Early Intervention Will Help Quell Panic Attacks

Question

JHB

JHB

Dr.Braccio:  Our 16-year old daughter is going through karatay genç kızlar a very difficult time.  Recently, she had heart palpitations, lost her breath, felt dizzy, and got very fearful when she felt a loss of control when we were at a school event.  Things got so bad we took her to emergency.  They said she had a panic attack and gave her some Xanax to use if she feels the symptoms are coming again and to get some counseling.  We don’t know what to do but know her world is getting smaller because she doesn’t want to go where a lot of people are and won’t stay overnight anywhere since this happened.  She’s so worried it will happen again.  Except for us, her brother and grandparents, no one knows about this and she seems quite normal to everyone else.  She goes to school and is doing okay there.  My father had these tendencies long ago and says he had panic attacks and outgrew them after a lot of suffering.  For now, we feel bad for her and aren’t sure what to do.  What do you think we can do?  Are these common in teenagers?  Even though she had some of these tendencies in the past, the severity of her condition is something new to us.  Do you think they will go away?

 Answer

It is important to know that panic attacks are relatively common and always terrifying to the person with them.  Fortunately, they do not cause death, but if untreated and continue over time, they can lead to alcohol and other drug abuse, spending less time with others and spending a lot of time at home out of fear of having a panic attack somewhere.  It is estimated that 10% of persons will have one or more panic attacks in their lives.  Panic attacks affect over four million American at any given time.  Anyone who has had a panic attack will tell you how frightening it was and the great fear it will happen again.  As with your daughter, panic attacks usually begin in late adolescence or early adulthood.

It is important for you to help your daughter to overcome panic attacks now and in the future.  If you do not seek treatment of some kind, they may go away, but the chances are good she will continue to have them and they could get worse.  There also is the chance she may pick up phobias or fears about various things and activities that can bring on other panic attacks.

The use of medication can be helpful in the short run, but the best approach is to have her eliminate these attacks through a thinking process.  She needs to find out what triggered the panic attack and learn how to make sure it does not happen again.

To meet with your family physician or a pediatrician is a good idea to determine appropriate medication on an ongoing basis as determined necessary.

Counseling strategies could include some combination of relaxation, hypnosis, cognitive/behavioral therapy and general insight into how the panic attack occurred and ways to overcome it if the symptoms reoccur.

While the solution to each panic attack is unique to each person, the use of desensitization is often very helpful.  The person is gradually introduced to the situation that brought on the panic attack and the person learns over time that he or she can be in the situation and not have a panic attack.  Examples of what can cause panic attacks are fear of heights, elevators, wasps, crowds and almost anything you can imagine.  A simple way to look at a panic attack is to realize that thinking somehow created the fear and you can think your way out of it.

Reading about panic attacks could be helpful as well as seeking out an experienced therapist who has worked with persons with them.  Often, the combination of medication and counseling is the most effective approach to overcoming panic attacks.

Even though your father overcame panic attacks, you can save your daughter a lot of suffering by intervening with the prescribed medication and counseling as well as self-reading about panic attacks to better understand them.  Prognosis is very good she will not have another panic attack if you solve the problem quickly.  You are asking the right questions and obviously want to help her.

Let Son Show You Joys of The Unknown

Question

JHB

JHB

Dr.Braccio:  My husband and I were talking about what we now konya merkez bayan arkadaş accept as our lifelong obsession with security.  Our parents, who were from the Great Depression Era, raised us this way.  We’ve always been cautious and have secure governmental jobs.  My husband did not play sports in high school out of fear he might get hurt and I always have been in the background so as not to be noticed.  Our older children are the same and both have relatively secure jobs.  Our unexpected thirteen year old, fifteen years younger than his sister and seventeen years younger than his brother, is a risk taker and has already worn us out with worry. He plays football, baseball and any other sport he can.  While we worry, we do realize he thrives on competition and seems to be happy, even if intense much of the time.  Unexpectedly, he has taught us that life offers more than security.  Even our older children, who also follow his athletic career, are amazed by him and how different he is from us.  We all follow his athletic career.  Even though late, how can we get more zip in our life and how can we not worry so much about him?

