Gambling Addiction
A gambling addiction, also called problem gambling or compulsive gambling, is when an individual has a strong and constant urge to gamble even with negative consequences. Problem gambling can affect all aspects of ones’ life and lead to major financial problems and damages to home and work responsibilities
Recognizing the Signs
An addiction to gambling is sometimes regarded as a hidden problem because are no physical signs or symptoms like other addictions. Problem gamblers often deny the problem, try to minimize issues, and use a variety of ways to conceal their gambling.
The common signs include:
- An increase in gambling activities and the inability to stop gambling despite negative consequences.
- Missing work, family activities, and other obligations to spend time gambling.
- Abruptly becoming secretive about finances. Problem gamblers may display a new want to control the finances and there may be a decrease in money even with the same income and budget.
- Becoming progressively more defensive about gambling. When a problem gambler is down, there is an increased need to defend their gambling to get money. They become secretive, defensive, and blame others for their urge to gamble.
- Becoming more desperate for ways to finance gambling. Problem gamblers ask family and friends for money, credit card bills may increase, and items that can be easily pawned may disappear.
Intervention
When a loved one has a gambling problem that seems to be progressively getting worse it is necessary for an intervention to prevent additional damage. Interventions typically include a pre-planned meeting by family and friends to convince the individual to seek professional treatment. It is important to sit the individual down and share how the problem has affected a variety of situations. Each person should share their feelings and express their concern for the individual. Specific examples of how the gambling addiction has affected the individual’s life should be presented. Intervention members should ask a variety of questions and provide information about treatment options.
Treatment for a Gambling Addiction
The first and biggest step in treatment is the problem gambler to recognize that they have a problem. Without acknowledgment of a problem, treatment is less likely to be successful.
Treatment options include:
- Gamblers Anonymous- a 12 step free program that involves a set of guided principles to overcome the problem. It includes group support and peer interactions. An important part of the program is to select a sponsor, which is often a former gambler that has overcome the addiction and can offer advice and help.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy- treatment that focuses on changing harmful gambling thoughts and behaviors including false beliefs and rationalizations. It provides instruction on how to fight urges to gamble, handle negative emotions instead of using gambling as an outlet, and solve problems that have occurred due to the gambling addiction. The goal of the treatment is to help individuals think about gambling in a different way.
- The Four Steps Program- a variation of cognitive-behavioral therapy that involves using four steps to change gambling beliefs and thoughts. The steps are relabel, re-attribute, refocus, and revalue.
Article provided by DegreeFinders.
Sources:
Wikipedia.org Gambling
Helpguide.org Gambling Addiction
