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They say Christmas is a time for reflection and the New Year a time for new beginnings.
When I was asked to write this blog I started reflecting on my last few Christmases, some while I was gambling and others when free from Gambling. When I was preparing for a talk I gave at a gambling seminar in September this year I was going through my online betting history for some power point slides. The scale and frequency of the bets were two things that really stood out; however, another thing that caught my eye was that over the years when gambling I had been placing bets on Christmas Day. Not for events on that day, but for events on St Stephen's day, such as racing and football. On a day when I should have been enjoying spending time with my family I couldn’t help but check in with my best friend at the time: ‘Paddy Power’. Maybe knowing that I had the bet placed, helped me get through that day, or made me feel normal. In 2011 my gambling finally caught up with me. I had stolen money from my employer in order to fund my gambling addiction. In July that year this had been discovered and I went to treatment in Cuan Mhuire, Athy. It was a 3 month residential programme and I celebrated my Daughter’s first birthday there. Not the ideal setting for a birthday party but I knew that I needed to be there. I finished the programme in October but the relationships with my wife and family were extremely strained. That Christmas should have been a joyful time, as it was my daughter’s first real Christmas: she was 16 months old at the time. For me, it was tinged with sadness, guilt, regret, shame and the fear of what was to come. I remember that, although I was free from gambling, it was not a happy time. I was still numb. Anger and resentment were very evident as my family were still getting to terms with what I had done. I had embarrassed both myself and them with my actions. Christmas one year on: my actions were rightly punished as I was sentenced to 4 years in Prison with 1 suspended for false accounting and theft. I spent Christmas week settling into my new environment and cell in the midlands prison. The highlight of that Christmas in C wing was the Eastender’s Cliff-hanger when it was revealed which one of the Branning brothers had been having an affair with Kat Moon. Such is the need for escapism in Prison that the soaps are hugely popular. The following week I rang in the New Year with Imelda May amidst the surreal noise of brushes and dinner trays banging off cell doors. I recall this being a happier time for me even though I was away from my family. There was a real sense of relief that I had reached this part of my journey. I had been waiting over a year for sentencing and now that I knew my fate I could get my head down and try get my life back on track. I felt back in control. I spent the following Christmas in an open prison and on my own. I had lost my marriage at this stage but was still bet free. I was really starting to rebuild my life and even though I was still in Prison I was content. I had starting my counselling course that September and was aware that the following year there was a good chance that I would be out on Community Return and get to spend Christmas with my family. The following year I did get to spend Christmas with my family. However, my mother had lost her brave battle with cancer and passed away on the 13th of December. It was a sad time; especially for me personally. I didn’t get to rebuild the damaged relationship with her as I wasn’t long out of Prison when she died. Even to this day it is a huge regret that she didn’t get to see me turn my life completely around. I can only hope that she is looking down and feeling proud. Christmas that year was really tough and my feeling of loss was huge. I was now over 3 years free from gambling and studying to be an addiction counsellor. My relationship with my daughter was getting stronger and this bond was the real driving force for me in my recovery. Christmas 2015 was when I met my current partner and this was my happiest Christmas for well over a decade. I really felt that 2016 was going to be a good year. Positive things were starting to happen for me. I was starting to reap the rewards for all the hard work I put into my recovery. I had my challenges and obstacles but discovered new ways of coping and dealing with what life threw at me. Talking and being open and honest was a new concept to me but today it is what keeps me from not going back to my old ways. In March 2016 I started my new role in Dublin as an addiction counsellor. I have been working there since and am seeing a lot with clients with gambling addictions. I am using both my training and my own personal experience to try help people who are struggling with this horrendous and growing problem. I count myself as one of the lucky ones who have managed to break free of the shackles of problem gambling. I am looking forward to my 7th Christmas bet free and am very grateful to be able to enjoy it for what it is supposed