Answer

You have big questions.  To begin with, you have had successful lives and have eliminated much risk.  To have security in this unpredictable world is positive.  Your influence over your two older children is obvious because they are like you.  Your youngest son clearly beats to his own drum, and his drum beats to one of excitement and challenge.  With him around, this can be a good time to change and “get more zip” in your life.

An important thing to remember is that thinkers from Julius Caesar to modern day guru Dr. Wayne Dyer have said fear of the unknown causes more fear than what we can see.  To seek out the unknown and meet new challenges can be exhilarating if fear of the unknown does not stop us from trying new things.

In your own situation, look at life from a probability perspective.  For example, to spend money to buy a modest cottage may be a risk, but look at your financial situation and job security.  It would appear that after such a review, you would determine to buy the cottage if you so desired.  On the other hand, to quit your jobs and go to California to seek a more exciting 1960s life would not make sense without a lot of planning.

It is positive you are not seeing your son as “wrong” and trying to stifle his thriving on “competition” and being happy with the life he is living.  This is a compliment to the parenting of both of you.  While you need to teach him how to be stable, effective and balanced, his competitive life is positive for him and try to learn from him.  Recognize there are risks in what he does, but the positive excitement and achievement make them acceptable.  This outlook can reduce your worrying.

Enjoy his life with him and “go with the flow”.  This may be difficult after so many years of “Depression Era” thinking.  The key thing is to relax and get some excitement through some uncertainty that can keep the blood flowing.  Remember the excitement in the voice of Captain Kirk of Star Trek when he said he would “go where no man has gone before”.  Even if you are not ready to become Captain Kirk, go places emotionally and physically where you have not been before and you will “get more zip in you life.”  The unique factor is that your son can be your guide!

Any questions or comments would be appreciated!

Don’t Let Kids’ Ex Push You Around

Questionjhb1

Dr.Braccio:  My nine and eleven konya merkez escort year old children are being very mean and unfair to me.  Their father and I divorced eight years ago.  He began dating even before we separated and the kids never complained.  For the first time, I have met a kind man at our church through our minister and am dating him.  He has no children and is very nice to my children.  They treat him horribly, do not want me to date him, and to add insult to injury, their father, who philandered on me, agrees with them and says I should date no one and just look after them!  I had it out with him and he’s threatening to quit seeing the kids even though he only spends a few days a month with them anyway.  What should I do?  I’m hurt, angry, and frustrated.

Answer

That your children do not want you to date and want you to themselves is common. That your ex-spouse has involved himself negatively and threatens not to see the children if you continue dating is outrageous and reflects horribly on his character.

There is a need for a balance between your needs and those of your children.  If your ex-spouse chooses not to see them if you date is inappropriate behavior on his part and your children will figure this out.

You can explain to your children why you will date and your life cannot be determined by his whims.  He apparently is trying to punish you or is not willing to fully let you go.  Either way, whether you date or not is none of his business unless you are being destructive to the children and you are not.  He has been destructive to them and his new threat, if carried out, would tragically be more of the same.

You need to sit down with your children and let them know you do not love them less because you need companionship and love from an adult partner.  Even if hard for them to accept, they must because this is the fair thing to do and part of their growing up.

Be sensitive when you talk to them but do not allow their unreasonableness to destroy your possibility for happiness.  Even though it may be hard for them to understand and accept in the short run, help them separate their reasonable fear of change from what is unreasonable.

To enlist the support of your minister could be very helpful because you met at the church, he knows both of you and you went out with him “through the minister”.  For him to lead the family in prayer could also be helpful.

