Wednesday, April 20, 2016


APRIL FOOL!

Post 81

One of my favorite days of the year during elementary school was April 1 – April Fool’s Day.  In my child-like mind, I was sure that false tales would be convincing enough to fool anyone.  Of course, my kind mother, with her natural affinity toward children, would play along and act surprised.  Several good-humored teachers, likewise, enjoyed the “There’s a spider on your head!” kind of banter.  Foolish acts and sayings - for harmless fun - makes us smile … we expect to be fooled; and we all laugh together.

Over the years, however, I have heard many statements – spoken as truths – that thoroughly have turned out to be myths when it comes to understanding problem gambling.  In such situations, there is no intention to fool or joke with someone.  Rather, these are meant to be serious … and truly become challenges to the associated recovery issues springing from the impacts of gambling addiction. 

Simply, for this month’s edition, I have listed a number of comments spoken to me over the past fifteen years … statements with flawed thinking or that are only partially true, at best.  By seeing such thoughts/concepts/opinions in-the-raw – minus any explanation – I am hoping this simple listing will spark curiosity and stimulate questions about the truth regarding compulsive gambling recovery.   
Here we go … and these below statements, unfortunately,      are not for playing April Fool!

Professional Settings

The fields of Mental Health and Addiction are completely separate areas of care.

It’s enough to deal with only one addiction at a time.

Addiction, addiction, addiction … they’re all the same!

If we put an ad in the local paper about problem gambling treatment, we wouldn’t be able to handle such a large number coming for therapy.

Most mental health agencies will quickly train staff to become certified as gambling counselors.

Was it all right for me to loan my client that sum of money?

Ministry/Faith-Based Settings:

It’s all about sin … all that’s needed is for him/her to pray and stop gambling.

We don’t know of anybody in our church with gambling problems.

We don’t know of anyone in our area with gambling problems; so why start a gambling recovery outreach?

We don’t believe in gambling; so we don’t need to hear about gambling addiction and recovery.

If there are no GA Meetings available in the area, a compassionate pastor or counselor can start a (GA) Meeting.

Individual Remarks

It’s  in the blood.  They are all like that.

Kids gambling?  Not in middle school!

Any 12 Step Meeting will do to help compulsive gamblers gain recovery.

It’s a moral problem. Period.

Again, the above listing indicates faulty and/or incomplete thinking. 
There are corrected and completed replies for each.  I encourage you to seek out the truth about problem gambling and recovery solutions. 
There is – indeed - hope and help!

Blessings,

Rev. Janet Jacobs
Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries Interfaith Special Projects, Inc.

For more information on Myths and Facts on Gambling Addiction, go to www.grmumc.org