to be. However, I am also very aware that there are tens of thousands of people out there struggling with the fallout of their gambling or that of a family member, friend or work colleague. For them, Christmas this year will be a time of extreme stress, hurt and money worries. I have been there and it is not a nice place to be especially at this time of year. The good news for anyone reading this that is affected by problem gambling is that there is help out there. Organisations such as The Rutland Centre and Cuan Mhuire provide residential treatment for people suffering with gambling problems. Other Organisations such as Problem Gambling Ireland provide all kinds of support for both the problem gambler and their families. Also, Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon (Family & Friends) meetings are available, nationwide. I know that going to treatment saved my life and helped me cope with going to prison and with getting my life back on track. It has been really hard at times but the support I have received over the years has played a huge part in my recovery. I wouldn’t be in such a good place had it not being for the kindness and help from numerous amazing people. For me personally, the most important aspect of recovery and my first step in dealing with this addiction was accepting that I had a problem. I then had to take responsibility for my actions and really want to change. I had to find new ways of coping and make a new life for myself that didn’t have gambling as the focal point. I have managed to this because of sheer determination to have a better life for myself, my partner and my daughter. I had to get past the ego, pride and fear and ask for help. This isn’t an easy thing to do and my one real regret is that I didn’t look for help earlier. I had to really hit the ‘rock bottom’ before I was open to the healing process. If I was to offer one piece of advice to anyone this Christmas who is suffering either directly or indirectly with a gambling problem, it is to reach out to someone and ask for help. I remember being asked the question at the Gambling Conference- “How are you now?” I replied “I have never been in a better place, but it is a pity that I had to go to hell and back to get here. “ **Editor** Huge thanks to Tony for sharing his experience of recovery from gambling. Tony is an addiction counsellor, working with Cuan Mhuire and in private practice. If you wish to contact Tony for counselling, his number is: 0894109813.
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My name is XXXXX and I am a compulsive gambler. It’s not always an easy term of description to call yourself, but after many years of problematic gambling, I now accept that’s what I am and, at some level, always will be. With a single voice I have quietly campaigned for changes to the current 1956 gambling legislation, predominately through twitter, submission of a document to the Department of Justice and through participation in a number of studies. It is a welcome development to see that other individuals and, indeed, other groups have taken up the gauntlet in an attempt to achieve change.
I started out gambling on video poker machines in my late teens through to my early twenties. At first, while it was somewhat problematic, it didn’t become a huge problem until I started working away from home and was using my own money. It got completely out of control and - hey presto - I was a gambling addict. While being compulsive, I was also impulsive - eventually having little regard for my most basic needs. Fortunately, I wasn’t married or didn’t have children, so the worst impact was on myself. This was compounded by the fact that, more often than not, I got paid on Thursday and hadn’t a penny left by Friday evening. I eventually attended Gambler’s Anonymous and managed to stop gambling until early 1997, when one Sunday, while reading the Sunday World, a magazine promoting online poker fell out of the paper. I was immediately interested and couldn’t wait to set up an account on Paddy Power and started playing poker, which I had absolutely no experience of. I quickly maxed out one credit card and then another. Then I was borrowing money from the Credit Union to pay off the cards and quickly maxing out the cards again. This was having an impact on my marriage and children and eventually I lost everything - my wife, my children, my home, my way of life and my sanity. I have been in rehab twice and mostly have not lasted past six months abstention since then. In more recent years I graduated to land based casinos, playing Blackjack and Roulette. I visited as often as I could, or as often as I had money. Being a compulsive gambler, I could never leave until I lost all my money - no win could ever be enough. It ended up, winning was only a means to allow me to gamble for longer. Bit by bit I self excluded myself from every Casino in Dublin. To be fair to the Casinos they check everyone entering the casino and if you have self excluded yourself they do not allow you to come in to the premises. Following