Your gambling problem isn't your fault...(not clickbait)

[hillowner45]

Your ancestors are probably responsible. Let me explain.

Epigenetics. 

What is it?

Basically, memories can be passed down from one generation to another through genetic switches that allow offspring to inherit the experiences of their ancestors. 

Okay...but what does this mean?

Our genes control our preferences and habits.

If one of your parents struggled with a gambling addiction, you are predisposed to one as well. This includes your grandparents and ancestors down your family tree, we don't know how many generations are included in a cycle.

Remember this...

When you are fighting and trying to overcome your gambling problem, remember that you are also fighting for your future children as well.

[nattekut]

its partially right. if you have parents with a gambling addiction you statistically have more chance to become an addict yourself..... BUT you have everything in your own hands if this will happen if not. You have fully control over your life so also if you will become a gambling addict or not. You only need to have a good personality and have to have a strong character to not fall for the traps that your loved ones did.

So I personally think you have full control over yourself and what your life will look like. so even if its in your family you have the chance to choose what path you will follow. And if you also fall for the trap and get addicted then it 95% is your own stupid mistake

[wry]

Of course we have all sorts of genetic tendencies, but preferences are not destiny, we use our intellect to fight against them and control ourselves.  As a sentient human I know what I'm doing and know what situations I put myself into.

Even people with addictive personalities can control themselves, especially if they get help and mutual support.  It's why societies and social circles are so important.

[rajamishra]

hello friends its 100% true what you inherit  from your parents  thats things  follow so easily due to its in your blood.its also true when you have good friend circle you probably  choose you own path to move forward. what wryy explain it can be happen when you have a good society with nice partner to help fight against this type of addiction.but the actual thing now a days the crisis of jobs and other aspects of earning so squeezed.thats the main reasons to so many people attract to this world.they hoped we earn to get that much of money  for survive. 

[hustler1984]

I actually found out that my addiction was caused by Abilify..

I'm trying to participate in a class action lawsuit against the makers but I can't stop gambling long enough to fill out the forms from the lawyer.

 

I wish i was kidding

[paradise57]

I don't believe gambling is a disease So you don't need to make any big effort to leave it it is very important to be determined we are guilty

[hui]

Epigenetics is a relatively new (and interesting!) field that is unfortunately often misused as an explanation for unrelated things and quackery. I also suggest to be careful in general with "easy explanations" that allow you to attribute problems you are fighting with to whatever your choice might be (environment, youth, education, wealth, genetics, epigenetics, biology, co-/cross-addictions, ... you name it), as this approach often leads to people thinking "it's pre-determined, neither am I guilty nor can I do anything about it". This attitude will never help you in solving a problem at hand, whatever it would be.

I second what some said already, that independent of other factors we are in charge of our own lifes and most of the times have the power do do something about the problems we're fighting with. However sometimes addictions (or causes leading to them) also have aspects of a disease and in these cases it's not always true that we can overcome them by pure will-power by our own. Therefore in my opinion it might be important to accept that there are cases where professional help is the better way to resolve some issues than trying to overcome them on your own. Taking this approach often isn't a sign of weakness but strength.

So yeah, the topic isn't simple and I don't think reducing it to a single factor, be it epigenetics or whatever, helps much in solving it on a individual level.

[Kingcashedout]

this topic happened to catch my eye ......its pretty interesting how genetics and shit like that work ......so if my grandpa was a gambler then theres a great possibility that my dad would be a gambler which would also have great possibility that id end up being a gambler?  my grandparents were actually pretty krazy gamblers....my grandma was an accountant for a cartel in sinaloa and my granpa grew herb out in the mountains of durango...they took a bigger gamble and snuck over to the united states ..the gamble payed off....they started having children here in the u.s...my dad was 3rd born ......as my dad grew into adult hood he resorted to the drug trade as well.....he started gambling and hit the jackpot when he had me.....genetics caused me to follow in their footsteps ....if they gambled and put there freedom and inprisonment and their lives on the line ..i guess fate directed me in the same direction......i live life like one big gamble ......if you dont take chances you dont allow yourself opportunity .....im all in 

[Enzo]

While it is true you inherit genes from parents and that can cause you to be predisposed to addiction. That doesn't change the fact that it is fully within your power and yours only to not become addicted to gambling or anything for that matter. I have a history of alcoholism in my family, but I don't drink at all. It's not beyond your coutrol and it IS your fault. 

[kayke94]

well my dad allways loved to watch other people play slots and likes to play it homselves also to ofcourse, my ouncle is sorta an addict to soo i think its geneticly, well the fast addictive behaviour 

[FotisNt]

Well sometimes it's okay to keep playing once you've win an amount you won't actually need. Once you start touching savings or taking loans or wasting money you'll buy food or pay debs with, then it might become a huge problem in the future.

