People with a gambling addiction "choose" to do so no more than an alcoholic, a person suffering a compulsive disorder or even someone suffering depression. They all have their roots in the brain chemistry not being right and are psychological disorders.
Al, how can you possibly associate or even compare (if that is what you are implying) alcholism and gambling with depression or compulsive disorders??? Alcohlics and gamblers choose to take that first drink or make that first bet and they both go back. Depression and compulsion is with you from birth and in your chemistry as you say.
Disagree WAT. The potential for all of these afflictions are with you from birth. It is your life experiences that help shape the way you handle and deal with this potential and in that way there is no difference between a chemical addiction or a psychological disorder. You are no more or less likely to become an alcoholic by taking that first drink than you are suffering depression by making choices in life. As WP said, the key is in taking responsibility for your own actions, and then acknowledging and acting on your particular circumstances. Anyone can become a problem gambler, anyone can become an alcoholic, and anyone can become compulsive or depressed.
True to a certain point smokey, but some people do have a greater disposition to these things than others, whether that is genetic, environmental or a combination is a whole other debate.
All of these problems stem from the brain. Even the hard nosed old school thought that people suffering such afflictions were weak, is till an acknowledgment that the problem lies within the brain. I have even had people try to convince me that someone suffering depression is merely week of mind.
There is though an overlap between most of these problems in terms of chemical imbalances and brain patterns.
In terms of how the brain functions we are generally still in the dark ages. Someone suffers from depression or alcoholism they go to a shrink or a counselor. Yet if someones liver starts to play up they will be sent to a medical doctor. The brain is still regarded as some magical thing that we can control, rather what it is, another organ of the body that like all the others requires correct nutrition and can be harmed by toxic substances.
Most people suffering from addictions and depression lack either the ability to produce dopamine (or similar hormones) or the ability for the dopamine to work as it should. Recent research has shown that it is perhaps not the actual consuming of these substances or participating in activities such as gambling (or even sex) that drives these people, but more the anticipation there of, that causes certain activity whithin the brain that make them feel good.
All any person addicted to something is trying to do is to feel good, which is what dopamine does - just not for them . While most us enjoy the 'buzz' we get out of a beer, when having a punt or whatever else floats your boat, most addicts don't so much get a buzz, but just get to feel normal or content.
