Dear Anonymous:
I know it's a terrible feeling to feel at the mercy of this disorder. It's like being on a rolling-coaster nightmare, isn't it? Somehow, you got to catch hold and get treatment. I doubt that you "never have any money"---and if you can stay out of the casino for even a week, that would pay for a treatment session. If you have insurance, that could be a bonus. As a provider, I accept some health insurance--which covers treatment.Online at SDCPG it only costs $60.00 a session---and it can be put on your credit card via Pay Pal. That's cheaper than some people pay to get their hair cut, nails done, or spend on dinner and a movie----or buy a couple cartons of cigarettes. And--you don't have to pay for gas or travel to the Poway office (end of advertisement :)
It is important that when looking for a therapist who is a gambling counselor you have to be careful what you get. You need to check credentials. There are a lot of drug and alcohol counselors who think they can treat gamblers when in reality they are practicing outside their training and credentials. This can be devastating to your getting better. Comparing the treatment of gambling and drug/alcohol is like comparing apples and watermelon! Beware of so-called "interns" who are "in-training" to become counselors. Some of these "beginners" charge outrageously low fees to attract gamblers like you because they know you have no funds and cannot afford to be picky. Do you really want to get "treatment" from someone who is "practicing" on you and may not be supervised---or worse yet, doesn't even have a college degree? I don't think so! If you needed open heart surgery would you want an intern to perform it? Get my point?
You know that the whole idea behind gambling is to get something for nothing---when what you end up with is nothing for something. There is no "free" anything--including your "comps" from the casino which you paid 2-3 times for through your losses. There's always a catch, or fine print. If it looks or sounds too good to be true---it usually is. If you pay $10-$15 for gambling treatment--you get what you pay for.
Research shows that when people pay for their therapy, they take ownership of it---therapy becomes more meaningful: they work harder to achieve their goals----and keep appointments.
So, before you get your "stimulus check" or bonus or whatever, stop doing the gambling thing of procrastination (yes, it is "dry gambling!") and living your life according to the "gambler's fallacy"---"If I gamble long enough I will win it back"--and find a good treatment program with certified mental professionals who have at the very least a master's degree. Gambling is a complex disorder that requires education and training to treat it effectively.
Get off the roller-coaster! You can do it---I see gamblers do it every day in my practice. Defeat this thing---get some help for yourself. And, I don't mean GA, which is great, but it is not treatment.You don't need to stop gambling before you go to treatment---you have a pathological gambling problem---you cannot stop without help.
Let me know how you do---I have the faith that you can begin the journey of recovery--if you want it bad enough. It's not easy, but escape-relief gamblers like yourself have an excellent prognosis.
Love yourself enough to take that first step.
1 comment:
I totally agree that you need to pay for treatment for it to work. I've been treated for other problems in the past. I need about three weeks to catch up from the last binge, though. I gave up credit cards a couple of years ago, so I only trash my bank account. Also, I think in-person treatment works better because you have to face another person with your truth. Do you have office hours?
-W
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