The Addiction Help .com

I recently found out a family member struggles with this. He's going to gambler's anonymous, but he's still having lots of set backs. I don't know if there's any depression or bipolar disorder on his side of the family, but I've read that this sort of addiction can be chemical, something to do with norepinephrine.

This is not just a bad habit. It's an addiction. He trembles when he talks about it. He and his family are low income, no insurance. It's mostly lottery-type gambling.

Anyone have any good resources or success in helping people kick the habit? Is there an herbal equivalent of the prescription drug to curb gambling?

I have a brother that is a gambling addict. Gamblers anoynomous did not help him. Unfortunately, all the talk of gambling at the meets made him want to gamble more. He felt a need to gamble to have something to talk about at the next meeting. He signed up for self exclusion at the casinos and that did not work either. He gambled tens and tens of thousands of dollars while on their banned list. The bank just kept on giving him more and more credit. One one one counselling seemed to help the most, but he stopped going. I only found out my brother was gambling when he emptied a joint account we co-owned. My brother is not into drugs, does not have any other mental illnesses, works full time and goes to church almost every week. Yet, he is sick and will lie to my face so well and swear on my mom's dead grave that he has stopped. It is an addiction. My advice is to to take over that person's finaces and give him a weekly salary. They will only stop when they go bankrupt otherwise. It effects the whole family. I suggest you all go for counselling. Good luck. I'm sorry. I don't have an answer. I moved out and really don't know if my brother still gambles. It was making me physically and mentally sick and giving me an eating disorder watching him throw away his inheritance.

2007-12-02 11:24:05 by Contemplative Chanteuse IDK TIRH

Alex gets his first scratch off ticket and Actually won something.

My family has less then $100 to last the next TWO weeks and my mother spent $20 on a lottery ticket.
she does that all the time.
she will spend our last five bucks on lottery ticks.
and my dad wont do anything about it.

shes always claiming that this will be the one to make us rich, but it never does.

what can I do?

and do you think its a real problem?

Yes, she has a real problem.

Gambling is all relative. If Lay Leno goes to a casino and blows $100,000 in an evening, it's no big deal. He can afford it.

If someone gambles with 20% of all the money they have to last two weeks. Clearly they have a serious problem. $20 may not sound like a lot to many people, but if you only have $100 to live on, it is a massive chunk.

It seems pretty clear that she is dreaming that she will one day win and improve her life. But sadly a far more likely outcome is she will cause suffering to her family as she squanders money she cannot afford do, and the family then have to do without.

The odds of winning big are millions to one. The jackpot is over a 100,000,000 to one shot. She really needs to stop.

2007-06-25 18:31:08 by DESTROYdestroy

Price: $25.00

I was wondering if the store let you keep the POWERBALL lottery ticket that you won a prize with,if they just mark it or something?! So,you would keep track on the amount of tickets you got in the year and control your gambling addiction!
Well,since my prize was less than $600 USD,I went to a lottery vendor and got my money prize there! I forgot to ask them if they can just mark my lottery ticket!

You have to sign the ticket and give it to the lottery office. Why not just make a copy of the ticket before you turn it it? Then you can mark on the copy what you won and also keep track of the ticket for your count.

2009-01-17 20:18:55 by saintbeowulf

Price: $14.95

i am in high school and my mom has a serious gambling problem. it started out by buying lottery tickets and then she went on to slot machines. over the past couple of years, it has gotten worse and worse. she bets on ANYTHING all during the day. she will ask random people in stores even to bet on things, even simple stuff like how long do you think the longest expiration date we will be able to find on milk. well, as of recently, she has even been waking me up during the night to make bets with me about stupid stuff, like can i spell this word and such....i am about to go insane!! i have talked to dad about it, but he said it doesnt bother him. and no one else will listen...help please!!

Wow, your dad doesn't even think it's serious? That sounds horrible!! =(
Yeah, your mom really needs to get help. I've never known anyone personally with this problem, but I do know there are actually support groups and rehab for this kind of thing, and I just searched "gambling addiction help" on google and found a link to a site that might help you:
http://www.ncpgambling.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1
Apparently there's even a national council against compulsive gambling. I really hope your mom can get over her addiction, but she will need your help! And she definitely needs to admit she has a problem. Good luck!!

2008-11-17 20:04:37 by Goat G

I've come to terms with my addiction to gambling... mostly lottery tickets (scratch off, draw games). It's been months building up, and I had no idea what I was getting into. I took a good look at my finances, and I am at the point of no return! I've been searching for the right counselor, and found out thru my work we offer Employee Assistance Program (EAP). I found articles on the internet, and all of my symptoms and actions diagnosed as a mental disorder, Pathological Gambling, I can deal with the difficulty of getting better, but my major problem is how I've kept it a secret from my spouse, friends and family members. That was one of the key factors to my illness. I am taking the first step in getting help....but how do I disclose to my spouse the mountain of debt we're in? I am prepared to end our marriage if it comes to that. But honestly, I feel my spouse will be supportive in helping me recover, and we would have to start over (most likely have to file bankruptsy).

Unfortunately you've encountered an addiction that costs money, and leaves you and your family in a rough situation. If it makes you feel better, everyone has an addiction. whether it be gambling or alcohol or sex or religion, people end up with a crutch to help them get by. People even get addicted to help groups.

If you're prepared to deal with it whatever the cost, and you're in a position in which you understand your problem, you are well ahead of the greater majority. Good luck and i hope things work out for you and that the next one isn't so costly.

2006-12-06 18:27:55 by LARGE MARGE