Gambling Addiction
The human being is not the only animal that plays, but he is the only one that bets and plays for money. The game has always been a way of learning, but in our time gambling has become a social problem. It destroys people and their families so deeply that just a few are able to come out of it without help.
In our country, gambling addiction is gradually becoming a serious problem because it affects all kinds of people, but especially those who have more limited resources. The consequences of this disease are so serious that people should be aware of the need to establish national, regional, and even neighborhood strategies to face this disease similar to alcoholism and smoking.
Compulsive gambling addiction is a type of impulse-control disorder. Gambling addicts, cannot control the impulse to gamble, even when they know their gambling is hurting themselves or their family, but gambling controls them. Gambling is the only thing they want to do no matter the consequences. Compulsive gamblers are constantly changing mood: they are sometimes depressed, other times they are happy, and when they win, they are in Heaven, but when they lose, they are in H ell. Even when they know the odds are against them, even when they cannot afford to lose, people with a gambling addiction cannot “stay off the bet.”[1]
I met a close friend who was addicted to gambling for a while (about a year) and he could have lost everything, even his life, if he had not had God´s and his family´s and friends´ help. It is interesting to see how fun can turn into Hell overnight, controlling you and stealing your peace, and above all, your freedom. Because after all, the gambling addiction is a disease of freedom.
You cannot get out of the jaws of this beast called "game" or "cage" in which casinos make the person addicted to gambling. It is impossible to escape; you feel trapped, and when you are not playing , you cannot stop thinking about it or dreaming about it. It is your life. You may have a gambling problem if youfeel the need to be secretive about your gambling, have trouble controlling your gambling, gamble even when you do not have money, and family and friends are worried about you. If your loved one has a gambling problem, he/she might: become increasingly defensive about his or her gambling; he/she suddenly becomes secretive over money and finances and increasingly desperate for money to fund the gambling.
Treatment for the gambling problem includes support groups , therapy, and recovery for gambling addiction. I believe than the most important is changing your lifestyle, because the best way to stop yourself from gambling is analyzing what is needed for gambling to occur, work on removing these elements from your life and replacing them with healthier choices.
The four elements needed for problem gambling to continue are:
A Decision: Before gambling occurs the decision to gamble has been made. If you have an urge to gamble: stop what you are doing and call someone, think about the consequences of your actions, tell yourself to stop thinking about gambling, and find something else to do immediately.
Money: Gambling cannot occur without money. Get rid of your credit cards; let someone else be in charge of your money, have the bank make automatic payments for you, and keep a limited amount of cash at all times.
Time: Gambling cannot occur if you do not have the time. Schedule enjoyable recreational time for yourself that has nothing to do with gambling, find time for relaxation, and plan outings with your family.
A Game: Without a game or activity to bet on there is no opportunity to gamble. Don’t put yourself in tempting environments or locations. Tell the gambling establishments you frequent that you have a gambling problem and ask them to restrict you from betting at their casinos and establishments. [2] [3]
Bibliography
NAVARRO, J. C. (22 de 05 de 2010). www.wikipedia.org. Recuperado el 24 de 05 de 2010, de www.wikipedia.org: : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_gambling
NAVARRO, J.C. (22 de 05 de 2010). Recuperado el 22 de 05 de 2010, de www.helpguide.org: http://helpguide.org/mental/gambling_addiction.htm
NAVARRO, J.C. (24 de 05 de 2010). Apuntes sobre ludopatía. Lecturas.
