Saturday, September 17, 2011

Organizations Helping Gambling Addicts

By Gregory Brooks


With the rise of popularity of casinos and associated games, gamblers have today become very vulnerable to personal destruction, that it has taken a toll on their lives, family and relationships. Much of this has to do with one's own conviction to control their need to gamble. The development of technology in general and Internet's popularization have provided access to gambling to people all over the world. Online casinos make it possible for players to play from different parts of the globe and thereby inviting ruining consequences. This is where we see the importance of organizations that help gambling addicts.

Gambling addiction can be defined as the inability to stop oneself from gambling, leaving the doors open to adverse results both in personal as well as professional life. Luckily for many, help is at hand. A number of organizations offer counseling services, and programs aiding to eliminate the yearning to gamble.

One of the first and foremost programs is Gamblers Anonymous. Modeled on the lines of Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous is a 12 step program to help gambling addicts to de-addict themselves. During the program, gamblers are made to realize the destructive impact of gambling, where it has taken them morally, and reason out the ways in which it has ruined their lives, as well as others related to them. Members of the organization offer their support in guiding addicts in the right direction.

Whilst being as effective as other organizations helping gambling addicts in combating the need of making big bucks, observations suggest that this program has been more efficient in treating chronic cases, whereas the mild cases weren't as influenced. Reasons could be that occasional players rarely go through the damaging results of excessive gambling.

For mild cases, there are "treatments" available in the so-called Treatment Centers. These centers have experienced staff who help detach the addict from the thoughts of gambling by involving them in optional activities, thereby diverting their attention away from gambling. Addicts are also put through various counseling sessions that throw light on many degenerating effects of gambling on one's own life and those near and dear. Excessive gambling can even impact society in general.

Gam-Anon, another organization working on similar lines, takes a slightly different route by directing efforts to educate family members of addicts, on how they can speed up the de-addiction. They are also provided constant counselling services, on how to react to the actions of addicts and help them recover from this predicament.

Self help is the best help, which is the next method in fighting addiction that entails withdrawing oneself by maintaining consciousness of the aforementioned destructive consequences. One of the biggest advantages of this method is a strong build up of self confidence, if done properly. However, this is a very difficult endevour, as it is not an easy task to quit gambling at once. Hence, a disciplined approach should be espoused while considering this solution.

In the end, regardless of the method adopted, it is highly pertinent to rid oneself of the destructive addiction to gambling, which is a waste of time and money, as well as pernicious to the well being of oneself, as well as the society. Whatever said and done, the critical role played by the organizations helping gambling addicts can never be discounted.




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