An outside therapist trained in such a common but very delicate situation as yours could also be helpful.  You can also call the school counselor of each, if different, and enlist their support in this situation.

I hope this all works out for all of you.  You and the children deserve it.

If the father chooses to sabotage you and pull himself out of their lives, you may consider calling the Friend of the Court to make them aware of this inappropriate parental behavior.

Any questions or comments would be appreciated.

Speaking Psychologically 2-1-13

The following are True Friend traits I silifke eskort numaraları believe are very important.  All of us could consider how each of us measures up:  1.Respect.  2.  Kindness.  3.  Do not try to make the friend into someone they are not.  4.  Understand when not understood by others or even themselves.  5.  Listen and understand what the friend does not say.  6.  Appreciate each other.  7.  Always beside you. 8.  Always has your back in tough times.  It is easy to be a friend in good times.  9.  Can see and console suffering without being intrusive or overbearing.  A good view of a true friend is “Another You”.

 

1-29-13 John Braccio

Help Son Express Feelings of Anger

 DrB-PortraitQuestion

Dr.Braccio:  Our eight konya merkez escort year old son is having problems dealing with anger and frustration.  He’s blowing up and sulking if he does not get his way or is stymied in something he wants to do.  This is a relatively new problem.  It does not happen all the time, but enough to cause us concern.  He gets confused and blows up.  We have backed off to some degree because he had to get angry to defend himself from a fifteen year old cousin who lived with us for four months during an illness of my sister and his mother.  We weren’t aware that he was bullying him when we were not around until shortly before he left.  Even though his cousin in gone, he now shows us the anger he developed as a defense while frustrated by his cousin when bullied.  What should we do?

 Answer

Sit down and talk to your son in a kind and reassuring way.  Talk to him at a level he can understand.  Tell him you feel bad his cousin bullied him and that he did not deserve it.  He needs to know his reaction in the bullying situation is not acceptable now.  He is old enough to understand this.  Let him know you let him continue with these inappropriate behaviors because you felt bad about how he was treated but that is over.  Let him know it is wrong for you as parents to not teach him appropriate reactions to problems and frustrating events.  He also must know he cannot always have his own way.  Perhaps it is appropriate for you to apologize for not being more aware of the situation that led to his experiences of being victimized by his cousin.

Even though you did not mention it, and hopefully this has already occurred, you need to make sure your son knows you have talked to his cousin and let him know he will not be welcome in your home if he again bullies your son.  He also needs to apologize to your son for what he did.  If he will not, then he can never return to your home until he does.  I’m sure your sister, if she has not already, would help this to happen.

Your son needs to learn how to express his frustration in a healthy way.  You may need to teach him to use words like frustrated, hurt, angry, etc. in statements to get his feelings out.  You then can talk to him to get his feelings appropriately expressed and come up with strategies to help him adapt.  These conversations need to occur when he feels calm and in control.  It is then you can role-play or play-act scenarios to practice these preferred behaviors.

Also of tremendous importance is to adapt a very willing and open stance to accommodate his legitimate frustrations and feelings, allowing him room to understand that they are expressions of how he feels, but they do not make him an unworthy person of your love, security and positive regard.  Separating his reactive feelings from his self-identify can help him understand his feelings and make better behavior choices.  The key goal is for him to express his feelings in an appropriate and healthy manner.

Any questions or comments would be appreciated.

