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Compulsive Gambling
Do you have a problem?
By:
Stuart Milan RN, MSN, APMHNP (1988)
Clinical Director of Residential Program
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Forty-eight of 50 states now have some form of legalized gambling. With access to the internet it is virtually possible for anyone to be gambling anywhere. In Mississippi alone, there are over 20 casinos in operation with several more scheduled to open. Along with this boom in the casino industry, the problem of compulsive gambling has flourished. Compulsive gambling is also referred to as the "purest addiction;" the fact that nothing enters the body makes the addiction very difficult for some people to understand, therefore, the gambler's ability to stop gambling on his/her own is almost impossible. In this month's newsletter, a COPAC staff member and former patient, shares her story of recovery from gambling addiction.
Juanita's Story
You wake up one day and realize at age 46 that you don't really know how to live life. I went through a devastating gambling addiction that brought me down to a bottom so low that there seemed to be no way up. Then I found COPAC. I was near death; emotionally, spiritually and physically from my gambling addiction. What started out as a nice getaway for fun at the casino eventually led to an easy way to escape the problems that I was unable to cope with in my life. I had to get help.
I was admitted to COPAC and thought that I had made a terrible mistake. At first, I cried and wanted to leave, but after some time here I began to learn many things about myself. First, we looked at character defects. I thought to myself, "I don't have any character defects," everyone else in my life has them, but not me. Well I had a rude awakening. I had many things that I had held in over the years that exploded into running away from situations, people, etc. I realized that my fear, resentments toward others, low self esteem and anger had a lot to do with why I escaped from people and situations because I didn't know that there was any other way to cope with life other than hold in my feelings let resentments build then explode.
Second, I was involved in group therapy. At first, I didn't say much out of fear as I always kept feelings inside. But little by little, I began to share with others a lifetime of feelings that I had harbored and was afraid to talk about. By being honest, I found a freedom and felt a burden lifted as I let go of those feelings and then I was able to receive comfort and support and affirmations for doing this.
COPAC educated me about my defects and through use of the "Serenity Prayer," I leaned to live a new life and was given the tools to cope with "life on life's terms." I had to face decisions about things in my life and ultimately make major changes that would be difficult. I was able to maintain abstinence from my gambling and work on building a new life. I was reborn and had a second chance at living life and I thanked God for this chance and I vowed to do it right this time.
15 months after I left COPAC, I began making those changes. First, I had a very bad marriage and relationship that had to end. I told my husband at the time that, "If I stay in the marriage I will die and He said if you leave I will die." Well I chose to leave and live.
Second, I left my job of 25 years because there was no future with them because they held my gambling addiction against me and there was no room for growth. Third, I moved away from the small town I had grown up in and lived for 47 years and moved 100 miles away. The best thing that made life so worthwhile was, I was able to go to work for COPAC. I wanted to give back to the one that helped me see the light and give me the serenity, courage, and wisdom which are still key components in living my life today.
"Thank you God and COPAC for my new life."
Juanita B.
COPAC's Compulsive Gambling Track has helped many compulsive gamblers return to a balanced path in life. The track provides treatment of compulsive gambling and includes problem gambler's financial concerns, and education on the compulsive gambling cycle. Gambler's Anonymous programs, and individual as well as group therapy is provided. Compulsive Gambling along with chemical dependency issues including alcohol and drug addiction are treated. The gambling track is a minimum of 30 days in a residential setting, with the overall goal being to facilitate the compulsive gambler and his/her family to return to a balanced way of life.
For more information go to: http://www.copacms.com/programs/behavioral-addiction-programs/compulsive-gambling-program/#sthash.MxDhbnCu.dpuf
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