Get Wild Bill's take on the media and government's perception of problem gambling by going to the RX home page at www.theprescription.com
Charlie
Charlie
I thought the article was very good, but a couple thoughts come to mind.
First, for a person to have the true friends that would get him/her needed help is a rare thing today. Many of us can say we have lots of friends or even family (although many times, the family may be hidden from the fact), but in reality very few care about our problems. In the world we live today, it appears and seems to me that most react to a problem when it is to late, rarely before it reaches a disastrous event or atleast a very bad situation.
Second, along the same lines, trying to convince media or politicians to focus on positive positions or navigation in about any form is usually fruitless as the main focus of society is the negative that is out there. What's fun about patting a person or situation on the back? In my book, the way to go, but our society in general is headed nowhere near that direction.
Thanks Bill
[This message was edited by The General on March 09, 2004 at 01:58 PM.]
First, for a person to have the true friends that would get him/her needed help is a rare thing today. Many of us can say we have lots of friends or even family (although many times, the family may be hidden from the fact), but in reality very few care about our problems. In the world we live today, it appears and seems to me that most react to a problem when it is to late, rarely before it reaches a disastrous event or atleast a very bad situation.
Second, along the same lines, trying to convince media or politicians to focus on positive positions or navigation in about any form is usually fruitless as the main focus of society is the negative that is out there. What's fun about patting a person or situation on the back? In my book, the way to go, but our society in general is headed nowhere near that direction.
Thanks Bill
[This message was edited by The General on March 09, 2004 at 01:58 PM.]
This is an important issue for anyone who gambles frequently. Glad to see Wild Bill shine a bit of light on it.
Ask yourself if any of these symptoms fit:
Symptoms of the Problem Gambler:
1. Has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling. Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling.
2. Lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling. Lying becomes a way of life.
3. Borrows from family and friends and often lies about the true cause of the financial crisis. Refinances mortgages or loans; cashes in life insurance policies, CDs. 401K's.
4. Commits illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance gambling. Loses a sense of the value of money as currency, and sees it only as a way to play longer.
5. Has jeopardized or lost significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunities because of gambling. Has considered or attempted suicide as a result of gambling.
6. Feels shame, guilt and remorse after gambling. Becomes manipulative and controlling. Changes in personality: angry; irritable; critical; sarcastic; depressed; argumentative.
7. Makes excuses about whereabouts. Poorly explained absences from home and work. Uses gambling to cope when life seems overwhelming.
8. Gambles when there is a crisis. Gambles to celebrate good fortune.
9. Brags and lies about winnings and is evasive about losses.
10. Has an unrealistic sense of entitlement. (the world owes me…) Has a something for nothing mentality)
wil.
Ask yourself if any of these symptoms fit:
Symptoms of the Problem Gambler:
1. Has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling. Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling.
2. Lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling. Lying becomes a way of life.
3. Borrows from family and friends and often lies about the true cause of the financial crisis. Refinances mortgages or loans; cashes in life insurance policies, CDs. 401K's.
4. Commits illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance gambling. Loses a sense of the value of money as currency, and sees it only as a way to play longer.
5. Has jeopardized or lost significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunities because of gambling. Has considered or attempted suicide as a result of gambling.
6. Feels shame, guilt and remorse after gambling. Becomes manipulative and controlling. Changes in personality: angry; irritable; critical; sarcastic; depressed; argumentative.
7. Makes excuses about whereabouts. Poorly explained absences from home and work. Uses gambling to cope when life seems overwhelming.
8. Gambles when there is a crisis. Gambles to celebrate good fortune.
9. Brags and lies about winnings and is evasive about losses.
10. Has an unrealistic sense of entitlement. (the world owes me…) Has a something for nothing mentality)
wil.
One of the first indicators that gambling is becoming a problem in an individual's life is when the gambling "just isn't fun anymore." If you are wondering about your own gambling behavior or that of a loved one, consider the following questions:
1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Did gambling affect your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.
wil.
1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Did gambling affect your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.
wil.
16 yes answers for me
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wilheim:
Blue, I forgot one question, you need to answer it to complete the test.
