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ADHD & Gambling "What are the odds?" - By Patrick J. Hurley

ADHD NEWSLETTER from Patrick J. Hurley

www.addcorridorcoaching.com

ADHD & Gambling Addiction- What are the odds?

March 2004 Volume I Issue III

Statement: My intent in this newsletter is to express as quickly as possible my own beliefs and opinions on matters. I have no problems with people who disagree with my opinion and have even been swayed to rethink my position from time to time.

I wanted to let you know that a book many years in the making is almost done, it is authored by me and Robert Eme Ph.D. and will be titled Spinning out of control- ADHD and the Criminal Justice System. It is designed for the police, jails, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation, prisons, halfway houses and parole officials. To learn more and get updates click here. Dr. Eme`s e-mail is reme@argosyu.edu

http://www.addcorridorcoaching.com/book.asp

There have been some studies and other indications that there may be a link between ADHD and gambling addiction. Problem gambling has been on the increase since the increase in legalized gambling across the United States. The proliferation of lotteries, scratch lottery tickets, Indian casinos, riverboat gambling, and other forms of government sanctioned lottery games has made this more widespread. For about the last year there has even been the ?World Poker Tour? on television which has a large following. At the same time the Capital of gambling in the United States, Las Vegas has continued its meteoric growth.

I write this article as I do all my articles from the perspective of someone with ADHD. I think that if I allowed myself to I could potentially become a problem gambler. In the State of Iowa where I live the riverboats and casinos have been big draws. I find myself attracted to them even though I have only come out a winner on one occasion. I made about $25.00.

Usually I take $20.00 - $40.00 in and say to myself that is all I am going to spend. Inevitably I find myself at first ahead in the game and then starting down the slippery slope of being behind. Once behind I find it almost impossible to not go for broke to get my money back out of the machine. I justify it by saying that it is entertaining and I would spend this kind of money going to a college football game or most other entertainment. Finally I am out of money. Its time to leave?.right? For me not so fast.

I almost inevitably find myself back at the ATM cash machine to get ?just another $20.00? so I can at least get my original money back. I have even been known to go back for another $20.00 after I lose that one. I can usually drag myself away before I break the $100.00 barrier but the attraction is surprisingly powerful for me and I imagine others.

There is an article at this link from RMIT University in Melbourne titled ?New Study investigates ADHD link to problem gambling? which came out in February 2003.

www.rmit.edu.au/browse/Media/News/Media%20Releases?SIMID=yap6o51fmnqgz

My own suspicions of why we with ADHD may have trouble with gambling are the traditional reasons ADHD people have trouble with other things.

Impulsiveness- gambling is by its nature an impulsive driven activity.

Need for excitement- gambling can be very exciting, especially when you win, but even sometimes when you come real close to winning (like one card away from a Royal Flush). There is danger, risk and the unknown .no wonder we like it.

Money problems ? many problem gamblers have money problems already and they look to this activity as a possible solution to double their money in a short period of time. The fact that they lose only what they took in is viewed something like ?at least I didn?t lose twice as much money as I took in?

I have pointed out to my wife jokingly when we go into a casino (which isn?t very often) that they have the pay out percentage posted. Let?s say it says 93.4 % payout. I tell my wife I would be better off assuming I was going to play $100.00 just giving them $6.60 and turning around and leaving because I never win anyhow. I think it is actually probably a good thing that I have not won. I believe that winning would make it even more exciting and thus even more attractive to continue going back. And yet it is hard for me to resist stopping at one when I drive by.

People who do have a gambling problem then have to start dealing with a lot of the same traditional problems ADHD people do. Hiding our money problems (losses) from loved ones and family, credit card advances to pay routine bills such as utilities, groceries and the like. It can quickly become another failure or character defect we are going to be ultimately held accountable for. The cycle continues. I highly recommend that if any of this sounds like you that you get help before it becomes a problem.

I personally view myself as a problem gambler right now even though I spend very little money gambling. By doing so I have recognized in advance my weakness and hopefully will never allow myself to fall into the traps that gambling can set for us.

I am not saying that people who gamble are bad, I enjoy playing powerball as much as anyone else. I just know that there is an underlying susceptibility on my part to be a problem gambler so I am constantly monitoring myself on this.

If you have any comments feel free to e-mail me a -short note- (if possible). I have ADHD too so I know how difficult it is to write short notes. addcorridorcoach@aol.com

FIRST EVER Poster devoted to ADHD view at: http://www.addcorridorcoaching.com/poster.asp

If you missed any of the last two issues of my newsletter you can click on these

two sites.

http://www.addcorridorcoaching.com/jan04.asp ADHD & Medications

http://www.addcorridorcoaching.com/feb04.asp ADHD & Self Esteem

If you know on anyone who might like this newsletter please forward it to them and tell them to go to my web site http://www.addcorridorcoaching.com and sign up.

Have a great month. Talk to you soon.

