovery Support Group
Compulsive gambling is an urge or addiction to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. A preferred term among many professionals is problem gambling, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others rather...
Three and a half years gamble free :)
I was reading some of my old journals, and ran across this one. As someone who was a slot machine addict, this really hit home:
In 1954, James Olds and Peter Milner accidentally implanted an electrode into the [pleasure centers] of a rat and discovered that it became very energized, so they purposely set up an apparatus such that whenever a rat pressed a bar it generated a small electrical stimulation to the area. The rats pressed the bar until they collapsed, even to the point of forgoing food and water. [] The effect has since been found in all mammals tested, including humans.
Page 113 The Mind of the Market by Michael Shermer
Our brains processed not only the wins with dopamine rushes, but also the anticipation of winning with releasing the dopamine. So even when were were on a "losing streak", the pleasure centers were stimulated by just the possibility of getting a payout.
So we pressed on, hitting that button for the energization of our pleasure centers, while the laboratory designers (the casinos) watched us from above and laughed, raking in the money.
Yeah, I'm mad today. Have a friend whose mom just tried to commit suicide because she couldn't stop pressing that button. But she was so good at hiding her gambling problem that no one knew until it was almost too late....please pray or send good feelings out in to the universe that she will fully recover from her attempt so she will have the opportunity to recover from this deadly addiction.
I was reading some of my old journals, and ran across this one. As someone who was a slot machine addict, this really hit home:
In 1954, James Olds and Peter Milner accidentally implanted an electrode into the [pleasure centers] of a rat and discovered that it became very energized, so they purposely set up an apparatus such that whenever a rat pressed a bar it generated a small electrical stimulation to the area. The rats pressed the bar until they collapsed, even to the point of forgoing food and water. [] The effect has since been found in all mammals tested, including humans.
Page 113 The Mind of the Market by Michael Shermer
Our brains processed not only the wins with dopamine rushes, but also the anticipation of winning with releasing the dopamine. So even when were were on a "losing streak", the pleasure centers were stimulated by just the possibility of getting a payout.
So we pressed on, hitting that button for the energization of our pleasure centers, while the laboratory designers (the casinos) watched us from above and laughed, raking in the money.
Yeah, I'm mad today. Have a friend whose mom just tried to commit suicide because she couldn't stop pressing that button. But she was so good at hiding her gambling problem that no one knew until it was almost too late....please pray or send good feelings out in to the universe that she will fully recover from her attempt so she will have the opportunity to recover from this deadly addiction.
Sadly, the suicide rate is disproportionately high among problem and compulsive gamblers. I myself was low enough that I became suicidal.
If you know you are suicidal or know someone who tells you they are please go get help. It is also a good idea, especially if you are depressed, to have the national suicide prevention hot-line number nearby: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Suicide is never the only option, and nothing is so bad that you can't live through it.
Prayers and healing thoughts to all who are struggling.
Hiding the gambling is such a tormenting feeling on the brain and soul, and the torment doesn't end when a person isn't hiding anymore. There is the torment of how do I fix this? At least while not playing my brain is taking a rest from the constant stimulation. I am guilty of pressing the button even when I am losing. I will visualize a rat sitting in my place from now on. That is any ugly thought.