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 DirectorGambling Recovery Ministries Interfaith Special Projects, Inc.
For
more information on Myths and Facts on Gambling Addiction, go to www.grmumc.org
More
help: www.gamblersanonymous.org
and
www.gam-anon.org
