Many family relationships break down as a result of problem gambling, and children are often the innocent victims of the emotional distress created within the home. Those suffering from a gambling addiction additionally endure physical health issues such as ulcers, stomach problems, headaches, and insomnia due to stress.
People with problematic gambling issues are also more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, which can lead to further devastating effects. Similar to other behavioral addictions, therapists have found that compulsive gamblers respond positively to pharmacological and psychosocial treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy has shown to be particularly effective in addressing gambling addictions, as it teaches relapse prevention skills and how to change habits, as well as identifying the underlying cause of addiction.
Additionally, support groups and step programs , like Gamblers Anonymous, are helpful as they offer judgment-free support for fellow recovering gambling addicts.
Learn More. If you believe that you or a loved one may have a gambling addiction, it may be time to seek help.
There are countless treatment facilities out there equipped to specifically help with gambling addictions. Contact a treatment provider today to learn more about options. She has always had a passion for literature and the written word. Upon graduation, Jena found her purpose in educating the public on addiction and helping those that struggle with substance dependency find the best treatment options available.
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional. Theresa is also a Certified Professional Life Coach and volunteers at a local mental health facility helping individuals who struggle with homelessness and addiction.
Theresa is a well-rounded clinician with experience working as a Primary Addiction Counselor, Case Manager and Director of Utilization Review in various treatment centers for addiction and mental health in Florida, Minnesota, and Colorado. She also has experience with admissions, marketing, and outreach. As a proud recovering addict herself, Theresa understands first-hand the struggles of addiction.
There is no limit to what Theresa is willing to do to make a difference in the field of Addiction! Mallorca, Spain. View Center. Athens, Greece. Andover, MA. Boston, MA. Falmouth, MA. Ottawa, ON. Baldwinville, MA. Henryville, PA. Laurel, PA. Philadelphia, PA. Galloway, NJ. Milford, DE. Sandusky, OH. Chicago, IL. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is seeing the effects, you cannot make someone stop gambling.
If a family member has a gambling problem, other members of family may have many conflicting emotions. They may try to cover up for a loved one or spend a lot of time and energy trying to keep him or her from gambling. At the same time, they might be furious at their loved one for gambling again and tired of trying to keep up the charade.
The gambler may also have borrowed or even stolen money from other family members with no way to pay it back.
He or she may have sold family possessions or run up huge debts on joint credit cards. When faced with the consequences of their actions, a gambler can suffer a crushing drop in self-esteem. This is one reason why there is a high rate of suicide among problem gamblers. When someone has an addiction problem the best thing is, of course, that he comes out of that situation himself. However, this requires a lot of self-discipline and motivation from the gambler. But in this case too, the success of the treatment depends on the motivation of the gambler to handle the addiction.
In the first place, there are self-help groups run by Gambling Anonymous GA. They work more or less the same way as the Alcohol Anonymous groups AA. The basic thought of these groups is that you have an addiction problem and will always have an addiction problem, even if you never drink alcohol again or do not gamble anymore. The only thing you can do is to stop gambling because you will never be able to deal with the pleasures of gambling.
By having conversations with the patient, a solution is sought for his problems. Also debt restructuring can be part of this therapy. In more serious cases, admission to a clinic is necessary. The treatment of a gambling addiction is mainly focused on helping the patient to stop gambling.
In this period, the treatment is aimed at an inventory of the problems; a list of debts is made and a plan is developed to pay them off, deals are made about who controls the money, relationship problems are dealt with, and underlying problems are looked at. Sometimes, gambling has to do with the sudden death of people around the person, neglect, or feelings of inferiority.
Sometimes stopping gambling leads to serious psychological and somatic problems. It is preferable to involve partners or parents during the treatment. The people around the addict often turn out to have this need. They can play an important role in the arrangements about the control of money, debt repayment, etc. The treatment lasts on an average of 6 months.
Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Indian J Psychol Med. Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer.
Address for correspondence: Dr. E-mail: moc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Abstract Gambling, including pathological gambling and problem gambling, has received increased attention from clinicians and researchers over the past three decades since gambling opportunities have expanded around the world.