21. Do you always bet against Kerry Wood.
wil.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
yes, yes i do. that's the only thing keeping me out of gamblers ananymous. when you can get +160 to +200 against a pitcher that goes 14-11...life is good.
Blue, I forgot one question, you need to answer it to complete the test.
21. Do you always bet against Kerry Wood.
wil.
yes, yes i do. that's the only thing keeping me out of gamblers ananymous. when you can get +160 to +200 against a pitcher that goes 14-11...life is good.
"Brags and lies about winnings and is evasive about losses"
Just thinking about this line....seems to me I only have about two friends that I can talk about games and gambling about, one of them plays the stock market quite a bit....
Anybody else I talk to seems to want to find something to crow about....If I had a 3-1 night they want to harp about the lone loser....then the next day I see them at the bar and they bitch about getting $2.00 back after shoving $50.00 into a pickle card machine....I keep my mouth shut although I have every reason to needle them back for playing a crummy odds payout like that....
Some of these guys bet on games....I've tried steering them into some real solid offshore places but they all seem pretty happy getting fawked over by thier local guys....then they open up another $20 worth of pickle cards.....
Anymore I just say the hell with it.....I talk about the games and bets in the forums....only real place I've found where an intelligent conversation can be kept....if you want to share opinions on games or talk gambling why not do it with people interested in it?
In my opinion, sports gambling offers the best chance to walk away with a profit.....
Just thinking about this line....seems to me I only have about two friends that I can talk about games and gambling about, one of them plays the stock market quite a bit....
Anybody else I talk to seems to want to find something to crow about....If I had a 3-1 night they want to harp about the lone loser....then the next day I see them at the bar and they bitch about getting $2.00 back after shoving $50.00 into a pickle card machine....I keep my mouth shut although I have every reason to needle them back for playing a crummy odds payout like that....
Some of these guys bet on games....I've tried steering them into some real solid offshore places but they all seem pretty happy getting fawked over by thier local guys....then they open up another $20 worth of pickle cards.....
Anymore I just say the hell with it.....I talk about the games and bets in the forums....only real place I've found where an intelligent conversation can be kept....if you want to share opinions on games or talk gambling why not do it with people interested in it?
In my opinion, sports gambling offers the best chance to walk away with a profit.....
Marco,
I bet you can relate to those who start complaining about a game when its not even half over cause they are not covering the spread by 3 pts. LOL
"Chit, this is a loser"
Still half the game to go
Or when one is covering the spread by 10 at the half and they start celebrating, only so we can get the celebration talk and the crying after it loses.
Personally, wake me up toward the end with 2 mins to go.
I bet you can relate to those who start complaining about a game when its not even half over cause they are not covering the spread by 3 pts. LOL
"Chit, this is a loser"
Still half the game to go
Or when one is covering the spread by 10 at the half and they start celebrating, only so we can get the celebration talk and the crying after it loses.
Personally, wake me up toward the end with 2 mins to go.
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/270439/2/More-help-offered-for-people-with-gambling-problem
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More help offered for people with gambling problem
7:39 PM, Feb 17, 2014
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- The Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services and the Maine Gambling Control Board are joining with the state's two casinos to help people who have a gambling problem.
Officials say they're expanding the number of sites where someone can sign up for help from two to 14.
Guy Cousins, director of the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, said the program called "self-exclusion" is one way for people to get problem behaviors under control.
Before the expansion, the only place a person could begin the program was at Hollywood Slots in Bangor or the Oxford Casino. Officials say people can now sign up without entering into the environment that they're trying to avoid.
| Print - More help offered for people with gambling problem | wcsh6.com | wcsh6.com |
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More help offered for people with gambling problem
7:39 PM, Feb 17, 2014
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- The Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services and the Maine Gambling Control Board are joining with the state's two casinos to help people who have a gambling problem.
Officials say they're expanding the number of sites where someone can sign up for help from two to 14.
Guy Cousins, director of the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, said the program called "self-exclusion" is one way for people to get problem behaviors under control.
Before the expansion, the only place a person could begin the program was at Hollywood Slots in Bangor or the Oxford Casino. Officials say people can now sign up without entering into the environment that they're trying to avoid.
