Thank you Kin, Charles and Matarazzo for your replies. Certainly Matarazzo self-discipline is important. However, it doesn’t explain why some high-achieving people (through their self -discipline in terms of studies or hard work) start to gamble and become quickly addicted while their peers can stop.
There is a lot of recent research which indicates that genetics play a role. I believe that genetics combined with with a variety of factors contributes hugely to this issue.
Lacking the self-discipline to stop sounds like a definition of addiction – if we had it we wouldn’t need support. I know that without support I would never have stopped. I also know that it is barriers which keep me clean a lot, when my self-discipline fails me. I don’t know how often this is the case because I don’t test it. I have nothing to gain and everything to lose by putting my self-discipline or lack of it to the test.
So I would encourage anyone reading this to take as much support as you need, keep adding to your barriers and please do not rely on self-discipline alone.