Keywords: Addiction , gambling , substance use. Table 1 Explanatory theories for gambling behaviour. Open in a separate window. Rosenthal's[ 12 ] definition is perhaps the best place to start in terms of defining problem gambling, because it is broadly accepted by psychiatrists, many psychologists, and Gamblers Anonymous members, and is also the foundation for the influential Diagnostic and Statistical Manual's criteria for problem gambling: A progressive disorder characterized by a continuous or periodic loss of control over gambling; a preoccupation with gambling and with obtaining money with which to gamble; irrational thinking; and a continuation of the behaviour despite adverse consequences.
Pathological gambling is now defined as persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior meeting at least five of the following criteria, as long as these behaviors are not better explained by a manic episode: Preoccupation.
The subject has frequent thoughts about gambling experiences, whether past, future, or fantasy Tolerance. Restlessness or irritability associated with attempts to cease or reduce gambling Escape.
The subject gambles to improve mood or escape problems Chasing. The subject tries to win back gambling losses with more gambling Lying.
The subject tries to hide the extent of his or her gambling by lying to family, friends, or therapists Loss of control. The subject has unsuccessfully attempted to reduce gambling Illegal acts. The subject has broken the law in order to obtain gambling money or recover gambling losses Risked significant relationship. The subject gambles despite risking or losing a relationship, job, or other significant opportunity Bailout.
The subject turns to family, friends, or another third party for financial assistance as a result of gambling Biological bases. The subject has a lack of norepinephrine. In a more general sense, Marlatt et al. Gamblers anonymous Is a twelve-step recovery program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy Cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT for problem gambling focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and false beliefs. Table 2 Some reasons for gambling and solutions. Wildman RW. Gambling: An attempt at Integration. Edmonton: Wynne Resources, Inc. Publisher; National Academies Press; ISBN: Culleton RP.
The prevalence rates of pathological gambling: A look at methods. J Gambl Behavior. Stocking C. The Encyclopedia of Social Sciences. New York: MacMillan; Knapp TJ. A functional analysis of gambling behavior. In: Eadington WR, editor. Gambling and Society. Springfield, IL: Thomas. Published by Spencer and sons; Snyder J. Jimmy the Greek by Himself. Chicago: Hendricks publication; Herman RD. Motivations to gamble: The model of Roger Caillois.
Kusyszn I. Existence, effectance, esteem: From gambling to a new theory of human motivation. Int J Addict. Smith JF, Abt V. Gambling as play. Freud S. Dostoevsky and parricide. In: Strachey J, editor; Strachey J, translator. The individual may not realize they have a problem for some time. Many people who develop a gambling addiction are considered responsible and dependable people, but some factors can lead to a change in behavior.
Studies have suggested that people with a tendency to one addiction may be more at risk of developing another.
Genetic and neurological factors may play a role. Some people who are affected by gambling may also have a problem with alcohol or drugs, possibly due to a predisposition for addiction. The use of some medications has been linked to a higher risk of compulsive gambling. Secondary addictions can also occur in an effort to reduce the negative feelings created by the gambling addiction.
However, some people who gamble never experience any other addiction. For someone with a gambling addiction, the feeling of gambling is equivalent to taking a drug or having a drink. As the person becomes used to this feeling, they keep repeating the behavior, attempting to achieve that same effect. In other addictions, alcohol, for instance, the person starts developing a tolerance.
A vicious circle develops, and an increased craving for the activity. At the same time, the ability to resist drops. As the craving grows in intensity and frequency, the ability to control the urge to gamble is weakened. Neither the frequency of gambling nor the amount lost will determine whether gambling is a problem for an individual.
Some people engage in periodic gambling binges rather than regularly, but the emotional and financial consequences will be the same.
Casinos and lotteries provide the opportunity to gamble. A gambling addiction occurs when a person can no longer control the compulsive behavior. Any type of gambling — whether racing, bingo, card games, dice games, lottery, slots, and sports betting — can become problematic.
However, some types of gambling have particular characteristics that may intensify the problem and the consequences. Reports indicate that a significant risk factor may be a fast speed of play. Types of games where there is a short time between placing a bet and seeing the results present a higher risk for players. This happens with slot machines, for instance. Gambling is widespread. Increased accessibility, for example, through online gambling, calls for greater awareness and appropriate legislation.
Anyone who provides gambling services has a responsibility to develop policies and programs to address underage and gambling addictions.
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