my casino experience, I moved to automated roulette tables which can be found in all the amusement arcades in Dublin. These machines, in my view, are equally as addictive as the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, to be found in bookies all over the UK. I have lost a fortune in these machines. The stakes allowed on the automated roulette tables go from €250 to €500, depending on the premises and the location. This is clearly in breach of the current legislation by a mile. It is not enforced and hasn’t been enforced for some time. Gambling regulation and fit for purpose legislation are not going to cure me, or thousands of other problem gamblers. What it will do is give us a chance to change our lives. Gambling in Ireland is currently governed by the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act. Clearly gambling in 1956 was a completely different landscape to what now exists. It is now proposed to introduce some amendments to the the legislation before the end of the year but it falls long short of the Gambling Control Bill which is urgently needed and has been for many years. The new amendment brings a change in stake to €10.00 and a maximum payout of €750.00. While this is welcome, it still allows those machines to take €1200.00 per hour from a gambler. Most establishments do not display any information on what a problem gambler can do if he or she is experiencing difficulties with managing the gambling. The amendment does not include any requirement on a gambling establishment to display this information. It is a minimum requirement. The new amendment does not include any obligation on a gambling establishment to provide any form of self exclusion - which is mission critical for any problem gambler attempting to limit their opportunities for gambling. Finally, the amendment does not close the loophole for private members clubs, and my belief is that this needs specific mention in the legislation, so that they are brought under the same legislation as any other gambling establishment and are subject to the same limitations and obligations. Overall, any amendment is welcome but we can’t wait another 61 years for fit for purpose legislation. [Editor: We would like to thank the guest poster for this excellent insight. You can follow him on Twitter: @CompulsiveG The proposed amendments to the 1956 Gaming & Lotteries Act can be found here (starting on page 82). The original 1956 Act can be found here. ] Gambling is a pastime which many Irish people enjoy. It is deeply ingrained in our culture. In fact, Ireland has the third-highest losses, per person, on gambling – in the world. While for the majority of people who gamble, it is a relatively harmless bit of fun, there are many who experience harm from gambling. Problem Gambling (Gambling Addiction) is estimated to affect up to 40,000 people in Ireland. For every person with a gambling problem, there are estimated to be a further 8-10 people affected, meaning that there could be up to 400,000 people in Ireland feeling the negative impact of gambling-related harm.
The types of harm a person with a gambling problem may experience are: • Financial issues (debt) • Relationship issues • Mental Health issues (Anxiety, Depression, Stress) • Deterioration in Physical Health • Issues at college or work (loss of productivity, absenteeism, difficulty concentrating) • Suicidal Thoughts So, how can you tell if you (or a person you care about) are showing signs of problem gambling? Recognising the problem in yourself: If you answer ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, you may be developing a gambling problem. Do you: • gamble alone and often? • continue gambling longer than you intended? • spend more time on gambling than other favourite pastimes or interests? • gamble every last euro you have? • think about gambling every day? • try to win back money you have lost with more gambling? • find it difficult to stop yourself spending too much? • lie to friends and family members about your gambling and how much you have spent or do you just not tell them about it? • sometimes reach the point where you no longer enjoy gambling? • feel depressed because of gambling? • have trouble sleeping? • feel that gambling is having a negative effect on other areas of your life, such as family and work? Helping yourself If you are concerned about your gambling and want to make some changes, then these suggestions may be useful: • Break the silence and talk to someone you trust, a counsellor or attend a Gamblers Anonymous or SMART Recovery meeting. Keeping a gambling problem secret only makes it harder to bring about change. Talking to someone about it can help reduce the stress of a gambling problem and help you to do something about it. • Avoid high-risk situations. These include any situations which you know can lead to gambling in a harmful way, such as having your ATM or credit cards with you when gambling, gambling on your own or mixing alcohol with gambling. You may want to avoid risky situations such as talking about