A CHART OF COMPULSIVE GAMBLING AND RECOVERY

Hello everyone,

As I learn more in my education part of group therapy, I will be sharing this helpful info on this thread. Remember stay thirsty my friend, for a gamble free life.

Sincerely,

Chicagoguy

Hello everyone,

I'am a compulsive gambler, my g.o.c. was slots. I'am going to use this thread to post info I learn in my group therapy class.

I found this interesting:

PROFILE OF COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS:

PERSONALITY:

(VALUES AND ATTITUDES)

* self-concept tied to money and thus to gambling success

* equate self-concept with quantity and quality of possession

* feel all is right with the world when gambling and feel omnipotent

(HABITS AND BEHAVIORS)

* craves stimulation, excitement and change

* loves challenges, risks and adventure

* above average intelligence

* very competitive-frequently have athletic ability

* energetic-give it their all in an "all or nothing" mind

(SKILL DEFICITS)

* procrastinators who avoid responsibility,frustration,conflict

* have poor money management skills and poor problem solving skills

* unable to stick to goals-or to gambling "system"

* dependent

* impulsive

* can't tolerate boredom

* low self-esteem

* begins telling falsehoods so much that it becomes a way of life

* heavy into denial and blame everybody else for problems

* frequently have other addictions

GAMBLING HABITS

* life centers around gambling-either to get money for gambling,talking about gambling or spending time in gambling activity

* have to increase size and frequency of bets to maintain some "high"

* gambling games of choice differ between men and women:

men: sports, casino, poker, dice, horse racing, dog racing, video poker, stock options, high-risk business deals, lottery, pool, golf

women: lottery, bingo, slots, video poker

FINANCIAL AND LEGAL PROBLEMS:

* deeply in debt-may owe $10,000 to $100,000

* owe relatives, friends, banks, loan sharks, bookies

* three to six months behind the monthly bills

* have had purchases repossessed or sold family possessions

* have cashed all insurance policies and/or maxed out all credit cards

* may have opened checking accounts family does not know about

* may have "temporarily borrowed" or embezzled money to finance gambling activity

I wish you all the best in your recovery,

Sincerely,

Chicagoguy

Hello everyone,

Please let me know if any of you reading this would like me to continue posting information from my group therapy classes on here. Just was looking for some feedback on this thread.

Sincerely,

Chicagoguy

P.S. Post on my recovery diaries thread

Chicagoguy

Hi Chicagoguy,

I am trying to give up gambling for the 3rd time and appreciate your posts.

I have been at the desperation stage for some time now,have been divorced and this latest episode has put my relationship with the people i love most my kids and my partner at breaking point.

It is good to see the positive stages to see where i can hopefully go,having stopped before for a year it reminded me how life can be when gamble free.

Also interesting point regarding the profile as matches me to a tee and think that one of the big things during recovery is getting to understand your own personality and also the way your mind works.

Thanks,

Alex

I also enjoy reading your class therepy work...I'm an ex other half of a gambler who never went into recovery...reading this helps me understand that his thinking and behaviour were part of the illness and not all my fault.

I think the supporters side would also welcome this info if its easy to copy and paste as often we are confused about what is causing our loved ones to change from nice people into what they become

Thank you x

Hi I think what you're posting is really interesting, please keep sharing!

Thanks Half-Empty,

I'am just trying to post information that can help us all understand our addiction better. I couldn't find you in the recovery diaries forum so I'am posting a thanks to you here. I will have more info posting later this week. Stay strong in your recovery process.

Chicagoguy

Goodevening everyone,

Hope all is well in your recovery process. Below is some more interesting information.

TYPES OF GAMBLERS-(CLUSTER)

(PROFESSIONAL)

** Description: Gambling is primary source of income, makes living gambling

** Level of control: Very contrlled, patiently waits for the best bet

** Length of stay at this level: Indefinite

(ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY)

** Description: Life career is getting money by illegal means, those who gamble try to fix gambling games

** Level of control: Cannot control his/her criminal personality

** Length of stay at this level: Indefinate

(CASUAL SOCIAL GAMBLER)

** Description: Gambling is one of many forms of entertainment, gambles infrequently

** Level of control: If he/she could not participate in gambling, would never miss it

** Length of stay at this level: Rarely escalates to compulsive gambling, if it does, it is usually in responce to a trauma and a predisposing factor

(RELIEF AND ESCAPE GAMBLER)

** Description: Major activity in person's life of equal importance with family and business, but rest of life goes on without integrity being seriously impaired, more than a past time

** Level of control: Can stop, but with more difficulty than casual or serious casual gamblers

** Length of stay at this level: Rarely escalates to compulsive gambling, if it does, it is usually in response to a trauma and a predisposing factor

(COMPULSIVE GAMBLER)

** Description: Gambling is the only thing in life, ignores family and business and oftens turns to crime to support habit

** Level of control: Cannot stop (without treatment), no matter how hard he/she tries

** Length of stay at this level: Life is ruined unless he/she gets help

Some information that will help us all understand the mood swings that come with being a compulsive gambler:

(STAGES OF GAMBLING ADDICTION)

** Healthy people live on a continuum between pain and euphoria. We spend most of our time in the normal ranges with periodic swings to the euphoric side when great accomplishments occur in our lives, like falling in love or getting a bright, shiny new car. Pain is connected with loss or disapointments, such as death or smashing the shiny new car.

