Did you know that 3 in 4 Americans report having gambled during the past year? But what happens when it is no longer a game? What happens when ‘maybe this time’ becomes a regular saying?
Gambling activities include scratch cards, sports betting, gambling machines, and the lottery. For some people, they do it one time and never again. For others, they engage in gambling occasionally. But sometimes, people develop a gambling addiction.
Gambling addiction impacts around 2 million Americans every year. If you are concerned about your gambling use, or a loved one’s, know you are not alone. There is gambling addiction treatment out there that will help.
The first step is to recognize the signs of gambling addiction. Then you can identify if you or your loved one has a problem. Then, you can seek the treatment you need.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about gambling addiction symptoms.
What Is Gambling Addiction?
Gambling addiction has other names, such as problem gambling and compulsive gambling. It is when gambling is no longer fun and harmless. It becomes a behavioral addiction, which disrupts lives in various ways.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) defines it as an addictive disorder. There are similar characteristics to substance abuse disorders. A person craves gambling like a person with alcohol use disorder craves alcohol.
The gambling addiction could start due to the thrill of the risks. Or it could have become an escape to deal with other stressors. Stressors include problems with relationships, grief, and job loss.
Gambling is designed based on the Variable Ratio Reinforcement Schedule (VRRS). When mood-stimulating rewards vary and are unpredictable, it leads to compulsive behavior. For gambling businesses, it means people gamble for longer and more frequently.
Gambling addiction can impact any age, ethnicity, and gender. However, young people and ethnic and racial minorities are more at risk. They have higher rates of gambling addiction among the adult population.
Signs of Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction can often go unnoticed for a while. But once emotional, physical, and financial consequences begin, the problem becomes more recognizable. It can also lead to significant distress.
However, there are some signs of gambling addiction. According to the DSM-5, a person has to exhibit four or more symptoms to be diagnosed with gambling addiction. Usually, signs will be present over a 12-month period.
However, there are individual differences. So if you recognize a gambling addiction get support as soon as possible, even if you do not fulfill all criteria.
Lying and Hiding Behaviors
Lying is a common symptom of any addiction. It is so the person can continue with the addictive behavior no matter what the cost. It does not make them a liar, but it does indicate they need gambling addiction help.
A person will lie about the extent of their gambling or hide it completely. You may find hidden receipts or bank statements. Or they refuse to show you, even if your finances are connected.
A person may lie about where they are going or what they are doing on their computer to hide their gambling habit.
You may even start lying to yourself about your gambling behaviors. It is because of cognitive dissonance. The cognitive dissonance, you find ways to justify your behavior to deal with discomfort.
For example, downplaying how much you spent on gambling the night before. Or you tell yourself it will be different this time to justify gambling again.
Increasing Spending and Borrowing
If you lose your money gambling, you are likely to stop before you spend too much. However, if you have a gambling addiction, you keep going.
Increased spending is one of the common gambling addiction symptoms. You may slowly start to spend more money on gambling, even if you cannot afford it. You find excuses to justify the increased spending.
A person may also borrow money frequently from friends and family. They may even take out loans to supplement their spending on gambling. Despite losses, they continue to spend money on gambling.
You may also notice you or a loved one is short on money despite earning a wage. The increased spending can lead to serious financial consequences. People experience debt, repossession of homes, and bankruptcy.
Mood Changes
Gambling addiction often causes people to feel low, irritable, anxious, and sluggish. So naturally, they look to gambling to change these emotions. And so, the cycle continues.
Activities such as sex, eating, drugs, and gambling trigger the brain’s reward system. Dopamine is released when there is a risk and the reward is uncertain.
This dopamine release is what brings the feeling of elation, pleasure, and excitement. Reward systems then return to usual levels or below to compensate for overstimulation. This is what causes negative emotions when people stop gambling.
A person may also feel or appear worried, upset, depressed, or suicidal. Gambling is only a temporary distraction, which causes more stressors. When they are not gambling, those stressors can catch up with them. A sense of hopelessness and guilt descend until they gamble again.
Thoughts Focused on Gambling
Do you find yourself ruminating on past gambling wins? Are you unable to stop thinking about gambling?
You also might notice that you or a loved one cannot stop talking about gambling. It is a way to attempt to experience that high again. And the addictive nature of gambling makes it hard to think about anything else.
And thoughts can be compulsive, to the point that they seem out of your control and overwhelming. Even if you want to make them stop, it feels impossible to switch off from them.
Thoughts can also be focused on gambling as a solution for emotions and problems. Whenever there is distress or other uncomfortable feelings, gambling seems like the solution.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Like many addictions, gambling addiction symptoms include withdrawal. This includes the changes in mood, such as irritability, anxiety, and restlessness.