gambling, carrying large amounts of money or socialising close to gambling venues. If you have online accounts, shut them down and ask to be excluded from the service. • Challenge your gambling thoughts. It’s difficult to cut down or stop gambling if you believe that you can win and will come out in front. Remember: nobody ever gambled their way out of their gambling problem. • Prepare for gambling urges. Urges to gamble are common for people trying to cut down or stop. Preparing yourself can help you cope. Think of times or situations that are likely to trigger urges and have plans for alternative activities that can help distract you. • Find alternatives to gambling. It’s important to replace gambling with activities that you find satisfying. Finding a range of alternatives can help, such as sports, being with family members and friends, hobbies, and relaxation exercises (e.g. yoga or meditation). • Reward your progress. There is a lot of guilt and shame associated with having a gambling problem. Acknowledge any progress you’ve made and reward yourself with a non-gambling treat – a nice meal, a movie or something else you enjoy. Recognising the problem in others: Here are some signs you can look for if you’re worried about a family member, friend or fellow student. People with a gambling problem have a preoccupation with gambling and may: • want to borrow money to gamble or to cover debts • have changes in their sleeping and eating habits • start to miss college, work or other regular commitments • express suicidal thoughts • sometimes celebrate their ‘good fortune’ by gambling more. If you are concerned about another person’s gambling, there is a simple, 2 question screening tool, which is an indicator that the person would need to undergo a more thorough gambling addiction assessment: Q1: Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money? Q2: Have you ever had to lie to people important to you about how much you gambled? (Answering “Yes” to one or more of these questions, strongly indicates that further assessment is necessary.) Helping a friend or family member If you think a friend or family member has a gambling problem, try to show your concern without lecturing or criticising. Your comments may be met with defensiveness and denial. Don’t take this personally, but let the person know you care and explain how his or her gambling behaviour affects you. You may have to clear boundaries with the person. Don’t be manipulated into excusing, justifying, overlooking, enabling or participating in the person’s destructive behaviour. If the person agrees that he or she has a problem, here are some tips: • Help the person make contact with organisations that can help, such as those listed at the end of this article. • Be supportive and encouraging of the person’s attempts toward change, however small. • Expect that there may be steps backward (“slips”/relapses) as a normal part of the recovery process. • Encourage activities that are not associated with gambling and try to support the person by limiting or stopping your own gambling. • Become informed by finding out more about problem gambling. Resources:
http://www.problemgambling.sa.gov.au/ http://rethinkgambling.org/ Friday 10th Feb 2017: Problem Gambling Ireland CEO & Founder, Barry Grant speaks to Joe about the fact that Ireland is 3rd in the world for gambling losses. Callers discuss the fact that some pubs are taking bets and phoning them in to bookmakers (probably illegally). More on the direct communications and up-selling of National Lottery products, which appears to be in breach of the licence regulations.
Listen here: http://rte.ie/r.html?rii=b9_21129305_53_10-02-2017_ Thursday 9th Feb 2017: More listeners tell Joe that they are asked if they want to buy a lottery ticket when they buy petrol from Topaz. - Mark is a former gambler. He talks about how he quit. Listen here: http://rte.ie/r.html?rii=b9_21128596_53_09-02-2017_ Wednesday 8th Feb 2017: Gambling has taken its toll on Tommy and Kevin but they are in recovery. Denis is, to all intents and purposes, a professional gambler. Listen here: http://rte.ie/r.html?rii=b9_21127795_53_08-02-2017_ Tuesday 7th Feb 2017: Stories of gambling addiction and recovery. Listen here: http://rte.ie/r.html?rii=b9_21127097_53_07-02-2017_ Monday 6th February 2017: Patricia rang Liveline when she found out that her 15-year-old son had lied about his age in order to set up an online betting account. This prompted callers from around the country to share their experiences of gambling addiction. Listen here: http://rte.ie/r.html?rii=b9_21126459_53_06-02-2017_
It seems fair to say that we live in interesting times. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail's "love that dare not speak its name" has finally come to fruition; a serial-bankrupt, day-glo builder has been selected to rule the world; and a sports-show, funded by a betting firm, discusses gambling addiction three times over the course of one week. If you've been preparing for The Rapture, it's probably time to put on your Sunday best.
