Chocology... Or the Innermost Secrets of Your Sweet Tooth

You may have thought it was simply a question of personal taste.

But when you dip into the chocolate box you could be betraying far deeper secrets than the nuances of your sweet tooth.

The type of chocolate, its filling and shape, even the way you dispose of the wrapper are all pointers to your personality, according to psychotherapist Murray Langham.

Shape, he says, can shed light on the general human category you fall into.

Those who favour round chocolates are social butterflies, outgoing and friendly but often superficial.

Those who select squares are dependable, balanced, honest and truthful.

Oval enthusiasts like to push themselves to the limit, are creative, socially adept and enjoy making friends, while rectangles denote calm, good listeners who enjoy organising others.

Those who count spirals among their favourites are energetic but disorganised with chaotic love lines.

The money‑orientated and those who love to be pampered are likely to choose diamond‑shaped chocs.

But beware anyone who seeks out the triangular confections at the bottom of the box. They may be movers and shakers, but they have little regard for people's feelings.

The type or flavour of the chocolate you prefer, according to Mr Langham, can be revealing about your mental or emotional state.

Milk chocolate is associated with the romantic and nostalgic, dark chocolate with the forward‑looking, and white chocolate with the indecisive. Bitter chocolate tends to suggest a liking for the finer things in life, while those happy to tuck into all types are flexible and can easily adapt to most situations.

Mr Langham, who lives in the rural Wairarapa region of New Zealand, believes it is the choice of centre in a chocolate which reveals most about a person.

'Centres link into our own subconscious mind that guides our emotions, moods, inner thoughts and self‑esteem,' he said.

Brazil nuts signify diplomacy, culture and style, almonds speed of thought and eagerness. Coconut is linked to passion and a penchant for dreaming, and coffee to impatience.

Orange cream fans are good in an emergency. Lovers of fudge are sensual, and ginger eaters are great achievers. Turkish delight suggest spirituality and marsh-mallow flightiness.

Mr Langham says he can even spot the difference between hard and soft caramel eaters, the former tending to be firm and law-abiding, the latter conscientious.

As for wrapper disposal, those who roll it into a ball are bored with their sex lines while those who fold it neatly like everything done in a particular way.

‘I became curious about the great number of my clients who loved chocolate,’ said Mr Langham, who has written a book Chocolate Therapy: Dare to Discover Your Inner Centre.

‘I began to realise that what sort of chocolates they liked offered insights into their behaviour.'

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Gambling

What is Gambling?

Gambling is when you bet something of value on an event of uncertain outcome. This includes lotteries, bingo, casino's and sports events such as horse races and billiards (pool). It can also include minor gambling such as raffles.

What is Problem/ Compulsive Gambling?

Gambling becomes a problem when it starts to affect other aspects of your life. This includes things such as relationships with family and friends, physical, social and mental health, employment, and finances.

What are some signs that a person may have a gambling problem?

Gambling for longer periods of time.

• Constant thinking about and preparing for gambling.

• Gambling to win back lost money.

• Unexplained absences from home or work.

• Secrecy.

• Gambling to escape from daily pressures.

• Lying or engaging in criminal activity to finance gambling.

• Neglecting family/personal needs – e.g. eating, sleeping, schooling, etc.

• Restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop.

• Family or friends complaining about the gambling.

• Pawning personal property or borrowing money to finance gambling as the gambling activity.

How can I gamble without going overboard?

• Gamble for entertainment, not as a way to make money.

• Balance gambling with other leisure activities.

• Only use discretionary income, not money for everyday expenses.

• Set a budget and stick to it.

• Don't borrow money to gamble.

• Set a time limit of how long you will gamble.

• Take frequent breaks.

Where can I go if I have a problem with gambling?

• family/friends

• gamblers anonymous

• elder/priest

• AADAC

• crisis hotline

• treatment centre

• counselling

Why do people gamble?

There are likely many individual reasons why people gamble and continue even after it is a problem. Here are some examples:

• boredom (nothing else to do but go to bingo);

• unhappiness or loneliness;

• loss or grief;

• income (hoping to make a quick buck);

• more acceptable than drinking;

• substituting one addiction for another (quit drinking and start gambling);

• excitement or the "rush" of winning.