Hi all,Â
This might seem a slightly odd topic to start but it’s been something I’ve been thinking about recently.Â
I think there’s a lot of stereotypes about the type of people who are problem gamblers, many of which aren’t accurate. However, one thing I have found from my own experience is that a larger proportionate number of people who are recovering from problem seem to be men. This is purely anecdotal from my own experience so I’m not sure if this is actually the reality.Â
I sometimes feel as though there are very few people in my demographic (female, in my 20s). I’ve had some great advice from people of all genders and ages so this isn’t necessarily an issue but would be interested to hear if there’s anyone else who feels similarly?Â
Hello, I am a female in my early 30s and I understand what you mean.Â
Hello Cerry93 and Welcome.
Yes I can understand why you feel there are stereotypes used but I can assure you that there is a large range of men and women affected by this problem.
Perhaps there is a point that more men are seen in certain environments like the bookies but I certainly saw an ever increasing amount of women on the slot machines in particular. I Suppose there are some environments where more women are seen gambling but I don't know if its helpful to consider gender too much
Perhaps women were not as attracted to gambling.....more grounded....more sensible. Maybe that's a patronising or twee viewpoint but I feel its a gender argument that can only distract us. We are people and I'm sure the addiction affects the minds of all ages and genders.
I think the gambling dens have been targeting genders and age groups to expand the addict base they thrive on.
The stereotype males the TV companies often use in documentaries sometimes annoy me as there is a tendency for less sympathy or empathy from the non gambling public.
There is a wide range of personalities who become gambling addicts. So you are you shouldn't feel left out from the help on offer like GA meetings, counselling and advice
I will be honest that the GA meeting I attended was full of older males than myself and I wasn't ready to face it properly. I thought I was a La Di Da casual gambler and they had more serious problems....Too heavy but the reality is I just wasn't ready to deal with my addiction properly
Later in life I beat it with proper advice on the forum and family support
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
Hi
When I gambled it was a form of escape I was running away in my fears.
In my recovery I got to understand my emotional triggers, pains I could not heal, fears I could not face, frustrations due to my unreasonable expectations of people life and situations, loneliness, and boredom.
I got to understand my anger was an unhealthy reaction to pains I could not heal, fears I could not face, frustrations due to my unreasonable expectations of people life and situations.
Where do you start to peel back the onion and expose the hurt inner child in you?
In m time I found that often men find it very hard to open up emotionally, and often when people are healthier in the rooms people will often feel even more vulnerable with an depth therapy.
Yet openeing up emotionally was very difficult because I had been pent up emotionally for so long.Â
By attnding the recovery program I felt I was anot able to articulate my feelings and my emotions.
It was by seeing and hearing other people therapies I got to understand my self even more.
Ladies think that they are threatened by men in the rooms, often it is the other way.
But some men are very scared to open up to far.
Having ladies in our meeting is very healthy and foten show how vulnerable they are that day.
Ladies have a big part in the recovery program and often are admired for their emotional sharing.
I was abale to be more open in the rooms before I was abale to be more open with my wife and my family.
How could that be the lady I was suppose to love the most was the person I felt most vulnerable talking to.
Love and peace to everyone
Dave L
AKA Dave of Beckenham UK
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