The sports-show in question is Newstalk's highly-popular Off The Ball. Last Sunday (27th November), they began their series of discussions with Declan Lynch. Declan had written an article in that day's Irish Independent, entitled: "Is it the right time to derail our gambling supertrain?" Declan has long been at the forefront of raising awareness around gambling addiciton in Ireland and doesn't pull any punches when it comes to highlighting some of the questionable practices of the gambling industry. At the time, I thought that this was a brave, if somewhat tokenistic move, on the part of the show's producers. Imagine my surprise when, just a few days later (1st December), Ger Gilroy interviewed recovering gambling addict and Tyrone footballer, Cathal McCarron, on the same show. Ger begins by saying: "I think that it's incredibly important that we talk about gambling addiction and about the industry, as well, particularly as, in the sports media, we have a very close relationship with the betting industry and sometimes that can be uncomfortable for us. On a personal level I have seen the devastation that gambling has wreaked on families and on careers." Ger goes on to show himself to be sensitive to, and knowledgable about, the harm caused by gambling addiction. Just when I was beginning to think that Christmas had come early - ALL of my Christmases came together. This manifested itself in the form of a third discussion on gambling addiction on yesterday's show (3rd December). The panel discussion included Declan Lynch, as well as addiction treatment specialist, Dr Garrett McGovern and recovering substance addict and poker afficionado, John Leonard (AKA, Sober Paddy). The discussion was wide-ranging, intelligent and nuanced. They covered everything from harm-prevention and harm-reduction to the pros and cons of the 12-step treatment model, gambling advertising and the "gamblification" of sport and the sports media. [By "gamblification", I mean the process by which the gambling industry has embedded itself into sporting bodies and media organisations by getting them hooked on their cold, hard cash.] By the end of the week, I had to take a long, hard look at myself. This no longer looked, sounded or smelled like tokenistic box-ticking from Off The Ball. In fact, this had the whiff of a group of people who might actually genuinely care about the harm that is caused by gambling in this country, while also struggling with the fact that they (and many of their colleagues) are overly-dependent on gambling industry funding. As an addiction counsellor, I am always looking out for dysfunctional "Black & White Thinking" in my clients. This sort of binary thinking is often a strong indicator of the type of cognitive distortions which can lead to addictions and other issues. "Life is lived in the Grey", I can hear myself saying, over and over again. However, when seeing the harm caused by gambling and other addictions on a regular basis, it can be easy to slip into a Good Guys vs Bad Guys mindset - or, in other words: "If you're not with us, you're agin' us!". As I work through my own internal conflict on this one, I have to commend Ger Gilroy and the rest of the Off The Ball team on grappling with the Horns of their own Dilemma. It can't be easy to watch the increasing harm caused by gambling in Irish society, while at the same time deal with the financial realities of commercial radio. At least by acknowledging that the "close relationship" can be "uncomfortable" for them, they, to my mind, are making a step in the right direction. As workers in the addiction field will often tell you, "The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem".
Discussion on gambling starts around half-way through the clip.
Barry Grant has been awarded a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Elevator award at the ceremony on Tuesday, the 11th October. Barry Grant’s organisation, Problem Gambling Ireland focusses on raising public awareness of gambling addiction as an escalating public health issue. They provide online resources, pay-what-you-want counselling services and gambling-harm prevention workshops. The prize consists of €30,000 in funding to expand and grow the business. A further five organisations also received this funding and support in the Elevator Award category. They were Sam Synnott and Judith Ashton from Buddy Bench Ireland, Alex Cooney and Cliona Curley from Cyber Safe Ireland, Shane McKenna and Killian Redmond from Dabbledoo Music, Noelle Daly and Stephen Cluskey from Mobility Mojo and Francis Cleary from Step Out Ireland. Through this awards ceremony, three social entrepreneurs have each been awarded funding and support worth €140,000. Lakers, A Lust for Life and Recreate were chosen for this highest level Impact Award. Speaking about the award, Barry Grant said; ‘Winning a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Elevator Award means a huge amount to me, personally, and to Problem Gambling Ireland, as an organisation. It has shown me that there are experts in the field of social enterprise who believe we have the capacity to make a positive impact on Irish society and to scale our service nationally.’ Over the last twelve years, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has invested over €6.7 million in social entrepreneurs and 1,230 employment opportunities have been created in the process. This programme is sponsored by Irish company DCC plc, who have been the flagship sponsor of the Awards for the last six years and earlier this year pledged its commitment to Social Entrepreneurs Ireland until 2019, continuing its financial support with a further €700,000 in funding over this time. CEO of DCC Tommy Breen said “DCC is proud to be a long term sponsor of the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Elevator and Impact Award programmes. It is a great privilege to play a role in getting behind Ireland’s brightest and most ambitious entrepreneurs working to have a positive impact on our society.” Darren Ryan CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland said “Social entrepreneurs are problem solvers. Whenever the current system is too slow, inadequate or missing, a social entrepreneur will roll up their sleeves and take action. The social entrepreneurs awarded today are all pioneering new solutions to some of society’s biggest challenges. With the ongoing commitment of DCC plc, we will back these entrepreneurs to take risks and be brave in pursuing ideas to solve Ireland’s social problems.” The awards ceremony, which took place in the Mansion House, Dublin, was hosted by Joan Freeman, the founder of Pieta House, and John Evoy, the founder of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, who are both former recipients of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards.   