Gambling Addiction

Compulsive
Gambling

Although gambling can be a legal, fun way to pass the time, it has the potential of developing into an addiction which creates serious lows in your life when you experience consistent losses. Comparable to chemical dependencies, if left unchecked, gambling addictions have the power to ruin relationships, careers, and finances, as well as having negative impacts on your physical health.

Compulsive gamblers often play for long durations because they can’t stop. They might win or lose large sums of money within a day, but the allure of trying to recapture a previous high encourages them to keep going. This addiction causes major disruptions in their life despite any negative fallout from gambling.

Gambling addiction can have severe consequences, such as financial ruin, loss of custody, or divorce. If you think you might be addicted to gambling, it’s important to get help from a treatment center specializing in gambling addiction as soon as possible so that your spiral doesn’t worsen.

Causes of
Gambling Addiction?

All addictions, fundamentally, are psychological. So what exactly causes gambling addiction? Although anybody can develop a habit, an addiction only forms when that person becomes psychologically dependent; in other words, they cannot stop doing something by choice alone because they need the high it provides. Gamblers usually think they can control their actions, while compulsive gamblers are actually being controlled instead.

Some people only gamble every now and then for fun, while others can’t stop betting and take unnecessary risks with their money. Why is this? The answer may be found in one or more of the following causes:

• Neurochemistry: Pathologic gambling, also known as compulsive gambling, causes physical and emotional reactions that are similar to those caused by drug or alcohol use. A big win can trigger the release of chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which creates a rush of pleasure and energy. It can also cause feelings of power and invincibility. People with gambling problems may have lower-than-normal levels of norepinephrine, a chemical that gives people energy. The high from winning while gambling can help create feelings of joy or power that the person’s natural chemistry does not provide.
• Family history: If you have a close relative with a history of addiction or compulsive behavior, you’re more likely to develop an addiction yourself. This genetic predisposition seems to apply not just to substance abuse but also to process addictions like compulsive gambling. So be mindful of your family’s history regarding these things.
• Social and environmental factors: If you live in a place where gambling is commonplace and accepted, your odds of developing a gambling addiction will increase. Other social factors that can contribute to problem gambling include isolation from others, peer pressure to gamble, or substance abuse disorder. Some people gamble because they’re lonely and need a distraction, while others do it to relieve stress or gain approval from friends.
• Co-occurring mental illness or substance use disorders: People with other mental health diagnoses, such as depression or anxiety, are more likely to have a gambling problem. Additionally, people who struggle with impulse control or attention deficit disorders are at an increased risk of developing a gambling addiction.

Warning Signs of
Gambling Addiction

Although it is crucial, identifying the warning signs of gambling addiction can be difficult, especially if the gambler refuses to admit they have a problem. More often than not, household members only become aware of an addicted family member’s disorder after witnessing sudden and drastic financial losses. Since there are no physical indicators of compulsive gambling and most addicts gamble in secrecy, loved ones may remain completely unaware until it’s too late.

The following are some things to look out for:

• When gambling stops providing the same level of satisfaction and instead requires more money to get the same feeling.
• Feeling agitated or unable to concentrate when trying to quit gambling
• Despite their best efforts, they can’t seem to stay away from gambling
• Constantly thinking about gambling to the point where it interferes with life
• Gambling when feelings of emotional stress arise
• Gambling, even though it has harmful effects
• Falsifying information about gambling
• Losing a partner, position, or admittance to school because of gambling
• Depending on others to fund gambling

Effects of
Gambling Addiction

A harmful misconception regarding gambling addiction is that it’s not as severe as an alcohol dependency or a need for drug rehabilitation. But compulsive gambling manipulates many areas of your life negatively.

One of the most harmful consequences of gambling addiction is the vast amount of debt that builds up over time. People with gambling problems often miss work or gamble instead of completing their duties, which can lead to losing their job. They may also resort to illegal activities like theft or fraudulent behavior in order to get money to gamble. If they cannot pay back what they owe, gamblers might have to declare bankruptcy and even lose their home.

A gambling addiction can have destructive consequences not just for the addict but also for their family and friends. The stress of trying to keep up with debts can lead to relationship problems, which in turn often affects children the most. Furthermore, those suffering from gambling addiction may also experience physical health issues such as ulcers or stomach problems due to stress, headaches, and insomnia. In some cases, people with problematic gambling issues may turn to substance abuse as a way of coping, leading to even more devastating effects.

How Gambling Affects
Mental Health

Gambling addiction is linked with the production of dopamine in the brain, much like other addictive drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine. These substances addictively target the brain’s reward system by releasing up to 10 times the amount of dopamine normally present. With extended use, the body becomes tolerant as it naturally starts to inhibit its own regular production of dopamine. As a result, higher doses are needed from external sources to maintain that original sensation or ‘high.’

