Madness of March
There is something special about the month of March, throughout history in every culture and religion, there is something special set aside for the time period surrounding the Spring Equinox. Over the centuries, humanity has rejoiced in the survival of the darkness of winter and tinged with a certain madness, celebrated the spring with the hope of things to come and the birth of new life all around us. March is also the time when a seer warned Caesar to beware the Ides of March for certain doom was to fall upon him. In the twenty-first century, the here and now, all across America and to some extent, the globe, the sporting world welcomes March for a different kind of madness, a different kind of hope and a different kind of doom. I’m talking about the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. You don’t have to be a basketball fan in the least to be effected by this annual phenomenon. For most of us, this is an event that permeates the news, captures our imagination to one extent of another and lasts for a few weeks. For others, this madness can destroy and bring a person to the brink of ruin.
March is National Gambling Awareness Month. When I first read that March was Gambling Awareness Month I thought it an odd month to try and raise awareness of gambling…then I realized that March is the month that millions of people go a little crazy (and not just because it’s Spring). Gambling on NCAA sports is illegal in all states except Nevada but it is still estimated between 9 and 12 Billion dollars will be wagered this month on men’s college basketball. I don’t follow college hoops like I did when I was in college preferring now to spend my limited time with my family and other pursuits. However, because filling out brackets is a social skill, something to be discussed at varying levels of society (like Super Bowl commercials) , I fill one outevery year with my brother just for bragging right…just for the fun of it…but not everyone has fun.
“…participation is all in good fun, (but) for many problem gamblers ‘March Madness’ truly describes their incredibly strong, persistent urges to gamble regardless of the consequences,” says Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the National Council of Problem Gambling. “People affected by gambling addiction report feeling trapped during the NCAA tournament, bombarded by commercials and conversations about selections, brackets and Cinderella teams.”
Any form of addiction is a serious burden to the not only the one who suffers from the addiction, but the family of the addict, the friends of the addict and society as a whole suffers from the behavior of the addict. There are those who scoff at the idea of a gambling addiction, who think that the irresistible impulse to wager on something is not as real as a chemical addiction to say heroin, or alcohol…but there are many addictions out there and those unstoppable urges are real for all addicts. This month we focus on Gambling Addiction and we as a society try and reach out and help those who are in need because as caring neighbors, that’s what we should do. If you or someone you know struggles with this addiction, there is help available to you. As with any addiction, the feeling of shame and helplessness can be overwhelming…but there are people who can help. For more ideas on how to have the conversation, and information on problem gambling prevention and treatment resources, visit the National Council on Problem Gambling at ncpgambling.org or contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline 24/7: Call or text 1-800-522-4700, or chat at ncpgambling.org/chat.
As always, thanks for reading and I hope that everyone enjoys this season of the year as much as I do. Be on the lookout for spring flowers and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com