Help Daughter Return, But Be Cautious

JHB

Question

Dr.Braccio:  My husband and I have been leading a pleasant retirement life mersin anamur escort bayanları for the past six years.  Our four children and their families who live in the community are doing well.  The concern is that our oldest daughter, who has caused us great heartache, wants to return to Michigan to start anew and to mend bridges with her siblings and us after leaving thirteen years ago with one child in her arms and pregnant.  We have kept in touch and see them a few times a year.  She has 12, 13 and 14 year old children by three different fathers who have no involvement with the children.  She now wants to move in and live with us while she gets back on her feet here and she actually has a job waiting for her.  We really want to help but fear she will never leave or only leave if we have a big fight.  My husband is more positive than I am.  Our other children are either neutral or tell us to never do it.  She seems different now and wants to put her life in order.  Her children, even though a little rough around the edges, are good children and want to be with us.  We really want to help out but she has a history of failing on commitments.  The difference is that she now seems to really be trying.  We also feel guilt for whatever reason.  My brother and his wife say we would be better to help her out with an apartment or a house rental for a while.  We could easily do that.  What should we do?  We’re afraid of making a big mistake.

Answer

Only you can decide what to do.  That she is reaching out is positive.  That she seems to be changing and wants to come back home and be with her family is positive.  She may be maturing and wanting to put her life in order.  If you can help her to this end, it would be wonderful for her, the children, both of you and the whole family.

Based on her previous behaviors, you need to be cautious and not let your heart make a decision without using your head.  This could easily lead to a giant blow up in your home that would set all relationships back a long ways and would be destructive to the children.

Do not make a decision based on guilt.  The end result will most likely be resentment.  If you help her, let it be because you want to and feel it will be helpful and the right thing to do.  You also need to know you really do not know them well and you need time to get to know each other on an ongoing basis.

If you can handle the finances, your brother and sister-in-law make lot of sense when they suggest you help her rent an apartment or house for say six months.  It would take all the pressure off you and the odds of a blowup is greatly reduced.  You would all be able to get adjusted to each other with separate living quarters.

You also need to realize that to add new persons to your home when you two are leading a “pleasant retirement life” may not be at all reasonable.

If you and your husband decide to let your daughter and family “temporarily” move into your home, the following are some good basic guidelines:

1.  Determine how long “temporary” is .

2.  Agree on what financial expectations there are for you now and in the future.

3.  Determine what role you will have in the “parenting” of the children.

4.  Make sure there is a clear awareness that it is your home and they must adhere to clearly stated home rules that you will determine.

5.  Determine how and when your daughter and family will leave if you desire it.  This must  be very clear.

Lest all this seem too negative and even legalistic, be aware the odds of problems occurring are quite high based on the track record of your daughter.  It also is very positive she is reaching out to you to help her and the children adapt to Michigan.  The rewards to the overall family makes the effort worth it.  With that said, your brother and sister-in-law seem to have the best idea to reduce potential conflict and help everyone adapt to each other.

Any questions or comments would be appreciated.

Make Sure Joking is Fun, Not Offensive

jhb1

Question

Dr.Braccio:  Our 13 year old son karatay olgun bayan is just a plain tease.  He loves to kid people, tell jokes and be the center of attention.  He’s a leader.  Our concern is that he can be very annoying.  At times, he doesn’t know when to stop and can be offensive to family and friends.  The problem is that people usually love him and it’s hard to get him to change.  What should we do?  We don’t want to put him down too much and stop his spontaneity.

Answer

Teasing ranges from playful fun to hurtful words, gestures, and actions.  Your son seems to be playful, witty, and fun.  The problem is that he can be offensive, annoying, and not know when to stop teasing.  He needs coaching from both of you as to what is appropriate and inappropriate teasing.

To thrive on interaction with people is wonderful for him and others when it is a positive exchange.  He needs to find other ways to fulfill his social needs besides teasing to create a better balance in his human environment.  For example, encourage him to do compassionate work for others to fill his need for up-front human interaction in an environment where negative teasing would have no place.

His personality can get him far in life.  People like to be around clever, witty, and fun loving people.  Applaud and further develop those traits.  You clearly do not want to stifle his obvious uniqueness and spontaneity.  However, do not underestimate the inappropriateness of his teasing when he offends others or the toll it will take on future friendships and relationships.  People tire quickly of the tease who annoys, offends, and does not know when to stop.

