Choosing a rehab for your gambling addiction: A few Considerations

When shopping for a treatment rehab center for your gambling addiction, you want want to consider a few significant factors

1) Does the program offer individual therapy?

In recent years, the literature and specifically, the HBO Special Presentation, Addiction, speak about the importance of treating addictive behaviors, as well as, the underlying issues helping to maintain the addiction. Many programs still only offer group therapy as their ONLY mode of therapy. You can gain skills from group therapy, there is no question, but the individual therapy offers another set of experiences that can assist you in a long lasting recovery! The gambler needs to engage in behavioral and cognitive treatments. The goal for any pathological gambling is abstinence. We attain abstinence through a deeper understanding of the core issues leading to gambling, develop new behaviors that avoid gambling scenarios (the people, places and things) associated with gambling. It is recommended that a rehab client see their individual therapist (a licensed therapist) at least three times per week during primary treatment.

2) Does the program offer an aftercare program?

Practically speaking, when you are investing the amount of time and money in a gambling treatment center, it is equally important that the program offers continuing contact after you leave them. An effective addiction counselor would be most interested how a client is doing once they are away from the protective environment of the rehab, back home in their day-to-day routine. Programs may offer different style programs, but there should be at least a one-year aftercare program offered.

3) Does the program offer attention to a dual diagnosis?

Most clients entering drug rehab or alcohol rehab have significant mental health issues. If you are experiencing depression, anxiety, panic, suicidal thoughts, rage, psychosis you need a program that can offer you the psychiatric attention that these conditions require. You can treat both conditions at the same time, with the possible exception of a psychotic episode. If you have any affective disorder, you should be able to be treated in a rehab while attending to your recovery needs.

4) Are there considerations that include multiple ways to recovery?

Some programs are strictly a 12-Step approach, other programs are strictly non 12-Step designed. You want to make sure that the "philosophical bias" of the program is not fixed and strict. You need to work with a professional addiction treatment team, and with them decide your way towards recovery. Be careful of programs that proselytize and push an agenda outside health. Don't waste your energy fighting it!These are just some considerations when shopping for a rehab and hoping for a good match for a most important and needed investment you are planning to make towards your future and your family's future.

How important is spirituality in addiction recovery?

The decision to confront an addiction, whether alcohol, drugs, sex, or gambling requires a great deal of personal inventory, discovery, and/or re-discovery. In most addicts lives, running from core issues in our lives (e.g. feelings of worthlessness, childhood trauma, grief/loss, mood swings, etc.)helps to maintain the addiction and the numbing effects of the drug or process addiction.

Recovery requires nothing less than transformation! I often say this as a "mantra" when greeting new clients to Paradise Recovery. For certain, the addiction required your full and undivided attention, so recovery will ask for nothing less.

Spirituality is a key component to recovery. Notice, I'm not saying, "religion". Spirituality means having to do with your inner world and how your inner world connects with the inner world of another or some other thing. Often the aim of spirituality is peace and inner serenity. However, spirituality has aided many women and men through rough times and when life appears hopeless. Spirituality is both the container and the items in the container. You partner with spirituality to become the most authentic and happy person you can become...you thrive!

The self-help movement of alcoholics anonymous (AA)and more recently narcotics anonymous (NA) has been described as the most powerful spiritual movement of our time. The authentic connections, sharings, tears, laughter, coffee, etc. are all ingredients to a spirituality that works for many people who buy-in to the transformation concept.

Each person needs to find out for themselves what and how spirituality will bring them to the inner peace and serenity, while not running anymore from the "black pains" in our lives. Obviously, spirituality is very important. It is the ongoing relationship with yourself. You becoming YOU!

If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, please do not hesitate to seek help. The transformation required cannot be accomplished alone! Call our HelpLine at (866) 478-9898.

Recuperatio Primoris.

Holistic Drug Rehab. What does it mean?

Better said, what should it mean? A holistic rehab experience, whether it is for drugs, alcohol, sexual addiction, or gambling addiction means that the treatment approach looks at the mind, body and spirit.

Mind, body, and spirit is a sometimes overused phrase that actually does not fully encompass the meaning of holistic treatment. "Mind" actually has two components that need to be addressed. One is the psychological aspect of the addiction. The individual core issues. Also, the behavior of addiction. Yes, addiction is a behavior, as well as a disease, as well as a way of thinking. "Mind" also should address psychiatric issues such as depression and anxiety that often accompany addiction. Left untreated, the risk of relapse is much higher. Plus, who wants to go around with a depressive disorder or anxiety disorder? Both conditions, and many others, are highly treatable. "Body" issues refer to the healing and return to health of the body. Taking care of yourself again! Even before that, though, is learning to take care of yourself. Many people don't know how to properly care for themselves. Now you will learn! Healthy diet, exercise, regular sleep, structure, treating ignored health conditions, etc. "Spirit" is a deeper sense of nurturance that occurs through many different avenues. "Spirit" can be found in the ocean, the wind, the land. Spirit may be found through re-connecting with a religious affiliation or re-connecting with whomever is your higher power. Meditation, yoga, and movement therapy can all help you re-connect with the spirit again.

Mind-body-spirit are not totally separate entities, as you might guess. They are all three connected and intertwined with one another. Balance is key. Balance is one of the keys to a successful holistic addiction rehab experience.

Eliot Spitzer: Sex addiction and powerful men!

Eliot Spitzer is just the latest example of a powerful man caught in a private and covert life of sexually charged behaviors. Is there a common thread between Roman Catholic priests, State Governors, Senators and other men in powerful positions acting out in sexually inappropriate manner?

Yes and No.

Yes, because they all display a public image of service and invite us to trust them with their confidence to do their job, while representing something "greater than themselves". A priest represents all that is good and moral, an elected public official represents justice and the common good. Another theme that connects powerful men with sex addictions are the need to compartmentalize their lives and therefore isolate the feelings/emotions associated with the addiction. Oftentimes a sex addict will vehemently deny their behaviors even with video evidence! Denial is, of course, a hallmark sign of any addiction. That is probably why Senator Larry Craig is insisting to keep his post as a senator despite the obvious scandal and embarrassment to his family, friends, staff and the public.

The "rush" that a sex addict gets is not unlike the high from most substances. The thoughts and feelings associated with the "danger" element is off the charts for these men. They know, whether a priest, a doctor, senator or governor that if caught, their life will be pure chaos! That is a kind of warped attraction for the sex addict...the thrill of not getting caught and the allure of possibly getting caught in the act.

No, since some of these men are not similar since they exhibit more predatory behaviors including: victim grooming, lack of empathy, targeting specific victims (e.g. children, vulnerable subordinates, etc.). The predator sex-addict is much harder to treat, since they usually have more of a anti-social personality. Others are more acting out of poor self-esteem/self-worth, repressed sexual identity, or impulsiveness. These two groups should be treated differently and actually should not be treated in the same group!

Overall, it appears that Eliot Spitzer could be classed in the second group. Despite his over-confident public appearance, he may have poor self-efficacy beliefs about himself and was unconsciously trying to "get caught" as a fraud and an addict. We shall see if he will seek treatment...btw, most sex addicts do not seek treatment without some external motivation.

Treatment is highly recommended for anyone caught in a sex addiction. It is recommended that the addict be admitted to a residential program to "retreat" from their stressors and triggers and be able to explore what is driving and maintaining such a destructive process in their lives, affecting their work, play and loved ones!

Recuperatio Primoris!

Dr. Bill Heran
CEO
Paradise Recovery
Honolulu, Hawaii