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Gambling Addiction Guide & 8+ Helpful Tips to Stop
| Posted on May 20, 2020 at 1:21 PM |
Gambling Addiction Guide & 8+ Helpful Tips to Stop By Liam Wilson Psychiatry experts describe
addiction as a brain disorder that involves repeating certain actions despite
negative consequences on health and well-being. The statistics aren’t
encouraging as it indicates that gambling addiction is among the most common
addiction forms these days. The reason behind it is a large
number of land-based gaming facilities throughout the world. Additionally, you
have numerous online gambling websites offering lottery, betting, and casino
games. Although these games can be a fun way to spend leisure time, it is
essential to be careful. Here is what you need to know about gambling addiction
and how to stop it! What
Is a Gambling Addiction? Gambling addiction is a mental
disorder where you cannot control your behavior and stop gambling even when you
aware that it affects your health and wellness negatively. Just like a person
addicted to substances cannot stop using them, a gambler cannot stop playing.
Gambling addiction also shares similarities with impulse-control disorders like
kleptomania or pyromania. According to statistics, only the
United Kingdom has around 600,000 gamblers dealing with addiction. The data
indicates that more than 2% of players in the United States have a certain type
of addiction to gambling. It is a growing problem that shouldn’t be taken
lightly. That is why it is crucial to recognize the issue on time and take the
required steps to deal with it. What
Are the Main Gambling Addiction Types? Scientists recognize three different
gambling addiction types, and not all of them manifest the same symptoms. Here is an overview of the most
common addiction types:
Is
Gambling Addiction a Serious Problem? Yes, gambling addiction is a serious
problem, and it is imperative to deal with it as soon as possible. It is
crucial not to push addiction issues under the carpet since that could make
them worse. Gambling addiction can significantly
affect the gambler’s quality of life, as well as their family, partners, and
friends. That is why you should give your best to recognize the symptoms
promptly, especially in the case of compulsive gambling. It is hard to say how many gamblers
have an addiction form since many of them use self-help options to deal with
the problem. The experts believe that 2-3% of all players deal with some form
of addiction. How
Gambling Affects Your Life It is not an exaggeration when
someone says that gambling addiction can change your entire life. Take a look
at how it could affect you! 1.
Mental health The critical thing to consider is
how gambling issues affect your mental health. Gamblers focus only on playing
their favorite game and often forget other aspects of their lives. That means
they might not be able to focus on job tasks, miss important events, etc. Gambling addiction itself is a brain
disorder, which means it affects your state of mind. In many cases, mental
problems are the reason why people become addicted to gambling. It is also
common that a mental health issue occurs after developing a gambling addiction. 2.
Relationships It is the people that are close to
the gambler that is the most affected by their negative habit. It might start
by forgetting about your partner’s birthday or missing family dinner. Things
could take a turn for the worse when loans, lying and stealing to find time and
money to play. Gambling issues could cost you the entire relationship with your
partner, and make you distant from your family and friends. 3.
Finances Finances might be a category that
takes the first hit once you enter gambling problems. Not being able to stop
and not winning anything means you need to invest more money. It is only a
matter of time when you will start taking cash that was supposed to be used for
other things. Gamblers frequently take loans, miss payments for their home, or
even sell the property to acquire funds. What
Are the Signs of a Gambling Addiction? Do you think your friend, or a
family member developed a gambling addiction? Would you like to test yourself
to ensure you are not addicted? Here is the list of the most
frequent signs that you developed negative gambling habits. 1.
Always Thinking About Gambling It might be your friend’s birthday,
and the atmosphere is great. You might have an important work task, but you
can’t concentrate because you are thinking about playing casino games. If you
are trying to focus on other activities, but you can’t stop imagining visiting a
gaming facility, that is among the initial signs of a gambling problem. 2.
Developed Gambling Tolerance It used to be enough to invest a
couple of dollars and feel the excitement. However, you’ve discovered that you
now need more money to experience the adrenaline rush. The experts explain this
by the term “gambling tolerance.” The more you play, the more money you invest. The first time you invest a big sum,
everything changes. Investing small sums doesn’t do the trick anymore, and that
can be dangerous for your finances. 3.
No Control Over the Losses You set a gambling budget so that it
doesn’t affect your daily routine or threaten your loan repayment rate.
However, once you lost the chosen sum, you realized that you want to continue
playing. It all started by taking a tiny portion of the funds important to you.
Before you know it, you lose the entire salary or savings. Not being able to
control your losses is a sign of a gambling problem and an issue that could
ruin your life. 4.
Gambling Is a Way to Escape Reality Things are not going great in your
life. Your company might have fired you recently, or your partner broke up with
you. Going through a rough patch in life makes gambling a fun way to escape
reality. In those situations, it can be easy to develop a habit and get
yourself into more problems. 5.
Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms You spend hours a day playing your
favorite games. Once you stop, it makes you feel nervous, sad, and depressed.
You are anxious to return to gambling, as that is the only thing that soothes
you. That is a sign you are going through withdrawal symptoms when not playing.
If you compare how you feel about the feelings of a person withdrawing from
substance abuse, you will find out the two are similar. 6.
Lying to Others Admitting that you have a gambling
problem is hard. You have problems confessing to yourself, and you certainly
don’t want others to know. However, if you are going the extra mile to hide
from others that you are gambling, that might be a problem. That is especially
true if you lie about being sick to miss your friend’s birthday so that you can
gamble. 7.
Stealing from Others If you are ready to steal money or
valuable items for others to acquire gambling founds, it might indicate that
you are in a serious problem. Stealing from your friends is immoral, and
stealing from others is illegal. Either way, it is crucial not to let yourself
do something like this. And if it happens, it is a surefire indicator that you
have gambling issues. How
to Deal with Gambling Addiction You have several approaches when it
comes to dealing with gambling addiction:
Can
You Help Another Person Addicted to Gambling? Did you notice that your friend has
gambling issues? Is your partner spending hours and losing a lot of money on
playing casino and other games? The first step in helping someone is
to recognize that they have a problem. The next is to understand which steps
will truly help them. Covering them for hours while they head to a gaming
facility won’t assist the gambler fight with their addiction. Loaning them the
money is also pointless because they will probably lose it. Start by finding the right way of
telling them you think they are addicted. Don’t be judgmental, but pinpoint
that you would like to help. Recommend potential ways of treatment, such as
group support and counseling with a professional. Compulsive
Gambling Stages According to experts, a compulsive
gambler will go through four stages:
What
Are the Risk Factors for a Gambling Addiction? Are some people at more risk of
becoming addicted to gambling than others? The answer is yes, which is why you
should take the time to understand the risk factors. Gambling
Availability Some countries ban gambling, which means
you can only play illegally. That reduces the overall number of players, as
well as those addicted. But the majority of countries legalized gambling, and
you can play in both online and land-based facilities. That means you can
access a gaming platform around the clock, which makes it easier to get hooked. Confidence
Overload Nobody plays a game without hoping
that they will win. However, those having overconfidence issues might be at
more risk for gambling addiction. They believe they will win every time, which
makes it easy for them to start losing money and get addicted. Impulsivity Gambling addiction is an impulse
control disorder, and people who tend to act impulsively are more prone to it
than others. That factor can be quite risky if it is combined with
overconfidence. Rough
Life Patches Whether you are out of work, or you
lost a beloved person, you might need a way to escape reality. Some people see
gambling as the way to do that, which makes rough life patches and feeling
vulnerable a risk factor for addiction. Economic
Status Did you know that people who earn a
lot of money tend to act more responsible when it comes to gambling? It depends
on the individual, but those with low earnings might resort to gambling to
improve their economic status. Genetics
and Family Factors Some experts claim that those who
have parents with a gambling addiction are more prone to developing one.
Research indicates that those coming from a family where there are records of
gambling addiction, alcoholism, and substance abuse are more likely to get
hooked to gambling. Also, the earlier you start playing, the more odds you have
to develop an addiction. Are
Age and Gender Risk Factors for Becoming a Gambler? People of both genders and all ages
can develop a gambling addiction. However, it seems that teens and the elderly
are the most vulnerable groups. Teens try gambling because they want to look
cool, but they might have a hard time putting it under control. Elderly people
might be having a hard time making peace with the fact they are retired or
going through a divorce, which triggers gambling addiction. As for gender, more men are addicted
to gambling at this moment. However, the number of women is increasing every
day. Common
Gambling Addiction Myths If you are going to overcome or help
someone deal with a gambling addiction, it is important to understand the
disorder. Take a look at the most common misconceptions people have about this
condition. 1.
Addiction Requires Gambling Every Day A gambler might be a fan of a
particular lottery game. They might like playing in a specific casino, or they
only bet on basketball. The gambling events might not occur every day for the
gambler to be addicted. The crucial criteria for determining it is the
frequency of wagering and sums invested. 2.
It Is Not a Problem If It Doesn’t Cause Financial Issues for the Gambler Rich people might be able to afford
huge losses. However, that doesn’t mean gambling addiction can’t affect your
life otherwise. You could experience mental health problems like anxiety and
depression, and ruin relationships with other persons. The point is that
addiction has severe consequences that could go far beyond finances. 3.
Gambling Addiction Happens to Unintelligent People Who Don’t Have a Strong Will Addiction plays with your brain, and
even the smartest and strongest people are vulnerable. For example, if you are
a math wizard, you might overthink and trick yourself that it is possible to
design a strategy to guarantee a win. It is crucial to note that people of
all ages, genders, nationalities, social statuses, education levels, and
intelligence levels can become addicted. 4.