The following are some suggestions to eliminate the negative aspects of his teasing:

1.  Have regular family meetings to discuss the negative results of being annoying, offensive, and not knowing when to stop teasing.

2.  Make sure the negative aspects of his teasing are not due to some combination of hidden anger, hostility, and low self-esteem that he expresses as a passive-aggressive form of humor.

3.  Have him keep track of when people find him annoying and offensive, and then help him correct his teasing in similar future situations.

4.  Applaud him when his teasing is appropriate and fun.

5.  Observe his behaviors and let him know when his behaviors are not appropriate.  You can develop a verbal and/or nonverbal cuing system to let him know when he is beginning to tease inappropriately.

6.  Let him clearly know what teasing you will not accept.  To let him tease people to the point he annoys and offends them and not do something about it is inappropriate parenting.

7.  Contact his school counselor to enlist support consistent with your actions at home.

8.  If all of these suggestions fail or you find his negative teasing is caused by internal bad feelings, you may seek out a therapist experienced in similar situations to give him more in-depth support.

Do not waver in your goal of making sure your son is respectful to people.  Playful teasing, clean jokes, and humor can be great fun.  Make sure his terrific traits are developed and his negative ones eliminated.  With success, your son can be a positive leader and someone sought after who makes people happy.

Any questions or comments would be appreciated.

Speaking Psychologically 01-02-13

Dr. Braccio discusses “Successful New Year’s Resolutions” on the “Tony Conley Radio Show” on 1320 a.m. in Lansing on 1/2/13 

Dr.Braccio discussed how to choose resolutions, how to be successful with them and how to genç kızlar kocasinan deal psychologically when you are not being successful.  Typical New Year’s Resolutions are:  1. Weight loss.  2.  Fitness or exercise program.  3.  Stop smoking.  4.  Stop drinking or moderately use alcohol.  5.  Stop using illegal drugs including.  6.  Stop using prescription drugs inappropriately.  7.  Get spending in control or start a budget.  8.  Enhance training and learning.  9.  Help others.  10.  Organize life.  11.  Improve self.  12.  Renew family and other friendships.  13.  Strengthen spiritual self.

Dr. Braccio also discusses the importance of learning how to give and receive constructive criticism.

Keep Close Eye on Teenage Son’s ‘Friend’

Question 

Dr.Braccio:  My seventeen year old karatay kadın escort son is strongly influenced by a person he thinks is a friend but is someone who always lets him down.  This is said even though he’s always friendly to his face.  He says he’s coming over and doesn’t show up.  I’ve warned him about him and he seems to even agree with me when he has hurt him.  But then he’s back again with him.  The thing that pushed me to contact you was when he lied to get him in trouble at school with some of his friends.  He gained nothing but hurt my son and his relationships.  Even though the principal told him and me what was said, he has trouble not believing his friend when he says he didn’t say it.  When at my suggestion he asked him to go and meet with the principal, the boy said he didn’t want to meet with the principal under any circumstances and they’re again back together.  What’s wrong and what should I do?

Answer

It seems your son values this friendship to the point he is blind to what is happening.  It is clearly a case of low self-esteem.  He values the “false friendship” over respect for himself.  This is more common than you would think at his age.  Do not bank on it, but in all probability he will eventually tire of this relationship and move on.  It would then be a building block on what not to accept in a friendship.

Even though you have not been successful to date, you need to reinforce to him how bad this person is for his self-esteem and that he will continue to hurt him as long as he chooses to be with him.  Even if he gets upset, to say something when he is hurt and obviously not being treated unfairly is good parenting.  To discuss the situation whenever he is willing is also good parenting.

The fact he would lie about your son for no apparent motive and thus hurt his relationship with others shows the mischief this person is capable of doing.  He simply lies to cause trouble for your son, even if he apparently gains nothing from it.  Even though his only motive may be to bother your son and feel powerful, there very well could be some jealousy or anger he has for your son that is not seen.

