What are the reasons for my gambling addiction?

Question

I think everyone has a positive and negative financial tally throughout their lives. If I am a 3 million dollar man (5000 a month salary for 50 working years), When I lose 5000 dollars, i think of it as my duty to work one extra month or one month of unpaid work. If anyone can understand what I mean by these stupid stuff, please give me a good psychological advice. I don't want to end up working unpaid through the rest of my life. I know I am bad at games. But I get a lot of energy and feelings of happiness when I win.

Answer 1

I think that you may be rationalizing your gambling by thinking that you can make up any losses you suffer by working longer during your lifetime.

The only flaw that I see in your reasoning is that the bills can pile up exponentially in a short period of time. This sudden rush of debt can put you into a position where you may lose all of your life savings and all of your material possessions, not to mention your wife and kids.

So, I agree with your rationalization if you gamble only at a level that precludes any foreclosures on your financial base.

Answer 2

NAMI.org--lots of good information about addictions and how to find help.

I think that there are some personalities, probably genetically given, that are more prone, more succeptible to addiction. I am one of those, most of my family is. Fortunately, I only allow addiction to caffiene, reading books, and food. I always knew if I touched anything stronger I'd be lost for life. As were some of my family.

People with addictions may have gotten them honestly, but curing them is much more difficult than one might think because along with addictions come a host of other mental illnesses like suicidal tendencies, like depression or bipolar disorder. So now there is an addiction to cure and its friend mental illness.

If you want to recover from an addiction, the above people will help you. They can get you help for any psychological or psychiatric problems you may have developed. They're good people. And they are all over the world.

Best wishes,
Debbie
Not a mental illness practitioner