An addiction is a terrible thing. People who do not suffer from any addictions can't possibly understand what it is like for somebody who does. The number of things that one can be addicted to are many. Basically, just about anything in this world can become addictive, from sex to drugs to watching TV to eating. The underlying cause of all addictions is a personality disorder. However, for our purposes here, we're going to just cover one particular addiction and try to explain how it works and how to cope with it. Gambling is probably one of those addictions that affects more people than the people themselves would care to admit. If you think that isn't true then just take a look around you at the world we live in. In the United States alone, there isn't one state that doesn't have some kind of daily, weekly and instant lottery. New Jersey, for instance, has a pick 3, a pick 4, a pick 6 and the mega jackpot which actually spans several states. In addition to this, they have a number of instant lotteries. Gambling income in New Jersey alone is in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year. What most people don't understand about a gambling addiction is that it really has very little or nothing to do with wanting to get rich. Yes, people want to have money and chasing after that elusive jackpot each week gives them something to look forward to, but the reason people become addicted to gambling is because of the rush that gambling gives them. It's not the size of the jackpot but the thrill of the chase and the amazing feeling they experience when a win comes in, even if it's just a few dollars. For that matter, a compulsive gambler would get a thrill going down to the boardwalk at a sea resort and winning tokens that couldn't be cashed in for anything more than just a cheap prize that they probably spent more for than it is worth. A compulsive gambler needs that constant rush. When he is not gambling he is literally lost. He doesn't know what to do with his time. Compulsive gamblers usually don't play just one particular game. They'll gamble on anything they can get their hands on. During the football season they'll bet on every game, not just the ones of their favorite team. For that matter, a compulsive gambler doesn't even have to have a favorite team. He may not even like football, but he'll watch the game for the rush it will give him should his team of choice win. The main problem with a gambling addiction is that it's very expensive. We're talking about betting money, in many cases large sums, that the person doesn't have. This is when it becomes dangerous, especially when the gambler starts going to loan sharks for funds. Needless to say, a compulsive gambler's life destroys not only himself but the people around him. Marriages are ended because of this problem. Lives are ruined. Why? Because the compulsive gambler can't stop on his own. He needs help and many won't get the help they need. For those who finally realize that they have a problem, most states have gamblers anonymous chapters that they can go to in order to attend meetings. The program itself is beyond the scope of this article but it is the first step that a compulsive gambler needs to take if he is going to learn to live with his addiction. |
