I have a workmate (lets call him Ziggy) that has a serious gambling problem. In less than two years he has lost his wife, son, and house, and if he shows up for work this Monday his job. I can't blame the padrone for firing him hes just plain fed up. Ziggy has in the last six months missed more than two months of work. This last bit of absenteeism was the last straw.
We have all tried to help Ziggy. He has gone to counselling and spoken with others with the same problem. He knows gambling is destroying him but he just can't pull himself away from betting on the horses. Hes won big. As much as $6000, and when he wins he goes on these crazy binges of prostitutes and alcohol that can last for days. Hes says 'its high like no other.' When its all gone, its back to work. The last few months i can really see how it has taken a heavy toll on him. I have seen personally the effects that drugs and alcohol can have on friends, but this is my first time witnessing the effects of gambling on someone close.
Ziggy looks grubby and unshaven most days, he hasn't purchase anything new in years. He lives in one of the most sleaziest neighborhoods, full of low track hookers, heroin addicts, and unsavoury sorts. Does it get any worse?
Question...
I am wondering although what i see is the gambling, if there could be another underlying problem that is the root of his problem? ...maybe mental illness of some sort. I asked him to go see a shrink, so far he refuses. Anyone have any thoughts, ideas, experiences with this problem? --- Kev
We have all tried to help Ziggy. He has gone to counselling and spoken with others with the same problem. He knows gambling is destroying him but he just can't pull himself away from betting on the horses. Hes won big. As much as $6000, and when he wins he goes on these crazy binges of prostitutes and alcohol that can last for days. Hes says 'its high like no other.' When its all gone, its back to work. The last few months i can really see how it has taken a heavy toll on him. I have seen personally the effects that drugs and alcohol can have on friends, but this is my first time witnessing the effects of gambling on someone close.
Ziggy looks grubby and unshaven most days, he hasn't purchase anything new in years. He lives in one of the most sleaziest neighborhoods, full of low track hookers, heroin addicts, and unsavoury sorts. Does it get any worse?
Question...
I am wondering although what i see is the gambling, if there could be another underlying problem that is the root of his problem? ...maybe mental illness of some sort. I asked him to go see a shrink, so far he refuses. Anyone have any thoughts, ideas, experiences with this problem? --- Kev
