Why does everyone assume you have to hit rock bottom ...

..to need help?

I have an addiction to slot machines (pokies as we call them in NZ), but I also have a moderate level of self- control when it comes to money. I don't and never have gambled more than I could afford to lose, but I have, repeatedly gambled ALL I could afford to lose and closed off all other options for use of that disposable income.

I look at myself and I feel addicted. I desperately want not just not to play them, but not to WANT to play them, but I look at every single story about problem gambling i ever read anywhere and its unversally a story of total financial ruin, rock bottom-hitting horror.

Is part of the problem that our society, especially 12 step programs and the such, don't even seem to recognise the existence of addiction until it reaches that level?

If you were to turn up at AA and say 'I drink more than I'm comfortable with, but it hasn't caused me any real problems yet' you'd be looked at like you were mad. It seems that the horror stories are expected or its not a real issue.

Why is there no support for early stage, controlled or low-level addiction?

Hi Chiddler,

First off, thanks for taking up for Kit Kat, as I read your post

You are in the exact same boat as I am. I seriously doubt I would ever risk money that is needed for bills, including extra money to pay down debt even faster, but there have been several times that every last bit of my discretionary income for the week has been wasted in a matter of hours

Usually, the next day I take a cash advance on a normal credit card that costs only $20 or so just to have spending money again but then I have to pay that back within a month which I do, but the whole cycle tends to repeat itself

All in all, I remain financially healthy and even continue to get ahead, but your point is well-taken

Yes, I have control overall, but on a semi-weekly, short-term basis I do not at times

The positive for us is that there is a forum like this to talk about it because one does not have to hit "rock-bottom" to realize that our behavior could improve

Thanks for the great post!

Petemon

Chiddler wrote: I look at myself and I feel addicted. I desperately want not just not to play them, but not to WANT to play them, but I look at every single story about problem gambling i ever read anywhere and its unversally a story of total financial ruin, rock bottom-hitting horror.

Chiddler, if you read the posts here, there are many degrees of addiction. Some have hit close to "rock bottom," but so far I have not read any stories of incarceration for theft, so I am thinking that even on this board, there are not ultimately "rock bottom" experiences. It is up to the person to decide if he or she has a problem. If you feel that you are engaging in something that takes hold of you, that you lose control to this urge to gamble, throw away your good judgement and waste money, which you then deeply regret, you have a problem.

Here the 20 Questions of G.A. If you answer, with a brutally honest examination, as "yes" to seven or more, then you likely are a compulsive gambler. I answer "yes" to ten of these -- #'s 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18. My answers to #4 and to #13 in particular, are very strongly "yes," with #13 referring to being careless with my own well-being. I call myself a compulsive gambler, though I pay my bills on time, and have not stolen or borrowed to gamble.

1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Did gambling affect your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, boredom or loneliness?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

I only just scraped 7, and only of those 7 was very evry borderline, but I certainly do have a problem with poker machines - though only with them, other forms of gambling are just occasional entertainments for me and have no such effect.

I guess that makes sense though, I'm at the low end of the scale which fits with my original comments

I am far from rock bottom, but consider myself on the edge of what could become a huge problem.
I answered "yes" to 5, possibly 6 of the GA questions above. We who catch it early on are very blessed. Do we really want to put ourselves in jeopardy of going down a slippery slope?
The time to quit is NOW before we get into a hole and when we still feel we have some measure
of control over our gambling.

Thanks for this post, and I agree. While I haven't hit rock bottom, there are times I worry that I might eventually head there. I have gone gambling 3 times this week and it's already Thursday (I didn't go Wednesday or tonight, but I sure thought about it today when I got my paycheck.) I used to take just $50 or so with me, and now it's not uncommon for me to blow through $200 at a time, sometimes even $300.
Fortunately I have a good job, but still, there are better things I could be doing with that money as i'm a single mom and homeowner. Unfortunately, there is a casino within minutes of my house, and even if there wasn't, there are all these gambling cafes with 5 machines each in them all over the place and in just about every bar or restaurant you visit, and no, I'm not in Vegas!
But still, I haven't broken any laws, totally bankrupted myself, and i'm not suicidal. But I do admit I want to go a lot, I count up how much money I think I can lose gambling, and I find myself nervous when I don't get to go.
I think you're right, it's time to get hold of this problem before it gets worse and before hitting rock bottom. Maybe find some new hobbies, limit access to cash money?
Because, honestly, sometimes it's not even about the money, or I'd leave when I'm up instead of putting it all back in. Sometimes I'm hitting the rebet button so fast, I don't even notice when I've won.
Even worse, the security at the casino (it's a small place) are starting to recognize me when I go in, so I know I'm there too much!
So yeah, maybe it's time to nip this addiction in the bud before it gets too bad...any suggestions from anyone who has been in this situation?

It starts off a nice steady incline ,but can turn into a sheer drop before you realise whats happening,it cradles you into its soothing grip before hitting you harder than any sledgehammer ever could ,please take care and i sincerely hope you and anybody else for that matter never get to see the full power of this addiction.

very best wishes

Wow, I generally feel like I haven't hit rock bottom, I've probably lost a total of 2500 gambling, and ran up another 1500 in credit card debt, and I answered yes to 16 of these...

Don't assume there is a magic number for rock bottom. For some people it's losing $500. For some people it's going to jail. For some people it's losing everything multiple times. I agree with the fact that for an addict hitting rock bottom is necessary, though; otherwise you'll stick with reservations that will lead you back to a casino one way or another. Once you get to THAT PLACE you will truly be ready to do all in your power not to get there again.

Do you have a problem? Well if you're asking yourself that question, probably so. And it's not always about the money. How much are you alienating your children, spouse, other family and friends? How much time away from other hobbies and interests is gambling stealing from that? How much has gambling changed you as a person? Just some points to ponder