The apparent lack of motive with someone who is “always friendly to his face” makes it hard for your son to end the friendship.  That someone can be such a bad friend and lie so easily is alarming.  That he continues to hone his skills on your son is not only painful to him but he could get in major trouble if this boy succeeds in lying about a serious problem such as stealing, drug use, drug manufacturing, sexuality, or drug trafficking in the future.

To enlist the help of the school counselor or an experienced therapist in the community on such matters could be helpful.

Even if your prospects seem poor at present to change things, be patient and try to be available to your son when he is lied to and treated poorly.  Hopefully, there will come a day in the near future when he will rise up and end this unfortunate and destructive relationship.

Any questions or comments would be appreciated.

Speaking Psychologically 12-26-12

Dr.Braccio talks on the konya merkez escort kızlar “Tony Conley Radio Show” on 1320 a.m. in Lansing on 12/25/12 – Christians as a Personal Reflective Period

 

 

The Beauty of Christmas for Christians, non-practicing Christians and many non-Christians is that it is a reflective period when millions of people are exposed to love from family, loved ones and friends.  It is a good time to personally examine the following questions:  1.What is my purpose for living?  2.  Will the world be better when I leave it because of me?  3.  How will family, loved ones, friends and acquaintances remember me?  4.  How would I like to be remembered?

 

I personally hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Blog

Dr.Braccio talks on the karatay kadın escort “Tony Conley Radio Show” on 1320 a.m. in Lansing on 12/25/12 – Christians as a Personal Reflective Period

 

 

The Beauty of Christmas for Christians, non-practicing Christians and many non-Christians is that it is a reflective period when millions of people are exposed to love from family, loved ones and friends.  It is a good time to personally examine the following questions:  1.What is my purpose for living?  2.  Will the world be better when I leave it because of me?  3.  How will family, loved ones, friends and acquaintances remember me?  4.  How would I like to be remembered?

 

I personally hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Speaking Psychologically 12-18-12

Dr.Braccio talks on the “Tony karatay escort Conley Radio Show” on 1320 a.m. in Lansing on 12/18/12 – Barbaric Murder of Innocents in Newtown, Connecticut

 

Dr. Braccio and Tony talk about the horrible murder and suicide events in Newtown, Connecticut.  To slaughter young innocents goes into the unthinkable.  Two mothers I know have called me in tears stressing out over their own daughters experiencing such an unspeakable abomination of human decency.  It touches an emotional response from any caring human being. The evil and rage are almost impossible to comprehend.  Hopefully, this information will be helpful.

Be Kind and Reach Out To Others During The Christmas Holiday Period

One need not be a psychologist to see that this time of year is very hard for a lot of people emotionally.  Sadly, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations along with any other celebrated holidays remind silifke eskort ilanları many people of happier times.  Since then, many family members may have grown apart, developed into separate units or simply lost interest in the concept of family or your part in it.  There also are problems of divorce, separation, death and distance from loved ones that keep people apart.  Television and concerts bombard us daily with the joys of Christmas.

 For those of us who have loving and caring family and friends near us at this time, the following are a few things to do to make life happier for you and help others who may not be as happy at this joyous time for millions.

 1.  Give a smile and a friendly hello to people.  This can make a person’s day.  We sometimes forget this is often a time of personal isolation even in a crowd of people.

2.  Call relatives and friends that may be alone, away from loved ones, grieving the loss of loved ones or just having a hard time emotionally.  Let them know you care.

