Health/Addiction: Stuff You Should Know

• Gambling

A lottery ticket buyer is 5 times more likely to be eaten by the shark, 7 more times likely to be struck by lightning, 6,000 more times likely to be hit by a car than to win in a lottery.”
(Rex Rogers, Seducing America: Is Gambling a Good Bet?, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1997)

Some warning signs of problems among card players and other forms of gambling:

- Playing cards begins to replace all other interests.
- Borrowing money and not paying it back.
- Losing time from studies or work due to gambling.
- Risking or losing a significant relationship, job, or educational opportunity over gambling.

(Ben Bostdorf, Massachusettes Council on Compulsive gambling News, Volume XVII, No. 1, Fall 2004.)

Gambling exhibits the lowest form of human motivation.

“I can’t begin to remember all the lies I told when I was gambling. I lied about where I was, how much money I was losing, when I would be home, and my biggest lie was assuring my wife I would quit gambling…after just one more time…”
(John M. Eades. Gambling Addiction: The Problem, The Pain, and the pathway to Recovery (Winchester, TN: John M. Eades, 1999)

• Fatigue

Maybe you think you have too much living to do, so you’re adding hours to you day by cutting on sleep. But does it really work?

Here’s what a habit of short nights will get you (less than 6 hours):

- Difficulty waking up in the morning
- Inability to concentrate and impaired memory
- Falling asleep at work
- Moodiness, irritability, depression, or anxiety

Establishing a consistent sleep routine is one of the best ways to improve your mental, physical, and emotional health.

• Stress and Depression

What stresses you out?

- Studies
- Negative thoughts and feelings
- Work
- Broken relationships
- Problems at home
- Chronic illness
- Lack of money
- Traumatic memories

Just one of the above is enough to cause stress, but you may find that you’re having to deal with more than one of them at a time. When this happens stress can turn into depression. Sometimes the progression is so gradual we don’t even realize it. What are some signs of depression?

- Sadness that won’t go away
- Irritability over even small things
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Lack of enthusiasm or motivation
- Anger, rage, anxiety
- Thoughts of death or suicide

What should you do about this?

You are not alone. Feelings of depression are far too common. reach out and talk to friends, parents, or teachers whom you trust. Avoid hanging out with those who use drug and alcohol to cope with difficult situations. Above all, do not do anything that can cause permanent damage or death. Remember “suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”