Symptoms of Gambling Addiction
The consequences of excessive gambling are emotional and financial, but there are ways to manage it. Once a person cannot stop gambling, it becomes a serious problem. Problem gambling can affect any area of a person’s life and is detrimental to their well-being. Behavioral therapy is an excellent way to control the urge to gamble and cognitive behavioural therapy works to change the way a person thinks about gambling. While neither therapy can cure the condition, it can help a person learn to control their gambling habit and regain control of their life.
Complications
People from all walks of life may develop pathologic gambling disorders. Symptoms of this problem include an uncontrollable urge to gamble and evidence that refraining from gambling causes distress. There are various treatment methods for this condition. However, these treatments are only effective if they are tailored to the needs of the individual. In the meantime, these treatments are not without risks. To prevent these complications, treatment methods should be designed to help the individual develop self-control.
Suicides are often associated with problem gambling, and one study in Uganda found that problem gambling is associated with a higher risk of suicide. In another study, university students in Uganda reported 21 cases of suicide, and five of those suicides were gambling-related. Suicides associated with gambling may be underreported or not reported at all. However, these statistics are nonetheless worrying. This study provides an overview of the problems associated with gambling.
Signs
One of the most obvious signs of gambling addiction is lying. Gamblers lie about where they are, where they have been, and what they’ve been doing. Eventually, gambling becomes their food, air, and oxygen. They even lie about what they’ve bought. This kind of behavior may make others suspicious. They may even start to accuse or manipulate others. These are just some of the warning signs that you should look for.
Another warning sign of gambling addiction is mental or emotional denial. Gambling may become a crutch for negative feelings or an escape. When an individual is emotionally depressed or stressed, they gamble. However, this behavior is not always accompanied by sadness or anger. In fact, it can happen even when a person is not depressed or stressed. This may indicate a serious gambling addiction. Often, the symptoms of addiction are similar to those of drug or alcohol addiction.
Treatment
The brain responds to gambling by activating areas that control decision-making, pleasure, reward, and impulse control. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, more than 2 percent of Americans suffer from a gambling disorder. People who are addicted to gambling may experience irrational impulses to play at the casino or place bets online. These urges may not be controlled and the person continues to gamble despite negative consequences.
Moreover, the signs of an addiction to gambling may not be immediately apparent. For example, people with higher incomes tend to hide their problem gambling better than those with lower incomes. But these symptoms are often more severe than the signs that indicate a problem. Once a person becomes preoccupied with gambling, it may be a sign of depression. In this case, treatment for gambling addiction should address the underlying cause of depression. In such a case, dual diagnosis will help treat both issues at the same time.