[hillowner45]

4 hours ago, hui said:

Epigenetics is a relatively new (and interesting!) field that is unfortunately often misused as an explanation for unrelated things and quackery. I also suggest to be careful in general with "easy explanations" that allow you to attribute problems you are fighting with to whatever your choice might be (environment, youth, education, wealth, genetics, epigenetics, biology, co-/cross-addictions, ... you name it), as this approach often leads to people thinking "it's pre-determined, neither am I guilty nor can I do anything about it". This attitude will never help you in solving a problem at hand, whatever it would be.

I second what some said already, that independent of other factors we are in charge of our own lifes and most of the times have the power do do something about the problems we're fighting with. However sometimes addictions (or causes leading to them) also have aspects of a disease and in these cases it's not always true that we can overcome them by pure will-power by our own. Therefore in my opinion it might be important to accept that there are cases where professional help is the better way to resolve some issues than trying to overcome them on your own. Taking this approach often isn't a sign of weakness but strength.

So yeah, the topic isn't simple and I don't think reducing it to a single factor, be it epigenetics or whatever, helps much in solving it on a individual level.

Great points Hui, a ton of wisdom in here. I agree that the term is thrown around too loosely and that not enough is know about it to make a black and white assumption. Yeah its easy to victimise yourself after learning about epigenetics and its influence on addiction when in fact we don't know how strong the correlation are between the two. Just re-iterating what you have already said, most people won't have the will-power to overcome an addiction no matter how intentional they are. Professional help can be helpful but there is a lot of bro-science and bells and whistles in that industry. Instead, finding an accountability group with at least one person who has overcome the addiction is a better alternative in my opinion.

 

3 hours ago, DarkBlood069 said:

I'm from a family of non gamblers so how does this work exactly because I'm the only one that does gamble my funds. Just thought I'd point that out respectively.

Thats interesting actually. Has your family been exposed to a trigger before? If not then maybe a generation before your family had some gambling habits that got carried down to you. Or maybe you are the start of a cycle who knows... Don't quote me on that though, not enough is known yet.

[arielg443]

2 hours ago, Enzo said:

While it is true you inhemyrit genes from parents and that can cause you to be predisposed to addiction. That doesn't change the fact that it is fully within your power and yours only to not become addicted to gambling or anything for that matter. I have a history of alcoholism in my family, but I don't drink at all. It's not beyond your coutrol and it IS your fault. 

I completely agree with this, actually.
Personally speaking, no one else in my family actually gambles.
My mum has never gambled before, I don't think.. And her mum doesn't enjoy gambling at all.
However, I have never actually met my biological father.
Now, on the subject of "habits", rather than genetics, I will go ahead and mention that my dad (the man who raised me), also does not gamble at all.
His parents have gambled maybe 5 times or less ever.
So, all that being said, I was never really subjected to anyone's gambling habits, nor does it appear in my family as far as the last few generations.
So I guess that would leave the only other two theories you've mentioned in previous replies to others.. that I'd be the start of the cycle or that my biological father may be a gambler, who knows..
But me, personally, I happen to think that it isn't beyond anyone's control like Enzo said. 
I guess I understand having an addictive personality, but I don't agree that the blame should necessarily be put anywhere else besides on whomever making the choices themselves. 🤷‍♀️

[bmg]

well thats good to know because Ive been told it's all my fault lol.  

A lot of people that gamble have BPD borderline personality disorder.  All it means basically is you have a risky personality  so you like to take risks more than most.

[Etude]

Interesting write up im regards to this factor about gambling addiction. Even so we pretty much are able to decide consciously enough whether to approach things which are related to gambling or not. To be around gambling related things it is obvious even those who does not have the aforementioned Epigenetics would fall into addiction eventually if exposed too long.

[CntryBoy]

Well since my family introduced me to poker at 7 or 8 years of age, I can definitely blame them. 😛 

In all seriousness though it is the truth, any addiction or habits can be passed down genetically making the offspring predisposed to whatever affliction the parents/grandparents/etc. have had.  Science!

[akmal1984]

 

What I know is the memory of memory in the human brain will be formed when the baby starts entering the age of 3 months in the womb. Maybe this is the most ideal time for all of us to begin to improve the situation by starting to talk about positive things about our children who are still in the womb so he can get away and avoid gambling addiction

[CheckTheTime]

Lol, what a way to say that its not your fault for being addicted to gambling. In my opinion, I think it certainly is our own fault for being addicted to gambling. You started it, and cant control yourself. Proceeds to lose lots of money, being addicted to it. There is no one to blame on this, even your parents. They dont control you, you control yourself and your own mindset.

[williamshennie9]

An addiction develops over time, so I think it is the person's fault if they don't work out their addiction when they realise it has started developing. As soon as they fell they are getting addicted, they must seek help immediately.

[akiod1]

Am only gambling this what can i afford

[kaleemmalik071]

i am promised to my self when ever i get my goal i 'll left without thinking about anything ... we need to have self control ... 

let me explain little about self control roll in gambling .. 

last few months ago i was doing awesome work in gambling . when ever i got my goal profit i stopped and cashed out . in those months i earned 1000 $ per month almost . but in this running month i got greedy lost my control and now i am keep busting .. but i am still feeling comfortable that i 'll do better for next days