Brought to you by Nuffnang and NSW
Government.
You know what they say about a problem, a life
issue, a challenge that is having a huge impact on your life: the first step to
tackling it is acknowledging you actually have a problem. Without this, the
issue is still in your head, it still threatens to derail you and there truly
seems to be no end in sight. No hope, no light at the end of the proverbial
tunnel.
Gambling is one of these insidious problems. For
the person in the grip of what can potentially be a huge, all-consuming issue,
burying one’s head in the sand and propagating the problem only succeeds in
amplifying it, nothing else.
We are fortunate to live in a country – a truly
lucky one – that outlines societal issues and works out ways to help those at
their mercy. Gambling is one such issue.
Australians
spend nearly $12 billion a year on poker machines and three quarters of people
who have a serious problem with gambling play the pokies. The occasional punt
can be seen as part of the cultural fabric of Australia – you have a go and try
your luck at your local. Yet, Australia-wide, this is a huge concern, not a
matter to be treated flippantly.
In NSW, problem gambling is a major - and largely invisible - problem.
It’s a typical Australian oxymoron that whilst gambling is considered to be a
normal and widely-accepted activity, it is also considered shameful when
problems arise from it.
The self-control of the gambler is put under the
spotlight – and this is where the ongoing stigma applies. Can that person not
control their behaviour? Can’t someone talk to them, tell them they have a
problem? Can they not share their concerns with a loved one? Or reach out for
help? And… can’t they see they have a problem? And, we are back to step one:
acknowledging a problem.
As with anything entrenched in deep-seated
psychological behaviours, the process must start with being strong enough to
access help. And the only person that can make that first step is the person
with the problem.
While I have not experienced problem gambling firsthand,
I do know that I have overcome huge life milestones like dealing with grief,
dementia, autism and the challenges of raising twins. After all this, there is
one thing I know I have in common with tackling the huge concern of problem
gambling: I am much stronger than I think.
Over time – and each concern could take weeks or
months, sometimes years – the resilience within becomes apparent and you’ll
find yourself stronger each day.
It’s the same – I’d imagine – with overcoming the
very real challenges of gambling addiction.
Primarily, problem gambling is characterised by secrecy and shame around
money: the difficulties in accessing money and the limitations on spending that
money on gambling, as well as time spent on the actual gambling – away from
family and friends and usual interactions. This leads to adverse consequences
for the gambler, others or for the community: isolation, depression,
loneliness, intense guilt and self-loathing, which lead to an even deeper
depression. The cycle is never ending, unless that person seeks help.
With research indicating that problem gambling is not well understood by
society and that this in turn contributes to the stigma associated with having
a gambling problem, this too is a vicious cycle.
Statistics show that between 8-17% of people with a gambling problem seek
professional help (of any kind), and this subset of people tends to be those
who have hit rock bottom and are in crisis. And this group is far more likely
to have a problem with gaming machines than any other form of gambling.
Almost half of people seeking help suffer from anxiety and depression,
and around one third of help seekers have a problem with alcohol.
The thing is: we live in a more compassionate
world now, thanks in large part to the open dialogue created by social media
and the trend for confessional-style articles. It’s as good a time as ever to
key into this compassion and open chat, therefore arming people with a gambling
problem with the tools and the environment to feel free to take that first step:
to get help.
While we want to break
down the stigma, we still have a long way to go. Feel free to use this blog
post as a way to start the gambling acknowledgement process. You can email or
comment anonymously. You will be surprised at just how good this first step
feels. Help is at hand, and it’s not far away at all.
It’s also free. You can learn more at
www.gamblinghelp.nsw.gov.au or visit this link: http://goo.gl/Ng2ezH
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