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...
Really.
I have no urges to gamble. None. Zip. The thought makes me sick.So maybe I am crazy.
From my journal;
Even when I was addicted to cigarettes, I knew that I had the power to stop. Yes, I was physically addicted, and had to just tough out the withdrawal. And the behavioral modification was difficult, finding different coping mechanisms, different "reward" systems, etc. I was psycho-mom for a couple of weeks, but I did it. I did it because I realized it was a deadly habit, self destructive and stupid.
I consider myself to be a reasonably intelligent person, no genius, but educated and well rounded. What's blowing my mind with this gambling issue is that it's essentially the brain version of an autoimmune disorder. My mom has fibromyalgia, and it's the result of having her immune system turning against the body. That which she counts on to protect her has turned against her. My BRAIN has done the same thing with this compulsive gambling. MY BRAIN!!! The area of reason, of responsibility, of avoiding dangerous situations, of self control, that area has declared mutiny. The same brain that quit smoking, that shops sales, that handled the family finances for years, that has been a life coach for others, that graduated college and started businesses, that raised 3 children with values and honesty and an appreciation for the simple things in life,that same brain has decided that I will sit in a smoky casino in front of a machine for hours on end, going back and forth to the ATM and draining our bank account and squeal with PLEASURE whenever I get a payoff that is a FRACTION of a PERCENT of what I had lost over the period of a few months.
I function well in all other areas, but if my brain is screwed up, how long will THAT last?
This is terrifying.
Maybe I am just crazy.
Now what?
I have no urges to gamble. None. Zip. The thought makes me sick.So maybe I am crazy.
From my journal;
Even when I was addicted to cigarettes, I knew that I had the power to stop. Yes, I was physically addicted, and had to just tough out the withdrawal. And the behavioral modification was difficult, finding different coping mechanisms, different "reward" systems, etc. I was psycho-mom for a couple of weeks, but I did it. I did it because I realized it was a deadly habit, self destructive and stupid.
I consider myself to be a reasonably intelligent person, no genius, but educated and well rounded. What's blowing my mind with this gambling issue is that it's essentially the brain version of an autoimmune disorder. My mom has fibromyalgia, and it's the result of having her immune system turning against the body. That which she counts on to protect her has turned against her. My BRAIN has done the same thing with this compulsive gambling. MY BRAIN!!! The area of reason, of responsibility, of avoiding dangerous situations, of self control, that area has declared mutiny. The same brain that quit smoking, that shops sales, that handled the family finances for years, that has been a life coach for others, that graduated college and started businesses, that raised 3 children with values and honesty and an appreciation for the simple things in life,that same brain has decided that I will sit in a smoky casino in front of a machine for hours on end, going back and forth to the ATM and draining our bank account and squeal with PLEASURE whenever I get a payoff that is a FRACTION of a PERCENT of what I had lost over the period of a few months.
I function well in all other areas, but if my brain is screwed up, how long will THAT last?
This is terrifying.
Maybe I am just crazy.
Now what?
I remember going to Vegas and having to put up with people smoking in Casinos it was so gross. In Canada we do not permit smoking ni the Casino. Anyway, I digress......have a great gamble free day everyone!
It's ironic though, that I feel crazier now than when I was sitting, mesmerized at a machine sliding 20 dollar bills into it like it was monopoly money.THAT was crazy!
http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/compulsive-gambler-wins-lawsuit-over-mirapex/
I've never read anything that initiates and extinguishing other addictions like that. Something powerful happens in the brains of problem gamblers. Not understood by us and not understood by the professional community. The best thing we can do is STOP. Or, as Nancy Reagan would say, "just say NO", tee hee.
So maybe there is research done with what part of our brains are damaged, we can get partial lobotomies and be done with it all! (really just kidding!!!)