So much has been seen and read in regard to addiction involving alcohol and drugs that gambling is often placed on the back burner. After all it is not something that is sold illicitly, nor can it make anyone but the victim feel its debilitating effects. With that being said, it must still be noted that gambling is as much an addiction as drugs and alcohol.
What many people do not realize is that gambling can have other victims tied into the one that is afflicted. If a person is married with children it is often reported that the hard core addict will spend an entire weeks income at a casino leaving family members without basic essentials such as food and utilities. The gambler is aware of this and will despise the suffering they are putting loved ones through, but the pull to gamble is stronger than their responsibilities. Besides, they have won before and can do so again thereby alleviating these family related problems. The end result is a never ending vicious cycle where much more is lost than what is gained.
Newspapers and magazines have brought this addiction to the forefront and enlightened the general public on the addiction of gambling and its causes. For many it is the adrenaline rush that accompanies the first few wins. That can lead to the feeling that if they can win a little they can win a lot. They are unable to grasp the known fact that casinos are the only real winners in the game of gambling.
Other known factors in the gambler’s personality are those that involve dealing with things such as loneliness, boredom, or lack of social skills. They may have just gone through a divorce, or perhaps the kids have all left home, and gambling fills these voids. Many escape the pain of this distress by entering the world of gambling. The new options of gambling from home via computer allow many to keep their addiction hidden for long periods of time. Yet whether from home or the high of casino activity, the addiction will lead to an abyss of deep despair that many cannot escape from without intervention.
Like all addictions there is no easy solution to the addiction of gambling. As it has been said with other problems, the habit may have to be dealt with on a ‘one day at a time’ basis. They have to find a completely new circle of friends than the ones made at casinos. Perhaps the computer will have to be taken out of the home. These are just a few of the number of things a person can do in the line of self-help but for many the urge is too strong to quit on their own. These people need the assistance of professional aid if they are going to beat the addiction that has been proven to be relentless. Luckily, there are treatment centers which specialize in gambling addiction.
The next time you come across an article that explains the problems associated with gambling addiction do yourself a favor and read that article too. Get as educated about this serious problem as possible. You just may begin to see that a close friend, family member, or even you, have fallen into the intense pull of gambling addiction.
