What is gambling addiction? For the most part, gambling in moderation is a socially acceptable behavior. Gambling addiction is another story. If left untreated, a gambling addiction can negatively. Compulsive gambling is a progressive addiction that harms every aspect of the gambler’s life. As they continue to gamble, their families, friends and employers are negatively affected.
- Stages Of Gambling Addiction Centers
- Stages Of Gambling Addiction Programs
- Medication For Gambling Addiction
- Causes Of Gambling Addiction
- How To Help Someone With Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction isn't diffcult to determine. Here are the symptoms and signs of addiction to gambling.
What are the Signs of Gambling Addiction?
The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists the following criteria for pathological gambling: preoccupation, tolerance, withdrawal, escape, chasing, lying, loss of control, illegal acts, risk of significant relationship, and bailout.
Preoccupation
One sure sign of gambling addiction is preoccupation. Preoccupation occurs when the gambler constantly thinks about gambling. He or she may frequently recall past gambling experiences. The gambler's life is now centered on gambling and how to acquire money with which to gamble. A preoccupied gambler may duck out of certain obligations and spend money designated for other purposes just to fulfill the gratification gained by gambling.
Tolerance
In the same way that a drug abuser can become tolerant of the substance that he or she is taking, one of the keys signs of a gambling addiction is the gambler becoming tolerant of gambling. The gambler becomes tolerant when he or she needs more and more money to achieve the desired sensation, just as a cocaine addict may need more and more cocaine.
Withdrawal: Another Sign of Gambling Addiction
Halting gambling may lead to withdrawal. This withdrawal may not come in a form as physical as the body's withdrawal from a substance, but a gambler suffering from withdrawal may experience agitation and irritability when he or she tries to gamble less or quit gambling altogether.
Escape
Pathological gamblers may also use gambling to escape from the world. They may be attempting to run away from their problems or to combat negative feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression.
Chasing
How much is slotzilla zipline. The gambling addict may also become a chaser of losses. In other words, when the gambler loses money, he or she returns the next day to try to gain it back or get even with the house.
Lying
You may have seen this sign of gambling addiction. Paddy power register. Gambling addiction can lead to lying to both family members and friends about how the gambler is getting the money to gamble and the amount of time he or she is spending gambling.
Loss of Control
If you or a loved one has tried over and over again to stop gambling, this may be a sign that you have lost control to your gambling addiction and need to seek help. How to run rags games. (more information about gambling addiction help)
Stages Of Gambling Addiction Centers
Illegal Acts
Many compulsive gamblers become so in need of funds for their addiction that they resort to stealing—through larceny, fraud, or embezzlement—in order to continue their habits.
Risk of Significant Relationships
Another of the gambling addiction symptoms is how the gambler's relationships are affected, including jobs, personal relationships, educational opportunities, and so forth.
Stages Of Gambling Addiction Programs
Final Gambling Addiction Sign: Bailout
A final symptom of gambling addiction is relying on others for monetary support for financial problems created by gambling.
Sources:
- DSM IV - American Psychiatric Association
- GamblingResearch.org
next: Do You Have A Gambling Problem?
~ all gambling addiction articles
~ all articles on addictions
~ all gambling addiction articles
~ all articles on addictions
APA Reference
Gluck, S. (2009, December 22). Signs of Gambling Addiction, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2020, November 16 from https://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/gambling-addiction/signs-gambling-addiction
Gluck, S. (2009, December 22). Signs of Gambling Addiction, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2020, November 16 from https://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/gambling-addiction/signs-gambling-addiction
There are three phases to a gambling addiction: winning phase, losing phase and desperation phase.
How do you go from being a social gambler to compulsive gambling?
Robert L. Custer, M.D., former Chief of Treatment Services of the Mental Health and Behavioral Science Service of the U.S. Veterans Administration, is widely considered to be the father of professional help for the compulsive gambler. In 1972, Custer, a psychiatrist, established the first inpatient treatment center for compulsive gamblers at the VA Hospital in Brecksville, Ohio.
Dr. Custer was the first to suggest that pathological gambling is a treatable illness. Through his efforts, the American Psychiatric Association classified pathological gambling as a psychiatric disorder in 1980.
Medication For Gambling Addiction
Dr. Custer identified the progression of gambling addiction as including three phases:
- the winning phase;
- the losing phase
- the desperation phase
Causes Of Gambling Addiction
![Gambling addiction treatment Gambling addiction treatment](https://rayliu1.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/gambling-cycle-1.jpg?w=680&h=510)
The Winning Phase
The winning phase is a time when gamblers win at gambling multiple times, leaving them with an 'unreasonable optimism' that they will keep on winning. Such gamblers begin to love gambling and trust that their luck will not run out. They keep on bidding and begin adding to their bids. These gamblers feel confident and comfortable, until the losing phase.
The Losing Phase
In the losing phase, gambling addicts begin to withdraw from friends and family. Gamblers start gambling alone and consider borrowing money by legal or illegal means. They become isolated by their gambling, and this isolation infiltrates their home lives. As these gamblers increase the quantity and amount of their gambling, their debts become a problem. These gamblers start chasing their losses, wanting to return to gambling directly after a loss with the hope that they can win the money back.
The Desperation Phase
The desperation phase occurs when the gambler spends more and more time gambling. This excessive time spent gambling leads to these gamblers feeling guilty, blaming others for their problems, and alienating their family and friends. The gamblers may begin to engage in illegal acts in order to have gambling money. They may turn to alcohol or drugs to combat the helplessness they feel and may experience psychological and social problems such as depression, emotional collapse, divorce, suicidal ideation or attempts, or arrest.
More comprehensive information on Signs of Gambling Addiction.
next: Treatment of a Gambling Addiction
~ all gambling addiction articles
~ all articles on addictions
~ all gambling addiction articles
~ all articles on addictions
How To Help Someone With Gambling Addiction
APA Reference
Gluck, S. (2008, December 31). Phases of a Gambling Addiction, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2020, November 16 from https://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/gambling-addiction/phases-of-a-gambling-addiction
Gluck, S. (2008, December 31). Phases of a Gambling Addiction, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2020, November 16 from https://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/gambling-addiction/phases-of-a-gambling-addiction