Think Marijuana Addiction has any negative effects? Check out these stories about Addiction To Marijuana and see how partners and relationships can suffer.
Here's an example of how a gambling addiction starts. This is the real story of one man who came to Guy Stuff Counseling for help with his gambling addiction.
Anthony had never gambled before. Sure, he'd played cards with friends at parties in high school, but never anything serious. Other than occasionally watching the poker tournaments on TV, gambling never had any appeal.
During his first year at college Anthony got invited into other guys' dorm rooms at night to play cards. He found that it was a great way to escape the studying he didn't want to do. As his school demands increased, so did the attraction and enjoyment of playing cards. Soon Anthony was up all night gambling and starting to skip classes. As his desire to gamble grew, he sought out other places to play and discovered online gambling.
When Anthony got kicked out of school, he knew it was partly due to his gambling, but he never thought he had a gambling addiction. He just moved back home, got a job, and started going to the local casinos to gamble. In addition to the 4 Indian casinos within easy driving distance, he found a card room only a mile from his house.
The card rooms made him feel seedy. He knew many of the other guys in there had a gambling problem. After all, they were always in there; every time he went in he saw the same faces.At least he could control it and didn't spend every day there, he thought.
He developed a strategy to keep his gambling addiction a secret from his parents. After the money he'd wasted at school, his dad watched his bank account carefully. He learned if he only withdrew a couple hundred dollars, and did from the local ATM and not at the casinos, his gambling wasn't noticeable by parents.
Anthony tried going back to school again at the local junior college, but found that missing classes and assignments didn't work there either. As he got more and more down on himself, and worried about what he would do with his life, he spent more and more time gambling. The money he was losing grew also. It didn't even seem inappropriate to him to be playing for a pot of $2,900 when he only made $10 an hour working part time at Home Depot.
One night, after getting kicked out by his girlfriend, he lost $400 in a half hour. Afterwards, as he walked out to his car and saw it packed full of everything he owned, and thought about having no money, no place to live, and no hope, he realized he had a gambling problem.
Anthony got his parents support and came to Guy Stuff for counseling. We've been working on his gambling addiction by helping him discover the reasons why he gambled. One of the things he's learned is that he used gambling to occupy his time and avoid things. As a result of our work, Anthony went back to school earlier this month and he's learning to use new ways to deal with the stressors in his life.
Think Marijuana Addiction has any negative effects? Check out these stories about Addiction To Marijuana and see how partners and relationships can suffer.
Could you have an Arousal Addiction? Or know someone who might? It’s possible. Many people do. So find out what Arousal Addiction is and how it manifests.
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Im a compulsive gambler...pls. I need your advice..how to stop it....I'm closed to very bottom!
I am a compulsive gambler. I've been on this roller coaster since 2002. I've been where I thought I've hit rock bottom on many occasions. After each time, I would refrain from gambling, attend GA meetings looking for the magical cure. The pain from those crashes would soon reside and I would gradually return . I've lost my marriage, employment and some long time friends. The money that has been lost means nothing. I never went for the money even though I always thought it would be nice not to have to use my own to pay bills. It never works out that way because it usually works out to where I can't even pay those. Trying to figure out what my triggers are have not been exact either. Good or bad days I can find an excuse to play. Wins or loses don't even have a deciding factor. I am comfortable in the casino or poker rooms because I know that I will not be judge in those places because I am just like every other person there. I'm a compulsive gambler.
Makana, Thanks for your honesty and sharing your story. You've got to dig deeper than just learning your triggers; addiction is a symptom of deeper problems. Get some professional counseling help because it's almost always too tough to beat this on your own. -Kurt
My fiancée is a compulsive gambler we have been together since 2006. He has lost 8 jobs in that time, stolen from me and our children, borrowed from alot of people and not paid them back. He has stopped for short periods of time where he swears to never gamble again , he drove our car into the sea afew years back as a cry for help. Now he is telling me he enjoys a bet and wants to be allowed to place one bet per week( that will be at least 10 then)
I don't know what to do he is very manipulating and blames me sometimes for his actions. I have asked him to leave but he won't do that either. I need some advice.
Ber, If he won't leave and you want to separate why don't you leave? Don't give him power over your options. Gambling and financial risk taking behavior requires very firm boundaries. Talking to a professional counselor trained in these areas will help you to learn how to set more effective limits with him. -Kurt
Hi Kurt the reason I have not left is quite simple I have no where to go, I have 2 young children and no savings. I hold a part- time job in order to pay bills and rent, my parents are deceased and I am always waiting for the change in my partner that never happens.
Its a very unhappy situation that myself and my children are in. I feel like I'm in limbo I cant move on with my life until he leaves!
Hi Ber my boyfriend is a compulsive gambler too. He is very much addicted in any form of gambling like casino, lottery,online pocker etc. Our relationship are also affected by his behavior. He changed a lot, he became irritated. And I can't deny I felt neglected because of what he had done. My family esp. My parents doesn't like him anymore and I can't blame them. At first he kept denying about whats happening on him but after he lost his job, go back here in our home country and got separated from me for about a month he finally realized that there is something wrong on him. When he hit the very bottom of his life he decided to seek for a help and accept that he is already a compulsive gambler. I can't deny I still love him though he lost my trust. I pity on him, but I tell my self if I really love him i will help him to be out on this addiction. What I'm trying to say is send him to a rehabilitation or support group just like what I did. Separate your own personal feelings and tell to yourself that your enemy is not your fiance but his disorder and that is for being a compulsive gambler. I know it's tough but try to understand that they're not aware of their addictive disorder and we as their partners has an eye to see those things. Though theres no assurance if he can still recover but we're hoping that he can do. He is now undergoing his therapy inside the rehabilitation.and I know in God's grace, soon I will meet my boyfriend who I love not the compulsive one but the new one. Pray harder Ber because that's the best weapon. God bless us.