They say knowledge is power, and a lack of psychology knowledge is one reason people can feel so
powerless in the fight against addiction. Gambling Disorder was included for the first time in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Since the release of the DSM-5 in 2013, gambling disorder (also called problem gambling or gambling addiction) has received increased attention by psychology researchers. Here are five recent findings that can help empower people who struggle with problem gambling. 1.Gambling Addiction Affects the Brain Like a Drug It was once believed that gambling addiction was primarily a matter of impulse control, and caused neurological changes similar to disorders like OCD. However, recent research supports a model of gambling addiction as more similar to substance abuse – as though gambling were an actual drug. Using this model of gambling addiction, scientists have found numerous parallels between gambling addiction and substance abuse. An article published by Scientific American reveals that gamblers and drug addicts share many underlying genetic predispositions for impulsive and reward seeking behaviour. Also, both gambling and drug addiction can directly cause the brain to produce less dopamine and fire fewer electrical signals during a high, causing addicts to seek greater gambling risks or increased drug dosages. 2.Women Perceive Gambling Differently Than Men While there is no doubt that gambling addiction causes physical changes to the body and brain, it is easy to ignore social forces that contribute to the development of problem gambling. Recent social psychology research supported the idea that women are generally more aware than men of the negative social consequences of gambling, and thus more likely to stop a gambling episode before problems arise. This finding may partially explain why female addicts generally begin gambling in their 30s, whereas men are more likely to begin in adolescence. 3.Nearly Winning Reinforces Gambling Addiction A recent article in the journal Neuropsychophramacology showed that almost winning can foster an illusion of control that drives further gambling. The researchers showed that gambling addicts also demonstrate increased neurochemical response in the ventral striatum – part of the reward pathway of the brain – when they experience a near win. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), often used for drug addicts, is frequently prescribed to problem gamblers to combat the influence of the near win. Using CBT, gambling addicts learn to confront the “Gambler’s Fallacy” that nearly winning indicates they are about to win, and means they should continue to gamble. 4.Gambling Behaviour Changes Based On Your Mood Participants in this study performed a task designed to simulate the experience of gambling. Participants were first given €2000 of play money to gamble with. In order to succeed in the task, participants had to make gut-level decisions on whether to take cards from one deck or another. The researchers found that after losing money, participants who were in a bad mood were less able to make decisions based on their gut feelings, and ended up losing even more money. The researchers then repeated the study, this time manipulating mood. Participants watched either a funny video clip from The Muppet Show, or a sad scene from Schindler’s List. The Schindler’s List group lost more money than those who had watched the Muppets. These experiments support the idea that being in a bad mood or experiencing something that puts you in a bad mood while gambling can significantly impair your ability to make healthy decisions about how much gambling to do, and when to stop. 5.Being Physically Motionless Can Help You Stop Gambling Researchers have also taken an interest in effective strategies for controlling gambling behaviour. A study published last year supported the idea that there is a motor component of compulsive gambling. Anyone who has gambled is familiar with the physical urge to reach out one’s hand and pull the slot machine lever or to click the “Deal” button in an online poker app. Researchers demonstrated that introducing a “stop” signal, in which gamblers simply force themselves to be physically still, can reduce the urge to continue gambling and lead to improved outcomes of a gambling episode. Gambling addiction is a serious problem, and increasing in prevalence in the UK, the United States, and throughout the world. Psychology researchers are answering the call, and adding to our understanding of how gambling addiction works. By increasing knowledge and awareness, we can combat gambling addiction and help empower people everywhere struggling with gambling disorder. -- Marcus regularly blogs at psysci.co a psychology, science and health blog that examines the latest research and explains how findings can impact and help individuals everyday lives. Really excellent article from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It defines gambling addiction (pathological gambling/gambling disorder) as well as looking at screening (diagnostic) tools, treatment options and prevention. Definitely worth a read (6 pages, PDF). You can download it here.
