Another sad article

Saw this today:

25-Year-Old Admits His Gambling Is ‘Completely Out Of Control’

Dr PhilJanuary 22, 2019


John says he first gambled at 18 and by 20, it was no longer a hobby – but an addiction.

“In January of 2017, I realized that my gambling was completely out of control,” says the 25-year-old, who has lost $60,000.

John currently doesn’t have a job, lives in his parents’ basement rent-free, and his parents pay for food and his cell phone bill.

WATCH: 25-Year-Old Father Of Three Addicted To Gambling, Down $60,000, Steals From Family

“Staying in the basement of my parents’ house is rock bottom. It’s just a rut that I just can’t seem to get out of,” John says.

John is also the father to three young boys whom he doesn’t support – and rarely sees. “My addiction with gambling definitely takes from away any thought of ever giving money to Sarah and helping out with the boys,” he says. “All I think about is playing poker.”

Hear more of John’s story in the video above. Is he ready to make a change? See what happens on Tuesday’s episode of Dr. Phil. Check here to see where you can watch.

I relate a lot to John, minus the fact that he's a father. That must be very difficult for him and his family. In reading that, my first thought is that the guilt he must feel is a killer. Inherently there's nothing wrong with living with parents -- rising housing costs without rising wages will make it an increasingly common phenomenon in the 21st century. But knowing that he is, by definition, draining their resources is hard for everyone involved.

I am currently living with my parents as well, but after the first 2 rocky years, I am finally on a stable trajectory to a more serene period in my life. I started gambling before I graduated high school, and I'd go so far as to say I was addicted by the July after I graduated. It was my entryway into adulthood. I have acquired a lot of expensive wisdom from it, and I know that I'll never be completely free from the addiction. It's a valuable part of my life experience, and I try to treat it as such.

Wow. I'm beginning to see how gambling is destroying the lives of so many. At one point, I thought gambling was just a bunch of us folks having a good ole' time, but it affects some of us way more than others.

It's good to know that others struggle as I do with gambling, but it's sad to see when entire families are ruined due to this addiction.