Catherine Lyon | From A Suicidal Criminal Gambling Addict That Nearly Lost Everything to A Successful Author & Advocate for Gambling Addiction.

<p>Catherine Lyon started casually gambling, playing her local lottery.  She describes how easy it was to gamble, and the predatory gambling practices in her community.  She starting her addiction at video poker terminals in bars and restaurants in the early ’90s, playing bingo at church, and buying lottery tickets at the grocery store.  This started out harmless enough but eventually led to suicide attempts and financial ruin.</p> <p>Wanting to escape reality was her main reason for gambling, but eventually, she started lying to support her addiction.  She describes how you can’t really tell a gambling addict from other types of addicts, because the signs aren’t as obvious.  But she does give some insight on how to tell if someone in your family is experiencing these issues.  Eventually, the money will run out, and you start gambling with your own life.</p> <p>She describes “The Cycle” of gambling addiction, which eventually got out of control & ruined her life.  In 2002, after losing everything, she attempted to take her own life.  She opened fraudulent accounts in her husband’s name to support her habit.  She was nearly divorced, lost her life savings, and felt like her life was at an end.  Her husband was the driving force in keeping everything together and helped Catherine get the help she needed.</p> <p>Eventually, she found her way out of the darkness of gambling addiction.  In 2006, she started recovery after multiple failed attempts and was finally successful.  After completing community service & court time.  She wrote a book “Addicted to Dimes (Confessions of A Liar & A Cheat)” where she describes her childhood trauma, sexual abuse, and the beginnings of her gambling addiction, in hopes that it would help other people struggling with the same issues & shatter the stigma of gambling addiction.</p> <p>This is Catherine Lyons in her own words on Knockin’ Doorz Down.</p> <p>This episode is brought to you by PodGo. PODGO is the easiest way for you to monetize your podcast. Providing podcasters with a f