You Should Help a Gambler Get Out of Financial Problems If you give money to a gambler, the
chances are they will lose it quickly. That is no long-term solution, and it
only supports their addiction. Instead of doing that, recommend them to consult
a therapist or start attending group support. How
to Help Yourself If You Have a Gambling Problem Although gambling addiction is a
serious problem, you can overcome it! However, you need to be persistent and
ready to invest plenty of time and effort. Here is a list of tips that could
help you in overcoming gambling problems! 1.
Admit You Have a Problem Everything starts by admitting that
you have a problem. As long as you are rejecting the idea that your gambling is
an issue for yourself in others, it will be hard to get better. Once you
understand you have a problem, you can work on the right moves to deal with it. 2.
Understand That It Will Be Hard The second step goes hand in hand
with the first one, and it involves discovering the reason why you are
gambling. It might be the adrenaline rush, escape from reality, but also the
desire to win and improve your finances or life overall. The thing to understand is that it
is virtually impossible to beat an addiction until you start realizing the
opponent’s strength. It is important to get ready for the battle and doing
whatever is necessary to put your life in control again. 3.
Join a Support Group It is always better to have people
by your side than going through a tough period alone. That is why you should
consider joining a support group. If staying anonymous is important, you can
look for online support groups. Apart from classic meetings, you can
also join classic programs. Gamblers Anonymous implement a 12-step rehab
program similar to the one when withdrawing from alcohol. These meetings occur
weekly, and you discuss your progress during the recovery. 4.
Visit a Therapist If you feel like you could use extra
support, there is no reason why you wouldn’t visit a therapist. Look for a
professional counselor who has experience in the gambling industry. Alternatively, your therapy doesn’t
have to focus on gambling. If you feel your relationships have suffered, you
can attend couples therapy. Professionals can always assist to go through a
rough patch and repair relationships. 5.
Are Medications a Solution? Addiction plays with your brain and
might make you anxious and depressed. It might be easier to handle the cravings
with medications that would replicate the hormones producing while you are
gambling. A medical professional like a
psychiatrist can analyze your current situation, and whether there is a need
for medication. 6.
Organize Your Schedule The idea is simple – if you spend
time doing something else, you cannot gamble. That is why it is essential to
organize your schedule to the smallest detail. Apart from work, try to fill it
up with as many fun and exciting activities as possible. The idea is to
preoccupy your brain and stop it from thinking about gambling. 7.
Handling Gambling Cravings and Potential Alternatives Be prepared to experience gamble
cravings occasionally. Once that time comes, it will take a lot of strength to
push through them. It might be wise to look for
alternatives that provide a similar feeling:
8.
How to Treat Gambling Addiction Here is an in-depth look at how you
can treat gambling addiction by visiting various professionals:
Can
Family Members Help a Person Who Has Gambling Problems? If a gambler is beyond the point
where they can help themselves, family members can be of assistance. Everything
starts by protecting yourself, and that includes both your finances and
emotions. That is especially true if you are part of the same household. You
will need to keep things under control, which is why taking care of yourself is
imperative. You can consider asking for help
from other family members or friends. It might be a problem to admit that someone
close to you has a problem, but the more help you have, the easier you will
push through the problem. Don’t forget to set limits for money
spending, and never agree to loan money to the gambler. You can consider a loan
to pay their debts, but insist that you make the payment even then. Remember,
gamblers might be lying about why they need money. It is important to stay
strong and reject all their requests Tips
for Gamblers’ Partners
Frequently Asked Questions Q:
I had a lapse while dealing with gambling problems. What should I do? A: Lapses are normal because
fighting an addiction is difficult. Talk to your mentor, support group, or a
trusted person. The important thing is to keep going and ensure lapses are
minimized. Q:
My partner has a gambling addiction, and they are mentioning suicide. What
should I do? A: Always take any suicidal
thoughts seriously. Find a national helpline for suicide prevention or consult
a medical professional that specializes in that area. Q:
I feel guilty that my partner started gambling. What should I do? A: Understand that, as adults, we
all take responsibility for our own actions. Gamblers might try to rationalize
their bad habit by blaming other people or their surroundings. The truth is that
they are the only ones to blame. Regardless, you should find a way to help them
deal with the issue. Final
Thoughts We underline once again that
gambling addiction is a serious problem. That issue can affect your finances,
relationships, mental health, and overall quality of life. The critical thing is to recognize
addiction, whether it is in yourself or a person close to you. From that point,
you can consider the right steps to fight it. Always remember to count on your
friends and family, but don’t hesitate to rely on helplines and medical
professionals for additional support! |
Categories: Gambling
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