1. Intrusive Obsession
An intrusive obsession is a thought of GAMBLING that seems to enter our minds from out of nowhere.
When we are hit by an intrusive obsession, we find ourselves suddenly dropping our plans and responsibilities, and pursuing the gamble that we crave.
2. Reoccurring Obsession
A reoccurring obsession is a thought of GAMBLING that enters our minds over and over again throughout the day.
Fighting with this thought consumes all of our energy. We try to remind ourselves of the importance of not gambling, but the gambling thought keeps coming back and seems to grow stronger over time.
If we are able to hold out against the reoccurring obsession, we become exhausted and easily irritated. The reoccurring obsession wins.
3. Circumstantial Obsession
We experience a circumstantial obsession when we are presented with the opportunity to gamble and cannot think of any good reason not to.
We may give ourselves some silly excuse for gambling. Before we know it, we are gambling again, wondering what happened to our common sense.
4. Fundamental Obsession.
The fundamental obsession may not be experienced as a thought of gambling. Fundamental obsession only gets worse. The pain of daily living builds up inside us and we have to vent it.
We experience this obsession as a basic preoccupation with ourselves and how we feel. It is about how we experience the world.
Those of us who have stop gambling for long periods of time without a spiritual solution know the pains of fundamental obsession all too well.
Life is unsatisfying. We are constantly agitated and restless. We have a deep sense that life is treating us unfairly.
We are constantly trying to adjust the circumstances of our lives in an attempt to find some comfort.
No matter what we try, we do not seem to be able to get any peace of mind.
We may have a vague sense that something is wrong with us, but we do not know what it is.
Many of us find that GAMBLING provided us with temporary relief.
We gamble to cope with the pain of fundamental obsession.
