You know what rides this hand, but you hit on anyway, and feel as if time slows, as endorphins flow through your body. A heavy sensation in your stomach is the only indicator you have that all the adrenaline in your body is now flowing strait to your head. So, why is everything going in slow motion as the dealer flips his cards- and gets 21? Because this hand meant more than anyone knows- you just bet your car and lost. You hide the wave of emotion that just hit like an ace, and reach to unclasp the watch your father gave you…

Why couldn't you stop yourself from betting away your life… again? Why did you put so much on the line? And finally, what are you doing in a casino, when you are broke to begin with?

Because you have what the American Psychological Association calls an Impulse Control Disorder. Specifically, Compulsive Gambling Disorder, also formerly known as Pathological Gambling Disorder. Pathological Gamblers, as the name suggests, feel compelled to gamble, becoming a problem when it draws them beyond their economic means, and the emotional means of their friends and family, being unable to stop themselves.

THE FLOP

Cedric lives in Milwaukee, has a well paying job that he loves, and a beautiful wife. No, wait, that was five years ago. Today Cedric is divorced, works at an art supply store, and has been kicked out of three apartments in two years. Cedric is one of millions of Americans who are affected by Compulsive Gambling Disorder. He also wants no one to ever follow his path.

"I started gambling when was a kid, and my family played card games using peanuts as chips, I also used to think that [those games] were not gambling. But, to a kid it is the same thing. It was a lot of fun, but I really didn't get into [card games] at all until college. A bunch of my friends from work got together on Tuesdays to play poker. They played a ten dollar game, but really it was just fun to hang out."

Most compulsive gamblers start with low-stakes games played with friends or family, generally environments that promoted a good time, a sense of safety, and mentally dethreatened the risk of losing.

THE TURN

"But, one day things were a little different. One of my friends joked that instead of taking each other's money, we should go to [one of the local casinos] and take their money. So we went, and I lost [all the money I had brought]. And I am talking inside an hour. One of my friends had been winning so he loaned me some chips and I went back to the same table that I had lost a good amount of money at, placed it down and intended to play one hell of a game of blackjack. And as much as I hate it now, I won; in fact after a few more hours I had won back all my money and then some. I felt victory. I had beaten the odds, literally. I had to come back."

Most compulsive gamblers feel their first hook after a big win, usually earlier in their career than Cedric had experienced. The reason for this may be found in largely common physiological traits exhibited by about three quarters of male compulsive gamblers; being high energy levels, hyperactivity, and high stress tolerances. In other words, the natural propensity to seek adrenaline highs. Thus, subjects learn that they can get this high without physical danger. These traits are common in men but not necessarily in women. While studies show most men gamble as a source of excitement, women generally gamble as a source of escape. A point that comes clear as day when you look at the rates of other psychological disorders commonly present in both male and female CGD sufferers. Compulsive gamblers also have a high correlation to axis I type personality disorders, these being depression and substance abuse disorders. Depression generally on the female side, and substance abuse more on the male side.

"I found my favorite distraction, I was never really a big bar person, and I just don't like hangovers. So, this was great, I could go out, I would set a limit to myself, have fun and leave. I thought it was great."

Cedric is a relatively rare case among Pathological Gamblers; he was drawn to gambling as a replacement for alcohol. Many male compulsive gamblers have alcohol problems long before they begin to gamble regularly. The common predictor for females being "an estrangement from a conventional life, after which, the gambling lifestyle is introduced to the subject via new social interactions." As one study put it. Which is a way of saying that occasionally an elderly widow will make new friends that gamble, and thus herself. Which tends to occur later in life. So, really, if you are reading this, and belong to the main demographic of this magazine, you hopefully won't run into this much for another thirty years.

"Looking back I can watch my own progression, at first I had fun that one night at the casino, then we went back every so often, me and the guys. I looked forward to it, and after a while it was kinda the highlight of the week. Then life started getting stressful. I went as an escape, I guess. I kept my limits, but on a good night I would move to higher stakes tables. I felt like a real high roller sometimes. And sometimes I spent more than I should have, but I expected it too I guess. After a few years, man, that's just what I did, I went to [the casino], I loved to gamble, I was a high roller in my own mind."

As Cedric states, an important factor for either gender in the maintenance of a gambling addiction is its identification as a lifestyle, not an addiction, or activity.

THE RIVER

"By this time I was married, and my wife, she really wasn't that big on gambling, but she really didn't mind that much either. At least not for a while. I ended up lying about it a lot to her, but you know she found out- losing a few thousand in one night is hard to hide with a joint account."

THE FOLD

"None of my friends in college ever had a problem, I was the only one. It is real easy, all it takes is to let yourself go, or just let yourself risk a little bit more."

There are a few things to bear in mind, if you want to know if you are at a greater risk of developing compulsive gambling. Many of these factors are common to all addiction, remember, half of addiction in any case is in the persons head, sometimes all of it. So, first of all if you are the kind of guy who thinks that six flags is boring and slow, face it you are at risk. Second, genetic research has shown that genes exist that cause some people to have trouble moderating their own behavior. So, if you notice that you have trouble in this manner in your life, keeping your own limits, then watch your back. Third, this is research that shows that there is a high correlation between abuse during childhood and compulsive gambling in both genders. However, this is most likely due to a resulting propensity for self-destructive behavior.

Finally, if you have displayed an impulse control disorder in the past, you are at a greater risk, these being; trichotillomania [compulsive hair pulling], pyromania [impulse to set fires], kleptomania [impulse to steal for no apparent reason], and intermittent explosive [impulsive violent outbursts]. If you have been diagnosed with one of these disorders previously, you are at an almost guaranteed risk level, so don't even think about it. Other ICDs that are not officially recognized include; impulsive spending/ shopping, self-mutilation, and compulsive sexual activity (no, no, thinking about it that much just makes you a guy, not compulsive, don't worry about it). However, if you know that one of these describes a behavior of your, gambling may not be the best idea. Other than that just bear in mind what Cedric said.

"I am not saying don't gamble at all, just that everyone should watch themselves. It is just so easy to get hooked."