Patrick Custer
Patrick Custer
The Last Bet: Grief And Gambling Addiction (ft. Patrick Casale) | Rooted Recovery Stories 205
The Last Bet: Grief And Gambling Addiction (ft. Patrick Casale) | Rooted Recovery Stories 205
The Last Bet: Grief And Gambling Addiction (ft. Patrick Casale) | Rooted Recovery Stories 205
Tuesday 24th June 2025
Patrick Casale shares his journey from gambling addiction to healing, discussing mental health, grief, and the power of self-acceptance.
76 minutes
challenging
hopeful
transformative
informative
supportive
About this podcast
Author:
Patrick Custer
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery Reimagined
Family Recovery from Addiction
Recovery from Trauma
Creative Recovery Journeys
Healing from Sexual Trauma
Links:
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Episodes:
170 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Rewriting Life: From Gambling to Healing
Episode Overview
- Patrick Casale's struggle with gambling addiction.
- The impact of grief and loss on mental health.
- Unmasking and accepting neurodivergence.
- Building a life centered in truth and community.
- Tools for emotional regulation and recovery.
If you’re feeling different, that you are just not alone. That is so important whether it’s neurodivergence, addiction, or identity.
In this powerful episode of Rooted Recovery Stories, Patrick Casale takes us through his transformative journey from the depths of gambling addiction to living a life of truth and acceptance. From an early age, Patrick faced immense grief with the loss of his stepmother to cancer and his best friend to suicide. These experiences, compounded with his undiagnosed autistic and ADHD traits, left him feeling alienated and desperate to belong.
Patrick's story is one of hitting rock bottom, where he realized that continuing down the path of addiction would mean he wouldn't live to see the age of 26. Patrick recounts the moment in June 2012 when he lost his last $300 at a casino, which became a turning point in his life. This episode delves into the challenging emotional landscape of addiction, where Patrick describes the immediate regret and self-reflection that follows placing a bet.
He shares how the addiction kept him hooked, and how removing himself from that cycle was incredibly difficult. The conversation shifts to Patrick's path to recovery, which involved rewriting his self-narrative and embracing his true identity. This transformation required him to break away from masking his pain and pretending to be "fine" to fit in. Patrick emphasizes the importance of community and self-acceptance, highlighting how these elements helped him build a life centered on truth.
As an addictions therapist today, Patrick uses his experiences to connect with others going through similar struggles. He discusses the significance of creating a light at the end of the tunnel for those who feel there is no possibility or future. Through therapy, medication, and self-accountability, Patrick found lifelines in recovery practices that helped him regulate his nervous system and reconnect with life. Patrick's story is a roadmap for anyone questioning their place in the world.
He encourages listeners to recognize they are not alone, whether they face neurodivergence, addiction, or identity challenges. This episode is not just about recovery; it's about transforming how we see ourselves and what is possible. The podcast concludes with a heartfelt reminder from Patrick: It's never too late to start loving yourself, and you're always one decision away from a completely different life.
The episode challenges listeners to embrace their unique selves and share their stories, proving that healing and transformation are real.