What are gambling addiction and problem gambling?

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August 1, 2021

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Gambling addiction is a type of impulse-control disorder. Even if they are aware of the negative effects, compulsive gamblers are unable to resist their urge to gamble. Gambling addiction is the persistent engagement in gaming that causes significant problems in your personal and professional life. You have a gambling problem if you’re preoccupied with gaming, spending more and more time and money on it, attempting to win back losses, or gambling despite critical consequences.

Gambling addiction is sometimes called a hidden addiction because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms. Like other addictions, gambling can accompany mood swings, irritability, restlessness, depression, anxiety, and even suicide. เว็บตรง สล็อต ฝากถอน ไม่มี ขั้นต่ำ 1 บาท ก็ ถอนได้ วอเลท

Most people who gamble do so for fun and don’t get addicted. But some people lose control of their gambling—at first, they gamble for fun, but then it becomes a way to make money, escape problems, or feel better. A gambling addiction can happen to anyone from any walk of life. The game enters into your life, taking up too much of your time and demanding far more of your attention than is healthy. An addiction can destroy your life—and your relationships, finances, career, and health.

There’s no sure way to prevent gambling addiction, but understanding the risks can help. Gambling addiction is treatable, but it’s not easy to overcome. Combining self-help, therapy, and support groups can effectively treat gambling addiction.

Gambling addiction signs and symptoms

Gambling addiction is an impulse-control disorder. That means it’s hard to resist the urge to gamble, even when you know it’s harmful. Gambling addiction can have several different signs and symptoms. It might start with:

Chasing losses—returning another day to try and win back money you lost
Gambling more money and for longer periods
Taking more significant risks when gambling, such as betting more money or using drugs or alcohol while gambling
Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut back on gambling
To escape difficulties or relieve stress, gambling is common.

As the addiction progresses, you might start to:

Lie about your gambling to family and friends
Miss work or school to gamble
Put your relationships at risk because of gambling
Lose interest in activities you used to enjoy
Borrow money to gamble or repay gambling debts
Sell personal belongings to get money to gamble
Commit crimes, such as theft or fraud, to get money to gamble

If you have a gambling addiction, you might feel like you can’t stop gambling or that you can’t control how much you gamble. You may feel powerless over your gambling addiction even if you want to. Your addiction can take over your life and cause serious financial, work-related, and relationship problems.

Self-help for gambling problems

If you think you might have a gambling problem, it’s essential to seek help as soon as possible. The sooner you start getting treatment, the better your chances for recovery.

There are several self-help options available for gambling addiction, including:

• Gamblers Anonymous: This 12-step program helps people with a gambling problem recover from their addiction and avoid gambling in the future.

• Gam-Anon: This 12-step program is designed for family members and friends of people with a gambling problem.

• National Council on Problem Gambling: This organization offers free resources and support to anyone affected by gambling addiction.

Therapy for gambling addiction

If you have a gambling problem, therapy can help. Treatment can provide you with the skills and methods for coping with your addiction, as well as help you resist gambling.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This type of therapy helps you identify and change problematic gambling behaviors. It can also help you develop coping and problem-solving skills.

Dialectical behavior therapy can help you deal with gambling cravings and develop healthy coping mechanisms.