|
Published: April 08, 2006 07:39 am
Addicted gambler recovers 'one day at a time'
Hooked on Gambling: First of three-part series
Denise Jewell
CNHI News Service
"If I know I'm going to gamble, 24 hours before that my train starts running and it runs until I leave," said Chesser. "Broke most of the time."
Because the odds favor the house, the longer a person gambles, the more likely they are to lose over time. And that's when the compulsive gambler moves into the losing stage, piling up one loss after another.
As they become more desperate, pathological gamblers begin chasing their losses by betting more. The addiction is often marked by a need to bet more and more to get that same high. Soon, they are in the desperation stage.
"Their brain has been wired into the big win as solving all their problems," said George Brenner, program director at Gallahue Mental Health Center in Indianapolis.
Recovery has not been easy for Chesser. But he overcomes the urge to gamble by attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings twice a week, and helping others go through the organization's 12-step rehabilitation program. One day at a time.
Since his dark days, Chesser says, he has remarried and runs an ink jet recycling business with his fourth wife. He swears by Gamblers Anonymous and has never felt better about life.
"In our book, it says we have three options: prison, insanity or death," said Chesser. "None of them appeal to me today. I have life today. When I was gambling, I just existed for the next bet. That's all that mattered."
Denise Jewell is a CNHI News Service Elite Reporting Program fellow. She writes for the Niagara Gazette in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
|
|
 |
Marriage Counselor
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
...>MORE
Adult Residential Services Administrator
HUMAN SERVICES
Progressive Niagara County Agency serving adults with psychiatric disabilties seeks an Adult Reside...>MORE
INSURANCE - CSR with Personal Lines exp., for Lockport area. $25,000 salary. 433-7504...>MORE
PHONE SALES
PHONE sales, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. +, Pete or Mike, 694-1251...>MORE
Mechanic
MECHANIC: Truck trailer, FT, full benefits. Competitive wages. Contact 875-4980; fax 875-8108...>MORE
SHIPPING CLERK
Shipping Clerk, p/t, 30-35 hrs. wk., exp. in warehouse environment, knowledge of Word/Excel, data entry, UPS, freight ch...>MORE
Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A
TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR
DEDICATED RUNS
No touch freight............Good miles
...>MORE
DRIVER
Driver, light pick up & delivery, need own car, no WNY, valid NYS driver lic., good pay 694-1251...>MORE
Warehouse
Warehouse, Assembly
Production & Cleaning
1st, 2nd & 3rd shifts
Sanborn, Grand Island
Amherst & Tona...>MORE
Grill Cook
GRILL COOK & Waitresses, exp only, full time. Apply within 2021 Main St. Nia Falls ...>MORE
See all ads |
Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE
1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE
Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
Yamaha 1982, 750
YAMAHA 1982, 750, runs perfect,
low mileage, $895.
716-525-2889...>MORE
Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE
Ford 1998 F150
FORD 1998 F150, standard cab, 4wd, excellent shape, $3495.
716-525-2889...>MORE
1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE
See all ads |
|
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
