Gambling addiction is like a tiger lying in wait for its prey. Unfortunately, we are the prey! The tiger is extremely patient as it waited for the optimal moment to pounce on its unsuspecting victim.
The tiger is well camouflaged with denial, minimization, rationalization, and other psychological defenses, so it is hard to distinguish the tiger from its surroundings. Its stealth makes it hard to identify as it is sneaking up and preparing to attack.
Addiction is cunning and baffling. Many time its victims do not know they are being stalked until it is too late.
This tiger doesn’t disappear. It doesn’t go away. It merely recedes into the background. It is always there, waiting for a lapse in our spiritual program. For example: When we are feeling down and out because we have gotten into a bitter argument with someone, or when we have received a special recognition at work or promotion and feel that we deserve to celebrate. The tiger will act on any opportunity to regain control of our life.
The first thing to look out is whether our disease is once again trying to establish a foothold in our life. It may be setting us up to take charge and run the show. It is always looking for that opportunity to convince us to return to gambling.
A person in early recovery looks for all the ways that his gambling isn’t as bad as those around him / her. I wasn’t that out of control, I am not indebted. I did not borrow to gamble. The list goes on and on and on.
Before long, he convinced himself that he can return to gambling, he just need to control it better this time around. This is a person who has not truly surrendered.
This disease is capable of convincing us to go ahead and gamble again.
“This time it will be different, I am not a gambling addict.” The addicted part of us will insist on this position, despite overwhelming evidences.
This disease will selectively ignore information that validates our powerlessness. This filtering is called the Selective Inattention. The information that indicate we are an addict and are unable to control our gambling is ignored.
Watching out how this beast may be sabotaging our recovery is crucial.
Watch and listen. It will be our own life that we save if we keep our vigil.