Signs Of Gambling Addiction

Whether you prefer slots, pure chance games, or skill-focused options like poker or blackjack, there are some chances are you feel a sense of excitement making every bet. We should all be careful when it comes to gambling, as there are many gambling addiction stories with bad endings where players lost a fortune. However, if you dig a little deeper and find out why is gambling addictive, you will find out that gambling addiction can harm your both mental and physical health.

Statistics show that the level of involvement in gambling is growing rapidly. For example, only in the U.S. there are about 6 million people suffering from one or other disorders within the problem gambling. The detrimental consequences of gambling addiction have led to the fact that it has become a serious public health problem in most countries of the world. 

What is Gambling Addiction?

In simple terms, gambling addiction is a psychological and physical condition in which the player cannot control his/her cravings for the game, resulting in suffering as a player and his loved ones. This can manifest itself in an irresistible craving for gambling games such as slots or poker. In addition, it can be expressed by a strong desire to win back the lost money, by all means. Regardless of whether the player has free money for gambling activity, he will still continue to wager without thinking about the possible risks and consequences. Therefore, many people are looking for how to help someone with a gambling addiction to prevent more serious implications.

What are the Common Signs of Gambling Addiction?

Now, when you know about the dangers of gambling addiction, it's time to consider some signs that may indicate that you are facing problem gambling. According to the DSM-5, if you have at least 4 of the 9 signs listed below, there are risks that you have a gambling addiction:

• Low stakes no longer give you a sense of excitement. You take the risk of making high bets without thinking about the possible consequences that will hit your wallet.
• When you try to stop a gambling session or quit gambling completely, you experience some anxiety or irritability.
• You have made many attempts to reduce the impact of gambling on your life, but all of them have not led to the desired result.
• The thought of gambling never leaves you throughout the day. You often think about how you will make the next bet, which can bring a large payout.
• Playing at both online and land-based casinos, you experience serious stress regardless of the gaming case.
• Having received a large payout, you want to go back to the game to try to win more.
• You are deceiving your family and friends by hiding your addiction to gambling.
• Gambling has caused a deterioration in relations with your loved ones or colleagues.
• You do not neglect sound bankroll management, do not limit your playing sessions by time.

The fact that gambling addiction can happen to anyone and no one can predict when it will happen is the most important problem of gambling.

4 Phases of Gambling Addiction

To better understand pathological gambling addiction, scientists have identified four phases:

• Winning. This is the initial phase when the player received a large payout. Encouraged by first success, he changes his views on gambling, begins to believe in his special talents and luck. As a result, in this phase the player begins to devote more time to gambling, spending more money accordingly.
• Losing. The first failures not only do not discourage gambling, but on the contrary, make the player believe that his luck will return to him. Having entered this phase, players lie to their loved ones, try in every way to hide the problem, and lose a lot of money.
• Desperation. The player feels overly involved in gambling, but cannot stop. In this phase, many players ruin their careers, get divorced and even go to jail.
• Hopeless. Unable to get rid of their addiction and caught in a losing streak, gamblers in this phase often drink, abuse drugs, and are even prone to suicide.

Since there are 4 phases in the progression of gambling addiction, there are also 4 phases of getting rid of it. Firstly, the gambler must admit that his gambling addiction is nothing more than a treatable disease. Secondly, the player must stop blaming anyone and regain control of his behavior and habits. Third, the player must learn to refocus his attention on other things every time he has an overwhelming urge to gamble. Fourth, the player must fundamentally change his views on gambling, finding other values that are actually more important. Proposed by Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz - and described in his 'Brain Lock' book - the method really works. In addition, there are many other equally effective approaches to treating gambling addiction.

How to Heal from Gambling Addiction Treatment

The first and most difficult step is to admit that you have a gambling addiction. Gamblers are often prone to self-deception, thinking that they can control their gambling behavior. In fact, there are several steps that you are capable of taking on your own as soon as you feel that gambling has become too much of a part of your life:

• Force yourself to stop playing as soon as it gets out of bounds.
• Stop if you are experiencing discomfort or unpleasant feelings associated with gambling.
• Get advice from your family and friends.
• Seek help from organizations that fight problem gambling.
• Join a support group.

Knowing that every problem has a solution is actually a solution! Although it is not easy to heal gambling addiction, enlisting the help of a friend or support group can help you talk about your problem and solve it. There are many casinos that have partnered with organizations like GambleAware and others. You can always ask for help. Remember that once you regain control of your gambling activities, you will regain control of your own life.