The last few weeks of Pearls have been focused on stress in anticipation of the release of my new e-book tentatively titled Outfluence for Positive Stress.
I was in Las Vegas last week and I marveled at the silent communication tools the casinos use to divert attention from the potential stress of gambling. First of all, they call it gaming, a much softer term than gambling and without the sinister reputation.
Several of the casinos are connected by indoor walkways that are lined with beautiful store windows, “hip” stores, spectacular architecture, and never far from the omnipresent slot machines. The marble-paved walkways are covered by fresh, clean, luxurious carpeting. Ample restroom facilities are available, and cleanliness is paramount.
As one walks along the spacious corridors, past the shopping opportunities, the entertainment venues, the restaurants and the cafes’, the casinos are located in wide open rooms where a variety of gaming tables and slot machines are hosted by beautiful women in revealing costumes while the croupiers’ transact business with the gamers. Music is constantly playing; live performances are continuous.
One gets the feeling, though not verified, that some winners are pre-selected, that the most active players are rewarded with occasional victories, all in the name of encouraging gamers to continue playing. Each win is accompanied by “happy” music announcing another winner! Gambling, or gaming, feeds a person’s psychological need to escape the realities of life. The glamour and the opulence of the gaming setting, the male players accompanied by their stylish ladies, the increased visibility of poker on television and through the internet bring a false sense of normalcy to what has been called “immoral” and “scandalous” activity.
An examination of the history of gambling in North America, http://1.usa.gov/ddKeWX, suggests that :
- The United States has had a long history of allowing some forms of legal gambling and a degree of tolerance of illegal gambling.
- Societal tolerance and acceptance of legal gambling can change rapidly. Scandals and political control by gaming interests have led to backlashes which result in regulation and/or prohibition.
While gambling, or gaming, is very much in vogue today, the stresses brought about by its attractiveness to the darker side of human desires can be dangerous. For example, www.gamblinghelponline.org writes this about the impact of gambling on others: It is estimated that for every person that gambles, another seven people are adversely affected. Research shows that people who are close to someone with a gambling problem might experience a range of emotional, psychological and financial effects, such as:
Emotional
- Physical and/or emotional abuse
- Relationship breakdowns
- Lack of intimacy
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Feelings of shame and embarrassment
Psychological
- Stress-related illnesses
- Social isolation
- Family arguments
- Depression and anxiety
Financial
- Financial issues and hardship
- Loss of property and valued items
- Decreased work or school performance.
Awareness of silent communicators and their impact on ourselves and others is important to enjoying life to the fullest while maintaining self-control and managing the stressors we allow into our lives. Positive stress, known as enstress, is what enables us to enjoy activities such as gaming without allowing them to overwhelm us. It starts with awareness. Contact us at info@outfluence.com to learn more.
