Ep. 21 & 22 - Cross Addiction
Breaking free from an alcohol, drug or gambling problem is a major achievement. But addiction is tricky and can show up again in other ways without you being initially aware. Maybe you find yourself in some of the same patterns of isolating and keeping secrets, but this time with a different substance or excessive gaming, eating or sex.
In episodes 20 of Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems, hear from someone who was twenty years alcohol free when he found himself with a gambling problem. Learn about how to move forward if cross addiction shows up in your recovery.
In episode 21 of Fold em, gain further tips and insight from Doug Hilton, a counsellor specializing in addiction. Doug talks about the importance of creating a balanced life for feeling better and staying on track.
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“I realized that drinking and gambling were not two separate problems. It was one problem that expressed itself in two ways”
What is Cross Addiction?
Cross addiction is when a person has two or more addictions. This can include an addiction to a substance (alcohol, drugs or prescription medication) but also to a behaviour such as gambling, gaming, shopping, eating and/or sex. These multiple addictions can occur at the same time or separately. Sometimes another addiction can show up years after stopping the first and even while actively in recovery.
In episode 20 of our podcast, Fold em, Dave shares his story of being twenty years into recovery from an alcohol addiction when he realized he had “fallen into” a gambling addiction. Looking back, he says he can now see warning signs. But when he was gambling, it took some time before he could see and acknowledge that it was a problem and was then ready to do something about it.
Doug Hilton, a counsellor specializing in gambling problems, says that Dave’s experience is not unusual. It is an important reminder of the trickiness and power of addiction. When you are in the thick of it, it can be hard to acknowledge to yourself and others how bad it is. It can be even harder to ask for help and make some changes. Even if you have been active in recovery for two months or twenty years, addiction can pull you back in.
If you, or someone you care about, has struggled with addiction, it is important to be aware of cross-addiction and have strategies to prevent it.
What Opens the Door to Cross Addiction?
Dave says that for him, never fully dealing with his financial problems contributed to gambling problems later emerging. He sees now that he needed to do more to take responsibility for and face fears about paying off his debts and develop better ways to manage money and stress.
Here are some other behaviours that can lead to cross-addiction getting a foot in the door:
Hiding problems: e.g. denying or minimizing a problem or keeping it a secret
Not fully addressing underlying issues: e.g. not getting help for depression or anxiety or finding new ways to handle stress, anger or boredom
Complacency: e.g. believing that you “fixed the addiction problem” and slowly pulling back from the supportive people and routines of your recovery
Over-confidence: e.g. thinking “I’m doing everything right” Or “I’ve got recovery covered” Or “If problems show up I don’t need help.” Letting your ego get in the way of being honest with yourself and others and doing what is needed to handle problems as they arise.
Being around addiction: continuing to associate with people, places or situations that put you at risk for a relapse or new addiction.
How do I Make Sure the Door is Closed to Cross Addiction?
Here are some ways to prevent cross addiction:
Open up about stress & problems: talk to someone you trust when you are feeling stress and tough emotions. If you notice that you are getting pulled into using substances or other behaviours excessively, get feedback from someone else. Hopefully this will help you to feel better and come up with a plan to get back on track.
Build more balance & wellness in your life: pay attention to your wellness and health, e.g. getting enough sleep, eat regular and healthy meals, limit caffeine, and/or make time for fun and relaxation.
Have reasonable expectations for yourself: it’s ok to have problems and struggles. You don’t have to be perfect. When you open up to people you trust they will likely be more supportive than you imagine.
Push past fears and deal with problems: know that fear and shame will decrease once you face a problem.
Remember how tricky and powerful addiction can be: watch out for complacency and over-confidence and stay connected to people who support your recovery
Dave shares that it was really difficult to walk into his first Gamblers Anonymous meeting. However, it was also a significant turning point for him. As he stopped gambling and faced his financial problems, he started to feel better than ever. Hear how he did this along with what he has learned are the basics for his recovery in Episode 20 of Fold em.
Tune in to episode 21 of Fold em to hear more from Doug about how people get pulled in to cross addiction. Hear about how regularly working on balance goes a long way in keeping addiction out of your life.
Listen now by clicking on the green play buttons at the top of this blog. Or, tune in directly from Apple or Google podcasts by clicking on the red button below.
Check out the other episodes and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out when new ones are released.
If you live in British Columbia and would like to access free support and counselling services, go to the Gambling Support BC website or call the Gambling Support Line at 1-888-795-6111. Or, click on the Connect With Support in BC button below.
Free, confidential services are available to residents of British Columbia who are concerned about their own or a loved one’s gambling.
Fold em is a podcast hosted by Adrienne Cossom and her colleagues at Gambling Support BC. Whether you are looking at stopping or scaling back your own gambling or supporting a family member with a problem, this podcast will help you take back control. Hear from gamblers who have been through it and get tips from counsellors.
To learn more about gambling concerns and how to access resources and support, go to the home page of this website, click on the red “Learn More” button below, or connect with us through Facebook.