Foreword｜SuperAce88
For most people, gambling is an occasional thrill. Whether it’s a lost weekend in Las Vegas or a few dollars a year at the Super Bowl, gambling is short-term pleasure — and win or lose, they walk away and move on with their lives. But for some people — an estimated 8 million people, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) — gambling is more than just an occasional joke or pastime.
For people who show signs of “pathological gambling,” a mental disorder first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980, it is a destructive punishment addiction that destroys their finances, relationships, and psychology healthy. The destructive power of gambling addiction doesn’t stop at the individual – like any other addiction, gambling is linked to many knock-on effects, including spousal and child abuse and suicide.
Problem gambling is understudied and data on the condition is lacking. But with the rise of online gambling and the increasing legalization of betting in many US states — bringing in nearly $45 billion in revenue in the first three quarters of 2022 alone — gambling addiction is certainly a growing problem. question. Tackling this problem is an uphill battle for two main reasons: society’s perception of problem gambling, and a lack of consistent support.
Signs of a Gambling Problem｜SuperAce88
The line between an avid gambler and a problem gambler can be depressingly blurry. Just as some people can drink socially and even go insane once in a while without being an alcoholic, some people can gamble regularly without problems. Since society tends to view gambling as a fun, glamorous, and largely victim-free activity, the hardest part of dealing with gambling addiction is knowing you have it in the first place.
How do you know if you’re dealing with pathological gambling? If you stop and think about it, the signs are obvious:
- The amount you bet keeps increasing as you chase the waning highs (many gambling addicts get to the point where it’s no longer fun – they’re just satisfying an urge).
- Anxiety when not gambling.
- Failed attempts to control gambling.
- Find yourself gambling because of negative emotions or events.
- Chasing Losses: Make bigger bets to recover losses.
- Financial Issues – People who have a healthy relationship with gambling do not liquidate their 401ks or steal money from friends to pay off debt or place bets.
- Lie to others about your gambling.
- Destroying a relationship by being dishonest, borrowing money, or otherwise simply to continue gambling.
Being able to recognize these destructive patterns is critical — and the cliche about the first step being admitting you have a problem is true. You won’t be able to solve your gambling problem if you tell yourself it’s just bad luck, or that there’s nothing unusual about your behavior. But problem gambling is a mental disorder, and many gambling addicts are very, very bad at conceptualizing how much money (and other things) they’ve actually lost.
However, even after acknowledging the problem, problem gamblers face an uphill battle.
Treating Gambling Problems｜SuperAce88
Anyone seeking help for a gambling problem faces four basic challenges:
- Cultural resistance. Most people simply don’t view gambling addiction the same way they view a substance abuse problem. For example, gambling is as commonly promoted in popular culture as drinking, yet people stubbornly believe that people who destructively gamble are simply weak or stupid. As The New York Times noted, the ubiquity of advertisements for gambling sites, apps, and casinos normalized the activity.
- lack of infrastructure. “Before sports betting expanded, we didn’t have a good gaming infrastructure, and we still don’t,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG executive director. There simply wasn’t an organized and consistent collection of services that people could turn to. Instead, we have a set of ad hoc groups, emergency hotlines and methods. There are also exactly zero Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments for gambling disorder.
- The transportation network extends in all directions. Before the 1990s, gambling was not easy. Legal gambling is limited to a few areas of the country, and illegal gambling isn’t always easy to find. But today, you can download an app and start gambling in minutes, making any “cold turkey” attempt to quit smoking that much more challenging.
- Comorbidity. Gambling addiction is often associated with other medical conditions, including substance abuse problems, depression, and conditions such as bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Together, these may make identifying and treating gambling addiction more difficult.
So even if you know you need help, treating your gambling addiction can still be a challenge. However, if gambling is negatively affecting your life, it’s important to give it a try.
Where to Get Help for Gambling Addiction｜SuperAce88
If you think you have a gambling addiction and would like to seek help, the following resources are available:
- Call up. You can call the hotline to direct you to treatment resources. For example, you can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Both offer anonymous counseling and referrals, so you can find treatment centers, support groups, or other help in your area.
- Talk to friends and family. Hiding your gambling and losses is an unhealthy behavior that reinforces negative patterns. Acknowledging your problem is a crucial step – one former gambling addict stresses total honesty, noting that when he initially confessed to his spouse, he hid a particularly embarrassing debt and later regretted the injustice. honest.
- Exclude. For people with gambling problems, access is a key challenge. Many people find that “self-exclusion” is a good first step in limiting their exposure and access to casinos, gambling sites and apps. For some, going to a rehab facility, where they can cut off this access entirely, is crucial, but others have tried doing it themselves using apps like GamBan or BetBlocker, which block All gambling sites. You can also talk to your bank about blocking payments to specific sites, which can add an extra layer of difficulty if your resolve weakens. You can also contact the place where you wagered and ask whether to suspend your access or set wagering limits to at least exert some control over your gambling – although you should be aware of the fact that such The behavior itself is a sign. one question.
- Rewire. Gambling addiction involves a “rewiring” of the brain that makes gambling the addict’s only source of pleasure, psychologists say. This often leads to boredom, which leads to gambling activities. One way to deal with this is to keep yourself occupied and avoid voids in the day that you might fill with gambling and finding alternative activities. Rekindling interest in a pre-gambling hobby or activity is often a particularly effective way to fill this void.
- Find a 12-step set. Problem gambling is an addiction that affects the brain, similar to substance abuse, and many of the tools used to combat substance abuse are equally effective for pathological gambling. A 12-step group can provide structure to your recovery, guidance and advice, and face-to-face support.
Recovering from gambling addiction can be challenging — but the resources are out there. Once you realize you have problems, the next step is to find them.
