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"Gambling..."Gambling- “The Sunday Mail, Australia (10/08/03) reported that a Bank Manager stole $19 Million from his employer over five years to fund a gambling habit.” The costs associated with problem gambling from slow payment of accounts to bankruptcy, health issues, depression, broken marriages, child delinquency, self-harm and crime are beginning to be recognized, as they explode in families and in all sections of the community.
Recent research conducted by the State Government 2003 Census at School revealed disturbing results in relation to gambling attitudes amongst students. Of the 6000 students surveyed, 34% sometimes play scratchies, football tipping competitions or Lotto. Approximately 22% of students surveyed sometimes bet money on sporting and recreational activities. Nearly 20% of students try to win back money lost on bets. Gambling Counselor’s spokesperson, state that this statistic is a symptom of a serious problem. The rationale of this illness-like condition is that ‘win’ that must come sometime, will enable the victim to repay all the money – “All will be well” is the gamblers rationale – until help is sought. People with a problem always like to win and will often tell themselves, “I gamble to win money”. However, if they do win they continue to gamble until their money is gone. To win money is the excuse. The game or “play” is of greatest importance. The game – (poker machines, Casino games, horse racing, scratchies, whatever) gives a good feeling to the person. This is the reason people who gamble, continue to ‘play’ for the feeling that the activity gives. A person who is addicted finds that the next best thing to winning is losing. He or she loses feeling and empathy for others because they lose insight into themselves. A victim of the disease of Pathological (compulsive) Gambling sees all money as gambling money. To him or her, the next best thing to winning is losing. If that person wins at gambling, he or she will gamble for a longer time or bigger stakes. The gambler loves the game more than the money. The game matters more than family, clothes, food, or anything else. The gambler gains his or her excitement and pleasure not from accumulating money, but from risking the money. The desire to repeat the pleasure gained from risk taking is more important than winning. Questions and Issues. • Pathological Gambling affects every area of life in a family or community. Written by Rev. John Tully OAM ©
SERENITY “Serenity is the immunity to all addictions and is characterized by feelings of tranquility, gratitude, contentment, affection for others and a deep inner peace”. When people are serene they do not need to fulfill desires to be complete. Addiction is the innocent attempt to find completion in a substance or situation. To live an active life with all its joys and challenges is Serenity.
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