Breaking Free from Discontentment: Overcoming Gambling Addiction
“Discontent, blaming, complaining, self-pity cannot serve as a foundation for a good future, no matter how much effort you make.” - Eckhart Tolle
Discontentment is the condition of being unsatisfied with one’s life or situation. A person who is discontent always wants more. Never satisfied with anything in life. Maybe that's why when we win, we always want more. We wanted to keep seeing the numbers grow thinking we could replicate the “success” or simply, the wins we had but it will never be the same. In fact, the odds are and will always be stacked against our favor. We’ll just keep chasing the losses and digging our hole even deeper.
Discontentment is a universal human experience. It can stem from various sources—financial struggles, unmet expectations, social pressures, or a general sense of unfulfillment. This emotional state creates vulnerability, making individuals susceptible to the allure of gambling as a potential escape from reality. The promise of a sudden windfall, the adrenaline rush of risk-taking, and the temporary high of a win all serve as tantalizing distractions from life's challenges.
Gambling, in its various forms, presents itself as an enticing avenue for those grappling with discontentment. The thrill of uncertainty and the belief in the possibility of a life-changing jackpot can be especially alluring for individuals seeking an escape from their discontented reality. However, the harsh reality of gambling addiction often lurks behind the initial allure.
Why are we discontent? Well, the only true way to determine that is to seek out professional help such as talking with a therapist who can help uncover that. Talking with a therapist is a great way to just get out of our own heads. We build up these different scenarios in our heads that are ninety nine percent of the time untrue. Having another person to talk with can help uncover why we feel the way we do. They can get us the help we need to overcome this addiction and move forward with a bet-free life. Even if you’re one of those people that say they do not want to talk to a therapist, do it. It will not make you less of a person to talk to someone else about problems going on in your life. If anything they can and will help figure out why you are the way you are. You’ll thank me later.
How do I stop feeling this way?
The best way to stop this feeling of discontentment is really just feeling the opposite. Meditating, practicing gratitude, and volunteer with local nonprofits are some easy and straight forward ways to overcome this feeling of discontentment.
One healthy habit change is meditation. Meditation is about training in awareness and a healthier sense of perspective. You are not trying to turn off feelings or thoughts, you are learning to observe them without judgement. While meditating, you might be able to learn why you gambled in the first place. Meditation is a great way to reduce stress, increase calmness and promote happiness. Stress for many isolated/escape gamblers was a trigger for their gambling. By practicing meditation, you can channel your inner thoughts and prolong the urges to gamble. According to Sean Oulashin (@SeanOulashin on IG, creator of Antidote: Digital distraction to Peak Productivity in 30 days) the only wrong way to meditate is to not meditate. The duration of meditation does not matter. The only thing that does matter is that you partake in the activity consistently. If you do not know where to start, there are many guided meditation apps and videos on YouTube available to help you start.
Having a positive outlook and thinking can influence behavior and aid in leading a sustainable recovery from any addiction. Practicing gratitude daily in recovery can help people become more optimistic and have control in their lives. One way we can practice gratitude daily is by keeping a gratitude journal. In your journal, jot down some times throughout the day you felt happy or grateful and include people, places, objects, moments and successes. Focus on what is most important, concentrate on the people around you and your relationships is key to long lasting happiness. Another way is to give back.
One thing I personally started doing a few months was volunteering at a non-profit called “Feed My Starving Children” . Is a Christian non-profit, dedicated to seeing every child whole in body and spirit. They work with food distributing partners throughout 100 different third world countries. According to a recent data 1 in 9 children die daily from causes related to malnutrition. I started volunteering with this organization because it makes me feel grateful for all that I have: a roof over my head, access to food, clean water, clean clothes, and shoes on my feet daily. At the end they show how many boxes, meals, children fed and the cost to produce all those meals for a year. When they show that, I get that rush of dopamine that I once got from gambling. Only this time, its much more healthier. If this seems to be something you are interested in, find a local soup kitchen or food pantry in your area, and start slow. For this non-profit in particular there is only 8 locations through four states (Arizona- 1, Illinois 3, Minnesota- 3 and Texas -1).
It's essential to understand that overcoming discontentment and gambling addiction is a journey fraught with challenges. Patience, support from loved ones, professional guidance, and a strong determination to break free from the cycle are fundamental elements of this process.
In conclusion, discontentment can serve as a catalyst for destructive behaviors like gambling addiction. Acknowledging the complexities of discontentment and addressing its underlying causes are critical in preventing the descent into addictive behaviors. With concerted efforts from individuals, communities, and society at large, it's possible to navigate away from the perilous grip of discontentment and reclaim a fulfilling, balanced life free from the shackles of gambling addiction