** Chemicals: alcohol, marijuana, other drugs, and some natural body chemicals- induce euphoria and pain

** Here are four stages of addiction and where the addicted is on the path of pain, normalcy, and euphoria

(STAGES OF DEPENDENCY)

1. (LEARNING THE MOOD SWING)

A. Gambling as a form of entertainment

B. Feelings- Likes excitement, "good"

C. Frequency- Sporadic

** Summary: The power of the game is dicovered. The action always makes a player feel great and euphoric. They return to normal after the excitement wears off. They learn to control the mood swing by regulating the frequency of gambling activity.

2. (SEEKING THE MOOD SWING)

A. Feelings- Excited, proud, some guilt

B. Behaviors- Change in appearance and peers, mood swings, school problems

C. Frequency- Varied, some pattern

** Summary: The frequency and range continues to grow, but gambling activity is still confined to appropriate times and places. Self-imposed rules are developed (never before 5:00, only on weekends, etc.).

The action still moves them toward europhia and back to normal with the exception of the few regrets, and they know how they become depressed- the financial loss

3. (PREOCCUPATION WITH THE MOOD SWING/HARMFUL DEPENDENCY)

A. Feelings - Peaceful, depressed, guilty

B. Behaviors- Family fights, police incidents, school problems, money problems

C. Frequency- Patterned

** Summary: In some cases the disease process now begins for the family. The gambler begins to suffer losses in their life. Family problems become centered on gambling. The gambler can not predict the effect, and they no longer return to normal. Delays in action create anxiety, and they become frustrated. Tolerance grows. The gambler needs to have a ready supply of money at hand. Compulsive gambling leads to unpredictable behavior which leads to gambling more to smooth over negative feelings.

4. (USING TO FEEL NORMAL)

A. Source- Anyway possible, including s*x, theft, selling

B. Feelings- Guilt, shame, depression

C. Behaviors- Physical destruction, mental deterioration, "zombie"

D. Frequency- Patterned

** Summary: The compulsive gambler gambles to reach what he/she remembers as normal. Euphoria may now be beyond them. If dependency is not arrested, the gambler may be thinking or attempting suicide as a way out.

** A special thanks to (**** Addiction Counseling Center for Compulsive Gambling), they have been my rock.

Chicagoguy

Thanks Chicago guy....

Even though I decided to leave my relationship a year ago I am still an active member of this site and currently the only active postee from supporters as far as I know,....my recovery had also to begin from co dependancy..

In a nutshell my codependant patterns are highly compliance based rather than an overt controller...I comply with active addiction for a long time then snap and become aggressive becoming verbally abusive and also violent..smashing things up.

i was always reacting to mood changes with my partner who was a online gambler whos dream was to quit his well paid job and become professional.

The violence was no excuse but as a consequence of a tired and exhausted mind that was always on edge..reacting reacting to another persons mood and trying to smooth the way all the time so he would have no cause to change....

I blamed myself for a long time . ..things like being. Scowled at if he had a loss and silently blamed because the tv was on or I spoke at the wrong time or breathed at the wrong time texted or phoned at the wrong time.i began to drink heavily to cope which aggrivated the anger in me more.

For me the alterations in mood knocked me off balance much more than the money losses...

This is my 3rd diary on GC...I am also in a 12 step programme for my own codependancy issues..which some believe are the driving force behind all addictions.

At first our relationship seemed a natural fit until the cracks started to show and there were other thrill seeking activities that also added to the stress.

In the uk there is also SLADA I guess you have something like that in the states as most recovery programmes have come from the US which i am eternally grateful for as you folks are way ahead of us on that level..SLADA Is s*x and love addicts anonymus which many codeps also attend.

As far as I know my ex is still gambling ...we didn't make it as a couple but individually there may be more hope .

Thank you again for starting this thread..it makes a lot of sense to me and also is helping me realise the layers underneath...if we all share info like this who knows? We could really change the world....lol

Rachel xx ( dotty is my dog ) lol xx

Hi, I am new here and yours is the first thread I am replying to. Very interesting and great gambling education, gives an understanding of how our compulsive gamblers minds work. Thanks!

Hello everyone,

Our group class was cancelled this last Tuesday due to a snow storm, so I will be posting more info this next week. Thank-you all that are reading and I hope you are finding this thread helpful in your journey.

Chicagoguy

P.S. To those who have not started a recovery diary in that forum, I really suggest you start one, you will recieve tons of support on there.

Chicagoguy