Self Recovery Gambling:

by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker

February 16, 2006

Is gambling addictive and if so then how is it related to other addictions? 

Gambling can be addictive like drinking alcohol in which gambling can be a social activity for many, but some people cross the line, never to return again. An estimated 5 percent of the population is compulsive gamblers but some people cross the line, never to return again. An estimated 5 percent of the population is compulsive gamblers. They have also reported that anywhere from 47 to 52 percent of the people who are pathological gamblers also have alcohol- and substance-related disorders. However like alcohol and drug addictions, compulsive gamblers also report a withdrawal syndrome consisting of the following symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, insomnia, anorexia, and numerous somatic complaints such as headaches, gastrointestinal upset and in addition, depression symptoms have also been reported upon stopping gambling. 

Why self recovery is required?

Since for ages, seriously addicted people have simply quit the use of alcohol and other drugs as well as then gotten on with their lives and today, millions of seriously addicted people simply get fed up with the results of their addictions, make a decision to abstain no matter what, and move on to discover new and better satisfactions.

However free from the undertow of addiction, these independent people immediately feel better and do better in every respect. Their problems, including the problems they thought they were medicating with alcohol or other drugs, fade or vanish, and the anguish of addiction is soon covered by the sands of time and therefore freedom and dignity lost to addiction is finally regained.

And these self-recovered people greatly outnumber the combined membership of the support group networks, but in the society, they are overlooked as if they don't exist and for that purpose Rational Recovery identifies the self-recovered as a national treasure, for they obviously know something that is more important than all the scientific research ever done on the subjects of addiction and recovery. The self recovered are the real experts on addiction recovery and also they are the inspiration and the mentors of Rational Recovery.

How can financial counselor help?

Now talking about Pathological gamblers, they often find themselves in a devastating financial position by the time they reach treatment and helping them become financially stable goes a long way in supporting their recovery and the well-being of their families. Hence it is the responsibility of the financial counselor’s role at the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery first to determine the extent of the gambler's debt, and then to help guide them out of their financial problems through debt management, budgeting and restitution. Hence gamblers in treatment at Proctor Hospital work extensively with the financial counselor, through every level of care, to achieve financial stability and recover the gambler.

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