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Most Escape Gamblers have been nurturing, caring responsible people for most of their lives. Most are not egotistical, have no indications of narcissism and are not out-going. They appear to be "normal" and have an almost exact opposite character profile than that of the Action Gambler. During their lives, various psychological traumas have occurred. These individuals frequently suppress those negative feelings and do not deal with them. As time goes by and the traumas increase, a single traumatic event may take place which causes situational or clinical depression. Friends and relatives of the person become aware of the depression of the person. After the predisposing issues come to the surface, depression is prevalent the individual will often do what most do, attempt to self-medicate or escape from the trauma (make themselves feel better). These individuals are prone to use drugs, food, sex, alcohol or gambling as a way to self-medicate. Often, a friend or family member will suggest to the individual that they do something "fun" to help forget about the problems. When they choose gambling, the individual will realize that the act of gambling does help them forget about and escape from their problems. The individual may become addicted to gambling the first time they gamble and the progression of the disorder begins. THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE ILLNESS Most escape gamblers begin by visiting a casino with friends or family once or twice as a social event, an opportunity to take a break from their problems and "have some fun". In other words, they gamble for recreation. However a few quickly step over the line into compulsive escape gambling. They rapidly fly through what is often referred to as the "winning" phase . However, for escape gamblers who gamble at games of luck, no winning phase exists. It is more like an Introductory Phase. On occasion there are winning episodes, but not phases. They may or may not have a big monetary win. For them, "winning" may have to do more with the empowerment that comes from entering a world which is free from outside controlling factors which provides a narcotic-like relief or escape from their worries. They are into phase two, the chasing stage, almost immediately and reach the third phase of desperation and fourth phase, hopelessness, within two to three years. They often seek professional counseling prior to attending their first self help meeting.
ESCAPE GAMBLING: THE FOUR PHASES 95% OF WOMEN AND 37% OF MEN
CALLING THE ARIZONA COUNCIL ON COMPULSIVE GAMBLING For most "Escape Gamblers" gambling was not a problem until predisposing factors appeared( see Predisposing Factors handout); plays "luck" games e.g. Bingo, lottery, slot or video poker, live keno or keno machines; gambles first as recreation then as "escape" from problems. Not every escape gambler will experience all of the symptoms or progress through the symptoms of a phase in the same order or at the same rate. Some may return to a previous stage for a short period of time. This is often seen after a bailout has occurred. (Bailout: friends or family may pay off loans or bills in an attempt to help the gambler get back on track)
Winning "phase"is not an appropriate term for what happens to escape gamblers. They may have gambled socially at some time in their life with no adverse consequences or they may never have gambled before. Many report knowing they were "in trouble" after their first gambling experience following predisposing factors . Characteristics may include: SEVERAL SMALL OR EVEN LARGE
MONETARY WINNING "EPISODES." Although money is usually secondary for escape
gamblers, they may see gambling as a way to solve financial difficulties, become
financially independent or make extra money after these winning episodes. EMOTIONAL ESCAPE from life’s
problems experienced while in the act of gambling is the sole "win" identified
by many escape gamblers. Money just means they can play longer- escape
longer. Many experience a mood altering euphoria while at a machine. SELF-ESTEEM BOOST that
comes from a FALSE SENSE OF EMPOWERMENT as they experience an "it’s my turn"
feeling without family members present to make demands on their time and energy
is another "win" reported by escape gamblers. INDEPENDENCE is yet another
intoxicating "win" especially if they are in a relationship where the spouse or
significant other is domineering or controlling or if physical ailments or
disabilities keep them from a "normal" life. EXCITEMENT AND LIVING ON THE
EDGE is another feeling that may be present. SOCIAL INTERACTION at the casino reportedly fills the void by many who suffer from loneliness
LOSING PHASE
DESPERATION PHASE
HOPELESS PHASE
Escape Gamblers In 1999, 73% of all calls to the ACCG 1-800-Helpline were from or about Escape gamblers, up from 67% in 1998. The rise of male Escape gamblers asking for help accounts for the difference. At the end of 1999, 49% of the men asking for help were identified as Escape gamblers, in contrast to 37% in 1998. Women Escape gamblers remained constant at near 95%. The following deductions were made by the Arizona Council since 1997 as data has been collected from thousands of compulsive gamblers calling the 1-800-Helpline and information provided by gamblers attending the self-help programs across Arizona. Escape compulsive gamblers share some of the same characteristics as the Action gambler:
However, there are important differences. Understanding them can accelerate one’s recovery.