Like substance abuse victims who need more and more drugs or alcohol to feel the same high, gambling addicts also take bigger risks and bet larger sums of money for the same thrill. Furthermore, studies show that pathological gamblers and drug users often share similar genes that make them impulsive or motivated by rewards. Finally, both groups usually experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to give up their respective habits.

Losing a considerable amount of money can have shattering effects on problem gamblers. They may suffer from severe depression, which could then lead to suicide ideation, self-destructive behavior, or an actual suicide attempt. In order to try and take away the feelings of sadness and desperation, gamblers might use this addictive process as means of escape or think it will be their solution to fixing everything. Unfortunately, gambling only becomes a lifelong cycle in which the elation or depression that follows each episode leads to even greater risk-taking behaviors and, ultimately, higher bets being placed.

Many gambling addicts also suffer from a co-occurring mental illness, such as alcohol or drug abuse, a mood disorder, or a personality disorder. If you already have depression, anxiety, or another mental illness, gambling addiction will only make the symptoms worse.

Gambling Addiction and
Substance Abuse

Pathological gambling is often linked with alcoholism or drug abuse. Alcoholic drinks are usually accessible at casinos, and patrons are encouraged to drink in order to lower their inhibitions against spending money. People may turn to alcohol or drugs after winning a bet, losing a bet, or as a way of forgetting the shame and guilt associated with gambling. Individuals with a gambling addiction tend to be predisposed to other forms of addictive behavior, like substance abuse or alcoholism. This is because the same neurochemical factors that make some people vulnerable to gambling addiction also predispose them to these other forms of addiction.

Gambling addiction is a severe problem that can be made worse by alcohol and drugs. Both substances will lower an individual’s ability to make sound judgments and lead to risky behavior that often results in substantial financial losses as well as long-term health problems. Not only does substance abuse make the physical and psychological effects of gambling worse, but it also increases the likelihood of developing other health problems, such as heart disease, anxiety disorders, depression, and digestive issues. The longer someone goes without treatment for substance abuse and pathologic gambling, the greater their risks become.

Gambling Addiction
Treatment Options

Gambling addicts accept that there is no cure for gambling addiction, similar to other psychological illnesses such as OCD or anorexia. However, this does not mean that steps cannot be taken to break the hold gambling has over your life or the lives of your loved ones. If you find yourself gambling all the time and unable to stop OR going on binges occasionally that spiral out of control, it is time to seek help. Contact Psyclarity Health today for more information, and find the right gambling addiction treatment program for you.

Gambling Addiction
Programs

No single gambling addiction treatment program is right for everyone; the best way to proceed is by educating yourself on all the different options. This way, you can make a decision that benefits not just you but also your loved ones.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatment

Many gambling addicts have seen success with cognitive behavioral therapy treatment sessions. With the help of a mental health professional, an addict can learn to identify the thought process that led to problem gambling in the first place. For example, some gamblers believe that if they keep playing for just a little while longer, they will win the jackpot they’ve been chasing. Instead of riches, other gamblers hope future winnings will pay their past debts.

Gambling addiction is psychological in nature, which means that a gambler’s emotional state may be directly linked to winning or losing streaks. However, with cognitive behavioral therapy, it is possible to learn how to identify and correct these inaccurate perceptions. Once the root causes of addiction are addressed, recovery becomes possible.

Other Therapeutic
Methods

Gambling addiction treatment programs don’t only include cognitive behavioral therapy. There are other options available as well. Psychotherapy, otherwise known as individual and group counseling sessions that help triggers, can lead to the same positive outcomes as cognitive behavioral therapy, such as identifying root causes and reversing false beliefs.

Family therapy can also be beneficial to the addicted gambler. When you compulsively gamble, it’s likely your family is affected as well. Family therapy not only addresses problem gambling but also encourages healthy family relationships and moving forward on the road to recovery together.

An important but difficult task in gambling therapy is limiting the gambler’s exposure to opportunities. This can be hard because many people cannot avoid being around potential sources of gambling, such as office pools for the Super Bowl or internet ads. However, by making it harder to access the most obvious and accessible avenues for gambling, an addict can begin to focus on their obsessive or compulsive behavior instead of only avoiding temptation.

Seeking Help for
Gambling Addiction

If you think gambling is causing problems in your life, it may be time to seek help. Many people with gambling addiction get treatment and improve their lives. Don’t spend another day struggling alone. Talk to a therapist who specializes in treating gambling addiction. They can help you understand your problem and develop ways to overcome it.

At Psyclarity Health, we are passionate about helping those struggling with gambling addiction. Please reach out to us today to see what treatment options will work best for you and your unique situation. The odds are in your favor.