A person can also experience physical symptoms. Examples of symptoms include appetite loss, changes to sex drive, and sleep problems.
Gambling addiction overstimulates the release of dopamine. Over time the level of reward and its feeling reduces. The result is that the brain wants more dopamine to trigger the reward system.
When not gambling, the brain no longer has the levels of dopamine it has become accustomed to. It tries to revert back, which causes mood changes. A person will also get gambling cravings to seek the experience and feeling again.
Over time a person’s response to losing and its risk can also trigger dopamine. It means people continue to chase losses too, which fuels the risk of withdrawal further.
Gambling uses an immersive environment to capture attention. For example, there are reward cue noises, so even if you are losing, you feel like a winner.
Problematic Behaviours
Problematic behaviors include borrowing money, lying, or taking out loans. However, they can also become more serious and completely out of character. For example, a person might neglect job or education opportunities to prioritize gambling.
Research has found that having a gambling addiction also is linked to higher levels of crime. People commit robbery, fraud, stealing, and other unlawful behaviors to satisfy their addiction. The addiction dictates their actions, as they become desperate to get gambling money.
There can also be serious behaviors such as domestic abuse and other forms of violence.
Isolating Self
Some people with problem gambling behaviors do so socially. But they will isolate themselves from those who are not gambling with them. Others will withdraw completely as they become more consumed with gambling.
The sense of distrust due to lying and manipulative behavior also fuels isolation. They may start to miss family events, seeing friends, and neglect work to focus on gambling.
Loved Ones are Worried
Nobody likes to be told they have a problem, especially if they do not recognize it. However, no matter how much someone hides their gambling addiction, eventually, people realize.
Loved ones may express their worry to the person, who may deny that they have a gambling addiction. As time goes by, loved ones become more desperate to understand why the person cannot stop.
If loved ones have expressed concern, and you want to push them away, it could be a sign you have a gambling addiction.
It is important to remember your loved ones only care about you and want to see you recover. It might feel like nagging or an attack. However, you are not alone; people care for you.
Cannot Stop Gambling
If you think you have a gambling problem but cannot stop, it can indicate addiction. You may feel guilt or remorse, yet something prevents you from stopping. You may have even told loved ones you will quit, but it feels impossible to do so after several hours.
There are many reasons why it is so difficult to stop gambling, despite an intention. However, the good news is there is support to help you or a loved one do so.
Gambling Addiction: What to Do Next
If you identify some or all of these signs of gambling addiction, know you are not alone, and help is out there. The first and biggest hurdle is to recognize you have a gambling addiction.
The next step is to seek support. There are many gambling addiction treatment options available.
Gambling Addiction Treatment Options
Gambling addiction treatment varies depending on the individual. If the addiction has been recognized early, the treatment may be shorter. If it is a later intervention, more treatment may be needed.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is often used to help. It identifies addictive thought patterns and behavior. It helps you change thought processes and find strategies to manage triggers.
Medication may be prescribed if someone has mental health problems such as depression.
There are also self-help groups such as Gamblers Anonymous. It can be helpful to speak to others who are also recovering from gambling addiction.
Some people also seek outpatient and inpatient programs as a treatment for gambling addiction. Programs will include various interventions, including relapse prevention plans.
Gambling Addiction Advice for Loved Ones
If you recognize signs of gambling addiction in a loved one, there are several steps you can take. You must care for yourself, your finances, and your emotions. It is not anyone’s fault that the person has a gambling addiction.
There are self-help groups for families, such as Gam-Anon. It is important to have support around you, to remember that you are not alone.
You can talk to your loved one about your concerns when you are calm. You can discuss the consequences. There are many educational resources online that you can share if they are open to it.
It is important to set boundaries with your loved ones and hold them accountable. Do not try to cover up the gambling addiction symptoms or bail them out. Take over managing finances.
Remember that your loved one is still there. They are not their gambling addiction. There may be setbacks, but recovery is possible.
Get Gambling Addiction Help
Gambling can become a powerful addiction that quickly takes over people’s lives. It can be difficult to recognize the signs of gambling addiction and accept you have a problem. It is also difficult to watch a loved one experience a gambling addiction.
However, if you are aware of gambling addiction symptoms, you can start to take action. It takes courage to become aware and question behavior. Sometimes it is behavior that is hard to face.
However, the outcome will be worth it. With support, you or a loved one can overcome gambling addiction. You are not alone.
You can then take the next step of seeking support. If you live in New York State, you can use our search tool to find gambling addiction resource centers. Alternatively, browse our many resources and begin the recovery journey.
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