3.  Invite persons and relatives to holiday events who you know are alone and would greatly appreciate it.

4.  Invite someone to breakfast or lunch you feel it could be helpful.

5.  Volunteer at church and/or community events as possible.

6.  If a Christian, focus on the birth of Christ and his message of love and forgiveness.  To give and receive reasonable gifts for Christmas is nice but we must not lose track of what Christmas represents.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Gently Tell Daughter About Past

Question

Dr.Braccio:  My seventeen konya merkez kadın numaraları year old daughter is having a hard time emotionally.  Her father died in a car accident when I was pregnant with her.  He was speeding and ran into a tree.  Her stepfather adopted her when we married and she was three years old.  They love each other and he treats her like his daughter.  Even though it never bothered her before, she feels bad she looks nothing like her two brothers and sister and does not have their superior academic skills.  That she is far more outgoing and popular does not make her feel better.  She is very pretty, popular, athletic and is an above average student.  For some reason, she has only recently been focusing on this.  I’ve not said much about her father to her and she never seemed to be very interested.  He was basically good but immature. He said he was treated very poorly when growing up.  He was very handsome and athletic but had little or no motivation for work or school.  We loved each other but were both very young and foolish.  I actually matured and grew up a lot while raising her before I married.  I’ve been trying to talk to her but do not know what to say.  He was not from Michigan.  When we met, he was not talking to anyone and I have never met anyone from his side.  What should I say to her?

Answer

The concerns of your daughter are reasonable and occur quite naturally in many persons in her circumstances.  That they are occurring at the age of seventeen is not usual or unusual.  People can wonder about their heritage when young, old or sometimes never.  This just happens to be the time for her.  You can talk to her and ask her why this is important to her now as a way to break the ice.  Be open and non-threatening to get an honest answer and guarantee good follow up discussion.

You can tell your daughter about her birth father and also about yourself when you two were together.  She is old enough for open and honest discussion.  It sounds like you two were immature, in love, and she is the wonderful product of the relationship.  You can be positive and say he probably would have matured as you have.  He apparently had some good traits that have been passed to your daughter.  That she is doing well in your home environment is positive and apparently different from how he grew up.  Her motivation to do well is a tribute to your maturity and good parenting.

You might consider making contact with his family or helping her do this now or in the future if she desires.  This is said even though it could lead to disappointment.  She needs to know this possible negative outcome to cushion any possible hurt or frustration.

The fact the children have different academic skills could be genetic or it also could relate to different skills and interests that come to children even with the same parents.  It also appears she may have developed her social skills more as they have developed their academic skills.  The key thing is for her to look at her wonderful self and not compare herself with others.  From what you say, she need not take a back seat to anyone.

Any questions or comments would be appreciated.

Speaking Psychologically Gambling Addictions 11-27-2012

Dr.Braccio talks on the “Tony Conley Radio mersin anamur eskort bayanları Show” on 1320 a.m. in Lansing on 11/27/12 on Gambling Addiction

Gambling Addiction is sadly too typical in our society.  Often the gambling addict and family try to hide the addiction and the pain is often not known by others except for extreme cases.  The key is to understand it is not just about winning but being addicted to the euphoric highs that come periodically when the person wins and wants them to return.  Most people have trouble comprehending this concept.

Betting: It’s Not Worth the Gamble

Question

Dr.Braccio:  My sister silifke eskort numaraları is devastated.  Her daughter has left her husband at least temporarily with her two children to live with her because her husband has a gambling addiction and has thrown their money to the wind.  She found out his gambling was far worse than she ever imagined.  Video poker is what controls him and he won’t stop.  I even loaned him some money to be helpful for a project he said he was working on.  I now find out he lied to me and has borrowed from everyone and is broke.  He also is on the way to losing his job.  He sometimes misses work by spending hours in front of the computer.  This seems so stupid.  I have a mind to meet with him and try to talk some sense into him.  My niece has about given up with all his promises and lies to stop.  My sister says he has tried to stop but amazingly still thinks he can beat the system and win big.  What do you think?  What can I do?

 Answer

I think your nephew is a pathological gambler in denial.  Gambling is seen as addictive as cocaine with similar consequences.  It is less understood and more hidden because there is no known substance like alcohol or other drugs.  The person is not using a needle or slurring his or her words.  But the devastation is as great as well as having a higher suicide rate.  It is an illness that one must do all that he or she can to overcome it.

