An interesting article about gambling addiction

[Darem1]

I came across an article the other day in a magazine that discussed how a non monetary loss such as a death, divorce, job, etc. could trigger a gambling addiction where there previously was none. I just thought I would pass this along for whatever it might be worth.

[Simmo!]

One could assume that any "negative" event in a person's life could trigger a gambling addiction. Or a drink addiction, porn addiction, painkillers etc etc etc - basically when you're "down" you look for a way "up".

Sounds like a journo who didn't really have any solid facts to work with?

[gfkostas]

Sounds like a journo who didn't really have any solid facts to work with?

That sounds right.
There are many who throw around messy articles without having appropriate argumentation to base their allegations. To the naive, frustrated reader who is thirsty for some info that can get him out of a black whole an article can be either effective or damaging depending the lever of perception and consciousness of the given person. Sadly or not sadly, money are so important for most of us where any chance of losing them seems to blind us and keeping us alerted. That's where gambling 'help' us to put our problems under the pillow. In my opinion If something really bad happens we usually retreat to one addiction or another in order to escape the pain we would otherwise generate in ourselves. Unfortunately with the addictions we dig our whole deeper rather than closing the one we initialy created. We can never get enough of what we don't want. The fact of the matter is that a sad event in itself is not capable of affecting us. If my brother in law is dieing and i dont know about it am not affected at all therefore his situation in itself can't do anything to anyone. However when I get to know the sad news i immediately get paralyzed because of the way i have taught my brain to process such things. A sad fact of life is that we think that we 'know' too much. Whether we die by an accident at the age of 20 or die at the age of 105 in our sleep is something that 'WE' do not decide. Most of us see ourselves as the actors of a 'drama' called life but we never see ourselves as the directors. Grieving for a sort period is one thing but getting hammered or immobilized for years is quite an other and what we really saying in that moment comes from a close minded 'ego' position which says: 'It shouldn't be happening'. It's similar to saying that Venus shouldn't be where it is now but it should move 10 meters east otherwise i'll die from anxiety. We don't decide these things nor the manner of our deaths. It would be great if we were to become the director of our lifes rather than it's victims,that would save us from a lot of troubles, but that requires a lever of awaresness which is far removed from the level of awareness of seeing ourselves as a victim of life who follows the herd with no compass. Einstein said that 'I cannot imagine a god who punishes his own creations'. Are we about to take responsibility for our life circumstances/level of fulfilment or hand the responsibility and pray to that dead white guy who floats up in the sky 2000 years now asking him to do things for us?... 'You are gods' the famous guy said or with other words when you learning to trust in yourself you trust in the very 'secret' to succes and happiness thus all things are possible. You tell me what that leaves out. Unfortunately not even the christians among us pay too much attention to him let alone us

[trips to win]

for gfkostas reply - lol. I've read it a couple of times and come up with a different conclusion each time.
My life is a depressing confused mess but I only gamble on days that end in "y" and only during the times I am awake.
(except when I am dreaming I hit an RTG random jackpot).
Seriously though, I can see where depression can lead someone to gambling
or drinking or having wild sex. Depression has led me down all these paths.
I can't honestly say I have enjoyed any of them. My private price for breathing I guess.

[gfkostas]

I need an interpreter for gfkostas reply - lol. I've read it a couple of times and come up with a different conclusion each time.

What I tried to say is that in my opinion the problem for the downfall we call depression/addiction is the result of our egocentric view of life rather than a non monetary loss such as a death, divorce, job, etc. Articles such as that who send out a signal which says that circumstances are to be blamed for the way we are, only make sure and show that we will continue to take no responsibility for our life as long as we do not evolve. A happy event or a sad one is not any more different than a sunny day and a rainy day. 'Problems' or with other words things we would prefer to be different will continue to 'exist' regardless of our opinion about them. Whatever orchestrates this thing that we call life and we all part of 'life', doesn't care about our opinion so we should flow with life....do not refuse any notes. In the context of the song, they are all beautiful.Peace for me is the silent acceptance of what is not what WE want life to be. We gotta transcend our ego's.To explain further and clear out things I say the following.
Our ego/mind(the sum total of all our opinions we hold in mind about who we are) presumes and is convinced that its interpretations of life experiences are the 'real' thing and therefore 'true'. It also believes by projection that other people see,think and feel the same way, and if they do not they are mistaken and therefore wrong. Thus our perception which is often confused and taken as 'reality' reinforces its hold by reification and presumptions. For me each one of us lives in a world of our own making, reinforced by seeking agreement and a variety of rationalizations. As far as am aware of people not only percieve wide variation in accordance with their level of consciousness but actually experience quite different events. To those who are unfriendly, other people actually ARE often cold and unfriendly and to a warm, loving person the exact same enviroment is cordial and supportive. Thus we can conclude that by virtue of what we ARE we subtly influence and create the so called 'sad' sevents around us or within us such as depressions, addictions and so on. No event outside us has the power to shatter us or send us to an addiction without our consent. The biblical words 'as you think so shall you be' ain't empty in my investigation of my life. We aren't victims of life folks.

[KasinoKing]

GFKostas, your writing is very articulate, intelligent & deep - far too deep for one like me!
Not criticizing, cos it's very good, but splitting your posts into multiple paragraphs would make it easier to read.
I'm just wondering what is your first language - obviously not English due to you referring to money as plural - just like my wifelett!
Is it Greek?

[mitch]

I'm just wondering what is your first language

It's that famous language called "Bonus"

Mitch

[The Watchdog]

I wake up and think on:

Some black jack hands..

Going all in on poker

$50 3t parlay on NFL...

Nice 24 hour session of 3card poker...

Do I have a problem??? or is it just me???

hahaha anything can trigger gambling addiction... even a nice sunset...

When you have a problem.. accept it ...

Thats hard... Compulsive Gambling has been acknowledge as an official addiction and sickness, what they don´t say is that it is the worst one...

Some people can gamble, others can´t... THOSE WHO CAN´T WATCH...

There is a very nice thing called GA...

[gfkostas]

I'm just wondering what is your first language - obviously not English due to you referring to money as plural - just like my wifelett!
Is it Greek?

Yes it's greek . As long as am chatting my english is good because I have time to think and fragmentate my thoughts but when I have to speak verbally it's an other story

but splitting your posts into multiple paragraphs would make it easier to read.

Too right. I'll definitely make an attempt in the future to improve on that.

It's that famous language called "Bonus"

Mitch

Shut you up.....

[Lord_Have_Mercy]

One could assume that any "negative" event in a person's life could trigger a gambling addiction. Or a drink addiction, porn addiction, painkillers etc etc etc - basically when you're "down" you look for a way "up".

Sounds like a journo who didn't really have any solid facts to work with?

Or a Way "OUT!"