Patrick J. Hurley

22 years in law enforcement and corrections. 50 years old diagnosed with ADHD at age 42. Have been a support group facilitator for 7 years. ADHD/ADD life skills coach since July 2003

20 Ways to Shift Worry Into Attractive Energy - By Catherine Franz

Worry, big or small blocks positive vibrations from entering your realm. The longer the behavior, the deeper the roots, the harder to override. Staying in its merry-go-round places the person in a form of trance. And like all trances, the person in the trance isn`t aware that they are there. If told they are in a trance, they would simply deny it.

A self-mirror change requires persistent external feedback or shaking event before noticeable by a person in a trance. Even with strong positive feedback, it may take years before the person is open enough to accept the feedback as truthful. This is because when our internal dialogue makes a choice it closes that file and changes that belief to their truth. Because we don`t lie to our inner dialogue, it automatically accepted it as truth. And to open it up to reconsideration is taking a risk. The common reasoning, everyone has worries, is a perceived truth, yet it is an incorrect filter.

The good news is that as a belief it?s replaceable. To start, the person in the trance needs to allow themselves to see their status and with a distorted vision, it isn`t easy. Where the behavior stems from doesn`t really matter. Because worry is an easy path of least resistance, it is painless to stay on its carousel.

Here are ten alternative activities and experiences for guidance off the carousel:

1. Physical exercise. This can be something indoor or outdoors, dancing, or just household chores.

2. Practice muscle relaxation techniques. Start with one muscle and progressively move to the next, and continue. Deep relaxation practice for 10 to 15 minutes every day removes stress, worry, and increases energy level and productivity. Resource: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/har/les1.htm

3. Learn abdominal breathing techniques. This increases oxygen to the brain and muscles, stimulates nervous system, promotes positive energy (and attraction) between mind and body that radiates outward. The easiest technique is to lie on your back, place a hand on the stomach, and breathe in and out while observing the hand raise and lower. Watch a baby breathe, they breathe this way naturally. Resource: http://caregiver- information.com/Relaxation/abdominal_breathing.htm

4. Emotional music. Music that brings out the warm fuzzies, returns a fond memory, makes your soul sing, or warms your spirit.

5. Allow a distraction. Watch TV, go to a movie, play a video game, research on the Internet, read an inspiration poetry or story. Even at age 50, I still love, "The Little Engine That Could."

6. Verbal discussion or expression. Talk with someone about the worry. They don`t need to respond with solutions just compassion.

7. Stop and build something with your hands. If you garden, plant or pull weeds. Fix a lamp, paint a wall, or sandpaper an old table.

8. Play a game. Solitaire, a mind game, jigsaw, or crossword puzzle. A board game with the kids or Chess with your significant other.

9. Allow the artist in you to emerge. Find the kids crayons, do you paint or like to draw with pencils or colored pens. Play around, experiment, explore, and play. It loosens the grip. This opens up the other side of the brain and balances the stress from the other side.

10. Journal or write the worry away. Many times the worry isn`t as bad as our mind makes it out to be. Explore possible options or write about a fond memory you have that has nothing to do with the worry. Keep the writing light and airy. If you find the writing getting heavy, shift to something else.

Cut and post this list on the refrigerator. At the first sign of worry, pull something from the list that feels good at the time or fits into the time you have available. Adjust the list as you find things that do and do not work. Enroll the help of friend to let you know when your language reaps worry.

If worry follows you to work, here are 10 ways to help loosen its grip so you can focus on your job. The worse thing you can do is deny its there and push it down. No matter how hard you think you`ve succeeded, people can see the change.

1. Take a slow walk to the bathroom, kitchen, or water fountain.

2. Write for three minutes, dump everything onto the page, and then tear it to shreds. Then write something positive for another three minutes.

3. Relax each muscle, start with the toes, and move upwards. Until relax.

4. Focus on your breath. Do just a few minutes of abdominal breathing (see #3 above).

5. Change surroundings even if briefly.

6. Talk to someone else for a few minutes about something positive and not about t the job.

7. Eat an apple slowly, deliberately; focus on each bite and its taste.

8. Listen to someone share a story about something they enjoy.

9. If possible, turn on some music (headphones). A song only takes three minutes and worry can distract you all day. It?s worth the three-minute investment.

10. Even gentle movement changes physiology and focus. Stand up, move, stretch, or sway to the music -- real or imagined.

Separate the truth from the perceived facts. Afterwards, brainstorm whatever possibilities come forth.

If any of these items are not helping, there may be a natural process occurring. When stressed, the brain?s frontal lobe, the thinking part, sends all its blood to the back part of your brain -- also known as flight or fight syndrome. This stops rational thinking. This occurs with any strong emotion, especially anger. Ask someone else for help with the rational thinking until the blood transfers back. It?s fruitless to try to force rational thinking during this time. People in a trance are not able.

Catherine Franz is a Cetified Coach with niches in product development, Internet marketing, nonfiction/marketing writing and eduction. Additional tips: http://www.abundancecenter.com

blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

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