The biggest problem at present is his unwillingness to accept he has a gambling addiction and that he, like the alcoholic with drinking, must never gamble again.  Like all addictions, he chooses the euphoric highs that come periodically when he wins and wants them to return.  The dream of then returning is a poor compensation for the horrible lows when he is losing.  In the process his self-esteem is shattered by his lying and ever mounting losses.  In this horrible world, he continues to gamble with the dream of making it all back and winning bigger than ever.

Even if he hits the “home run”, he would want more because of the highs and his desire for never ending highs.  Unless you experience it or have observed it, it is almost impossible to understand.  It is a horrible mental health illness and not just a lack of willpower.

You can imagine the suffering the wife and children are feeling.  The sense of loss and abandonment.  You and your sister are also having horrible feelings as I am sure are other family members.

At this point, there is little you or anyone else can do for him until he decides he has an addiction and he needs help to overcome it.  Progress can then occur.

Above all, do not give him money.  That would go right back into gambling and feed his addiction.  If he calls, talk to him respectfully and be honest with him about how you feel, but do not accept statements at face value if he says he is done gambling.

Based on his needs, when he accepts his addiction, he will need treatment by a trained therapist, group therapy, residential placement, involvement with a group such as Gamblers Anonymous or some combination.  Medication could help with a diagnosis of Depression, Anxiety, etc.

You can try to become as knowledgeable as possible on the gambling addiction to help you understand what is happening with him and what a family can do when everyone tries to be a support.  The internet has a lot of information under compulsive gambling or any bookstore would have or could order you a book on the topic.

The Michigan Department of Community Health has a 24 hour hotline (800) 270-7117 for people who have a gambling addition or those who know someone who does.  You can go to the Gamblers Anonymous website at www.gamblersanonymous.org to gain some very helpful information.  A related support group for you and the family would be Gam-Anon and their website is www.gam.anon.org.  TheMichigan Hotline. (313) 792-2877, to find out where meetings are is the same for both places.

There is a twenty-question page on the Gambler Anonymous website that is very instructive to the addicted gambler or someone like you trying to gain information.  The website says most compulsive gamblers will answer YES to at least seven of these questions.  You can see just on what you know now he would logically need to say yes to at least seven of them.  That he would not or would deny the significance shows the level of his addiction.  Until he can do that, there is not much you or anyone else can do for him.  That is the sad truth.

The questions are as follows:
1.    Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?

2.    Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?

3.    Did gambling affect your reputation?

4.    Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?

5.    Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise  solve financial difficulties?

6.    Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?

7.    After losing, did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?

8.    After a win, did you have strong urge to return and win more?

9.    Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?

10.  Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?

11.  Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?

12.  Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?

13.  Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?

14.  Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?

15.  Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?

16.  Have you ever committed or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?

17.  Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?

18.  Do arguments, disappointments or frustration create within you an urge to gamble?

19.  Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of  gambling?

20.  Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

Any questions or comment would be appreciated.

Speaking Psychologically 11-20-12

Dr.Braccio talks on the “Tony Conley Radio Show” kocasinan bayan arkadaş on 1320 a.m. in Lansing on 11/20/12 About Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving Day is a time of Individual Thanks.  It is a time to find things to be grateful for.  It can be a day to start on a positive life journey where greater appreciation for what we have leads to greater happiness in life.  Whether we do this regularly or never, let this Thanksgiving Day be a day to reflect on being grateful.  Typical things could be:  Belief in God, loving parents, loving children, loving spouse, great friends/ friendship, life itself, vision, the internet, your education, your favorite sports team, your favorite author, your favorite book, your favorite neighbor, your favorite city, the sun, wonderful memories, future dreams, life satisfaction, your work, mentors who have helped in life now or in the past, movies or your garden.  The list is as endless as a person’s life experiences and dreams for the future.