THE WILL POWER
Gambling addiction is a type of Impulsive-control disorder. They can’t control the impulse to gamble; even they know their gambling is hurting themselves as well as their loved ones. These people can’t think their life without gambling and all they want to do is gambling, no matter the consequences. Whatever the situation comes, whether they are up or down, happy or sad, even they know the odds against them, even they can’t afford to lose people with a gambling addiction can’t stay off the bet. The gambler may even do such things that he never thought he would. He can steal to get money to gamble or take money meant for his children or can cheat people for money to gamble.
Gamblers often rationalize their behavior. Mostly they avoid their responsibilities and blame others for their mistakes. Quick fix solutions may appear to be the right thing to do. However gamblers should not be bail out of their debt. That actually doesn’t help the man but eventually makes matter worse by enabling gambling problems to continue.
The gamblers always try to hide their problems as there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. They usually deny or minimize the problem. So now how one can understand he or a member of his family having gambling problem or not? Some suggestions for family members of problem gamblers:
- Don’t let him stay alone. Make your loved one feel that he/she is not alone. Even if he has lost every thing and came back he is not alone. A free support group from families can help him a lot.
- Set boundaries in managing money. Don’t allow him or her to be the controller of the family finance.
- You have to consider how you will handle request for money. Sometimes you have to become harsh on your loved one just to make him on right path. Problem gambler often pretends to be good and ask for money. They may use pleading, manipulation or even threats and blaming to get it. These things should be responded very carefully.
Ads
