Gambling Addiction

If you have a problem with gambling, your gambling behavior causes disruptions in your life. Legalized gambling is a growing industry and in the U.S. it is estimated that the number of pathological gamblers in the U.S. is in excess of 2 million people with another 4-8 million being classified as problem gamblers.

A gambling problem, gambling addiction, pathological gambling or compulsive gambling is the urge to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or despite the desire to stop. It is characterized by persistent and recurrent gambling behavior that disrupts your life.  It is progressive in that it is characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling and loss of control.

Typically, the characteristics of an addictive gambler are as follows:

* preoccupation with thoughts about gambling.
* Increasing the amount gambled.
* failure to stop the gambling behavior.
* uses gambling behavior to escape from guilt, depression, helplessness, anxiety.
* gambles to the degree that credit cards,etc. are overextended.
* uses denial and lies to cover for the magnitude of the gambling addiction.
* may engage in illegal behavior to finance gambling.
* may become co-dependent and rely on others for money and emotional needs.

A gambling addiction is not an addiction to money. Most people gamble to escape from stress, a painful past, or to seek arousal. While the specific causes of pathological gambling are not known, there are several common reasons that appear to explain why people become addicted to gambling.  These reasons typically include one or more of the following:

to avoid uncomfortable or painful emotions, including sadness, depression, guilt, anxiety, shame, anger, humiliation, failure and fear

to recover losses previously incurred through the gambling behavior

as a form of stimulation

to act on the illusion that gambling can provide a steady income and money that will solve the gambler's problems.

as a tool of self-destruction to deal with feelings of guilt about success.

If you have a gambling problem, you are probably acutely aware of the problem.  But, if you are a master at self-deception and need some confirmation, one way to help you decide is to ask yourself the following questions (provided by the self-help organization Gamblers Anonymous):

Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
Did gambling affect your reputation?
Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

According to Gamblers Anonymous, if you answer ‘yes’ to seven of more of these questions, you most likely have a compulsive gambling problem.

A gambling addiction can destroy your life not just financially, but personally, socially, and vocationally.  If you suffer from a gambling addiction you will need professional help to overcome your problem and to develop healthy behavior patterns.

I have found that addictive gamblers often have other addictions and, accordingly, it may be more complicated to treat a person with a gambling addiction than someone with only one addiction since the gambling addict may “switch addictions” rather than face and overcome the underlying problem(s).

A gambling addiction is usually a progressive problem. In most people, it begins slowly and grows until the victim's life becomes unmanageable. As repeated efforts to gain control over the addiction fail, life for the compulsive gambler begins to fall apart.  While most addictive gamblers can stop gambling, at least for a while, most regress to their destructive behavior unless they seek professional help.

Treatment and counseling options available for compulsive gamblers typically include traditional psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on identifying unhealthy, irrational and negative beliefs and replacing them with healthy, positive ones. Group therapy can be very helpful by allowing the gambling addict to give and receive advice, feedback and support from other people on how to deal with a gambling addiction. Self-help programs such as Gamblers Anonymous provide peer support.

For more information about a gambling addiction, please click on the linked websites listed below.

"If you really want help dealing with your feelings and emotions, changing your behavior, and improving your life, I will be happy to help you.  I am available almost any time and any place.  You can call me directly and there is no cost or obligation for the initial telephone consultation.  Or you can reach me by email.  I look forward to the possibility of helping you to improve your life."   Dr. Vince Berger