We are currently seeking participants for a gambling addiction support group, which will be delivered as an online service. The group will be run on a pilot basis in order to assess the demand for this type of service, as well as its effectiveness. We will initially be looking for 7 participants who feel that their gambling is at a problematic level. The group will be facilitated by me (Barry Grant). I am a qualified addiction counsellor (B.A. Degree in Counselling Skills & Addiction Studies) and a fully accredited member of the Association of Professional Counsellors & Psychotherapists in Ireland (APCP). I am also a qualified SMART Recovery group facilitator.
Participants will need access to a computer, or internet-enabled device (smartphone/tablet) and an internet connection. We plan to run the group on Friday evenings. The meetings will be hosted on this site: https://appear.in/pgimeeting The meeting room is currently 'locked' and will only be open 5 minutes prior to agreed meeting times. The online meeting can be accessed through a web-browser (Chrome or Firefox) or by using the appear.in app, which is available for from the Apple App Store (iPhone/iPad) and from the Google Play Store (Android). Participants can join the meeting anonymously and have the option of communicating via voice, voice & video and/or web-chat. If you are interested in joining this meeting, please fill out our contact form. This can be done anonymously, however we will need an email address or mobile phone number which we can contact you at in order to let you know when the meetings will begin. We will only ever use your contact details in order to let you know about the first meeting. Participants will need to be aged 18, or over, and be resident in the Republic of Ireland. This service will be provided free of charge. The meetings will be 90 minutes in duration. The meetings will be operated on a CBT model (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). If you have any questions, please fill out the contact form or email: info [at] problemgambling.ie If you could share this post on social media, it would be greatly appreciated. Barry Grant - Founder - Problem Gambling Ireland It's that time of year again. Silly Season for gambling. In case you've been living in a cave with no radio, TV or broadband coverage - the Cheltenham Festival begins next week. What many consider to be the highlight of the horse-racing year on these islands, runs over 4 days (Tuesday to Friday). Despite it being a UK fixture, Cheltenham holds a special place in the hearts of Irish enthusiasts. In fact, its appeal goes far beyond the limits of regular punters and the festival manages to inspire many, who would not bet on horse-racing from one end of the year to the other, to have a 'flutter'. Offices, factories and other workplaces are a-buzz with tips and talk of the winners and losers. This fascination is reflected in (and/or encouraged by) the media. It is practically impossible to listen to any radio station, read a newspaper or watch the TV without hearing talk of gambling. This, of course, is not so strange, considering that horse-racing and betting have been intertwined since time immemorial.
Unfortunately, for recovering gambling addicts (problem gamblers), this time of year is an absolute nightmare. If you don't believe me, try to spend one day between now and March 18th, avoiding all talk of Cheltenham. I'd be very interested to hear how you get on. In my time working with problem gamblers, they have almost uniformly expressed a sense of impending dread and fear in advance of the Cheltenham Festival. The 'triggers' to relapse (or 'lapse' or 'slip'), which most people in recovery from addictions try so hard to avoid, are omni-present. Short of booking a trip to Ireland's Most Remote Cave, it is practically impossible to avoid hearing constant talk of gambling. And as if that weren't bad enough, bookmakers heavily promote 'Free Bets' of up to €30 for new customers. For some problem gamblers in recovery, these sorts of enticements are the equivalent of a drug dealer putting a bag of heroin through a recovering addict's letterbox. So, if you are a problem gambler in recovery, what should you do over the coming week? Here are some suggestions:
Remember, there is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to recovery. Your recovery journey will be as unique as you are - regardless of whether you are following the 12 Steps, in counselling or 'going it alone'. Do what works for you. Make healthy choices and reap the rewards. Barry Grant |