Blog – Problem Gambling
There was a Public Service Announcements that used to play in the 1990’s. I don’t recall the video images, but I do clearly remember the concluding voiceover of the ad series, which always ended the commercial by soberly stating: “Nobody ever says: “I want to be addict.” I didn’t think too deeply about the commercial then. But now, having lived longer and begun working in the field of mental health, I find the statement… significant. Part of this is the simply apprehended truth of the statement. When you have known, witnessed and/or been informed of the worst that addiction can do, the idea that a sound-minded person would choose such an experience is intuitively illogical. For example, in the case of problem gamblers, gamblers may willfully choose the initial experience which triggers the disorder but it is hard to think they choose outrageous debt, fear of loan sharks, losing their house and/or devastating their family. It seems obvious that a healthy individual would not consciously choose the destructive consequences addiction produces. Even though we agree that no one would willingly choose the destructive consequences severe addiction produces, we struggle to accept the “against their will” portion of the explanation. Part of the reason for this is simply the intensity of the emotions typically involved. When someone violates the integrity of relationship, feelings of betrayal and anger are not comforted by or comfortable with the conclusion that the guilty party was in some sense afflicted as opposed to responsible. If you are affected by someone’s gambling and struggling to understand the disease of addiction read more in our ebook The Faces of Problem Gambling and reach out for more information or support.