INSIDE the MIND of the ESCAPE GAMBLER GENDER NOTE: Although this profile uses "She" for its example, remember that 49% of the men calling the ACCG Hotline in 1999 met our criteria for Escape or Late-On-Set gambling. Typically, the escape gambler becomes enthralled with playing the slot, video poker, live keno or keno machine. It is exciting, it is fun, it does not talk back, it requires her full concentration. She has to pay attention to the results of each roll; keep pushing the button or pulling the arm; She does not have time to think about her problems. After just a brief period of time at the machine an almost hypnotic trance occurs. She realizes she has found a way to completely forget about all problems in her life. She feels comfortable, happy, and free from turmoil. She may later report that, in retrospect, she realizes she was "hooked" the very first time she played. The next time she has
an opportunity to return to the machine, she has immediate relief from her
problems. By the second or third visit she no longer goes with friends or
family. They want to leave after awhile; she does not. She begins to go to the
casino alone, stays for longer periods of time, goes to the casino more often
and may graduate rapidly to the dollar machine. While at the machine, she does
not have to worry about anything except how to stay longer and play more often.
No one is telling her what to do, no phone calls, no one wanting this or wanting
that, no demands, just freedom. Social needs are met. The change girl and other
gamblers begin to know her and call her by name; she makes friends with other
"regulars;" consequently, she begins to feel very comfortable while at the
casino. Other problems are forgotten and she is having fun. She has selected a
favorite machine. There are also second and third favorites. The gambler begins
to call it "her" machine. If she goes to the casino and someone else is at her
machine, she is angry. She will go to her second machine, but would much rather
be at her "own" machine. She may talk to the machine, telling it to "come on,
pay up", or swear at it, and thank it when it pays, but she will usually go back
to her machine time after time. A lady recently said that she accused her
machine of infidelity when she saw another lady win a jackpot at it. However, as
soon as the winner left, she immediately returned to her machine, forgave its
infidelity and continued the affair. Relationships with a machine are very real.
When the escape compulsive gambler is finally out of funds, she is forced to leave the casino. She gets into her car feeling precisely like the action gambler who has just been taken out of action. She may pray , "Please never let me gamble again." She may swear that she will never gamble again, may curse God for allowing her to gamble; she may pound on the steering wheel, even scream and cry on the drive home and have thoughts about driving her car off of a bridge or into an oncoming vehicle (a thought she quickly abandons for fear of hurting someone else; as much as she wants to harm herself, she doesn't want it to appear self-inflicted and she doesn't really want to hurt a stranger). She will blame the casino, vowing never to return. But unfortunately, in order to escape the reality of the problems she already suffers and others she may have just created, she must gamble again. Once home, she has already prepared lies about where she has been or what she has done, is already making plans about how to obtain more money to cover bad checks she may have written and to obtain money with which to win back her losses. She will probably be back at the machine the next day or very soon and the cycle will repeat itself again and again until finally her world comes crashing down.
CODEPENDENCY & ESCAPE GAMBLERS Upon learning about codependency, many escape gamblers identify codependency problems as some of the underlying issues they must deal with as part of their recovery. Books by such authors as Melody Beatty or Pia Mellody as well as CoDA itself are recommended. Books are available on line through Hazelden or Amazon.com LEARNING NEW COPING SKILLS Escape gamblers are literally getting "relief", getting "escape" from psychological and emotional pain. Many are actually afraid to stop gambling because they have no confidence they will be able to endure the pain they fear will come when they stop medicating themselves with the drug of their choice, gambling. A drug addict is rarely expected to quit "cold turkey". The gambling addict must be offered the hope of an alternative way of dealing with the underlying factors that led them to want the escape-at-all-cost anesthetizing quality of slot machines, video poker, keno, bingo or whatever type of gambling they became addicted to. A twelve step program, in time, can lead to a better way of coping with the past as well as the present. Most compulsive gamblers would benefit from therapy by a certified compulsive gambling counselor, outpatient treatment, or even intensive inpatient treatment to help them deal with the sometimes excruciating pain of facing reality and addressing the issues which underlie the addiction. ESCAPE GAMBLERS AND THE G.A. COMBO BOOK When escape gamblers come to G.A. for the first time without any understanding of how their experience differs from the action gamblers, they may read the yellow combo book, the book that is read at every meeting of G.A. and is most people's introduction to the program, and wonder if they are in the right place. While they will identify with most of the book, it is helpful to understand that it was written by male action gamblers for male action gamblers over forty years ago. Many escape gamblers read page 10-11 of the "combo" book and do not identify with the immaturity, and dream world of the "action" compulsive gambler. If they understand the historical perspective of the program and that escape gamblers are only now being recognized, it will help them take what is appropriate to them and leave the rest. It is the opinion of this author that the twelve-step program of G.A. is vital if one is to obtain long term abstinence and recovery from compulsive gambling. Information
Provided By: Arizona Council on Compulsive
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