Part 4: Myths And Truths About Compulsive Gambling

Today, I have prepared for you a list of the most common myths about problem gambling. Have you been buying into any of them?

MYTH #1 : Gamblers are just low-lives who can't get their act together.

FACT: Gamblers are just like you and me, and as a rule, have above average intelligence. Problem gamblers have a combination of good and bad personality traits just like the rest of us. (from www.azccg.org)

MYTH #2 : You need bags of willpower to quit.
People think of will power as if it is a weapon against won't power - something external that you have to summon up with all your strength to beat evil forces.

FACT: Willpower is not something we are allotted certain amounts of. Willpower is the consequence of the recognition that addiction cheats you and devastates your life, combined with the realization that you can overcome it, reclaim your freedom and recapture the joy of living. When you recognize that, you will regain your willpower.
(adapted from Joe Griffin & Ivan Tyrell, Freedom From Addiction)

MYTH #3: "I'll never manage to stop, because I've failed every time before".

FACT: Contrary to popular belief, the more times you try to stop, the more likely you are to stop your problem activity eventually. Here's the good news: although a quarter of people may succeed the first time, in general, the more times you hit an obstacle, the more you are learning what works and what doesn't when handling your gambling problem. So, don't dismiss all the learning you have done by calling it failure! Past attempts can be stepping stones to ultimate success, if we use the lessons that can be learnt from them!
(adapted from Joe Griffin & Ivan Tyrell, Freedom From Addiction)

MYTH #3: "That's just the way I am".
This is a form of liar's poker that is played by people who do not understand the real fun inside the game of truth. Moreover, it's one of the most dangerous mindsets a person could have when fighting an addiction or compulsive behavior. Most people think they weren't born with things like willpower, or a strong sense of purpose, or whatever, and that they're helpless over their conditioning.

FACT: Let's face the truth - people change and reinvent themselves all the time. Admitting that YOU CAN succeed (and being certain about it) is the very first step you have to take when fighting your gambling problem. Without believing this, how on earth can you take the next step?

MYTH #4: "I am helpless" (see also: "I am powerless")
This is a lie to the soul. It runs deeper than any other lie and its unconscious mission is to kill the spirit. (Steve Chandler)

TRUTH: The truth is that we have so much power, it sometimes scares us. We are powerful, but say that we aren't. Usually people say they're helpless just to stay out of action. We use it in order to remain passive...Taking action when it comes to fighting addiction implies dealing with discomfort, facing discouragement, withdrawal and so on. Taking action means getting out of our so-called "comfort zone"...and we don't like that.

In my book, there is a whole chapter entitled "Gambling with your comfort zone". It explains why this thing called "the comfort zone" is responsible for our not taking action against our gambling problem and why we tend to do something only when we hit rock bottom. Understanding this idea and having the courage to challenge your internal, artificially-constructed barriers is what makes the difference between someone who will succeed in defeating gambling and someone who won't.

PS: Affiliate, this mini course will give you some basic tools to deal with your gambling problem, but I can't possibly tell you everything in just eight emails. That's why I put everything into my self-help guide, Your Life Beyond Gambling^(TM). It's got so, so much more. It's a radically new, complete approach that will take you by the hand and walk you through each step until you are completely gambling-free.

The course consists of a book, a workbook and a course checklist that will help you measure your progress and keep focused on moving towards the freedom you've been looking forward to.