Gambling Disorder

[xtinepink]

Gambling can be a fun, legal form of entertainment, but when the highs and lows of winning and losing become addictive, gaming and betting can take a serious toll on the lives of gamblers.

 

Did you know that there is what they call Gambling Disorder?

 

Symptoms:

1. Needing to gamble progressively larger amounts of money to feel the same or more excitement

2. Having made many unsuccessful attempts to cut back or quit gambling

3. Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back or quit gambling

4. Preoccupation or excessive thoughts (e.g., previous gambling experiences, planning the next gambling venture, ways to get money to gamble with again)

5. Gambling increases, and may even occur to escape problems/feeling distressed (feeling helpless or guilty), or feelings of sadness, or anxiety are present  

6. Gambling larger amounts of money to try to recoup previous losses (chasing previous gambling losses)

7. Lying about the amount of time or money spent gambling

8. Losing a job, relationship, or educational or career opportunity due to gambling

9. Relies on others to borrow money to get by due to gambling losses, especially when financial situations become desperate due to involvement in gambling 

How to Help them:

Gambling addiction treatment centers can help by providing the addict with insight into the reasons why they gamble.  Once the individual understands what it is that triggers his or her gambling, they can begin to learn ways of changing their thoughts and behaviors in order to refrain from gambling.  Many of the reasons for gambling such as social reasons or to overcome boredom can still be overcome through substitution behaviors such as exercise, talking with a friend, joining a social group or taking part in a hobby.

 

A study of 69 compulsive gamblers published in the American Journal of Psychiatryrevealed the following results:

62 percent of the gamblers in the study suffered from a co-occurring psychiatric disorder

42 percent met the diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder

33 percent met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence

Study participants with dual diagnoses suffered more negative consequences as a result of their gambling than those who did not have a co-occurring mental illness or substance use disorder

 You can read more here:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK230629/

They say that gambling is a "silent addiction". 

[PugLife]

The culprit are the neurons inside our head - dopamine. They are the ones responsible as why hooman tend to bet more, than stop.

It won't stop til it get what it wants which is the green win.

Pretty much the same with what we call LSS(Last Song Syndrome) where you cant seem to stop singing a catchy song in your head no matter how much you try to stop singing it. Our brain are wired to complete a task. It won't stop singing the song until you listen to it all the way through and finish it. So yep, to get rid of it, you just have to satisfy your craving for that song by listening to it.

Thats how gamblers mind goes; they wont stop til get that big win. They experience great pleasure from winning that they are blinded by the fact they are losing more money waiting for that next win. 

 

My source?

Im a pug.

[akki785]

Thank god I don't have any of those symptoms. But thank you @xtinepink for this useful post..

Good luck..

[SovietDoggo]

I am Addicted to gambling like this and it's not fun.

[wry]

I thought this was an informative post.  I worry that a lot of the chatters I enjoy chatting with are compulsive gamblers.  I agree gambling is fun to a point and as a big fan of freedom think people should mostly be allowed to do what they want, but if gambling is messing up your real life, get help.

Good Luck!

[barbaris]

I have symptom number 7. I think that all players have at least one of these symptoms, or they just hide it, which confirms their dependence.

[Kate]

You have a typo it should be gambling mot gaming you missed the b and l I guess. 

But damn gambling can be controlled by people who are addictive and those people who are able to control things in their lives 

[niki014]

1. Needing to gamble progressively larger amounts of money
6. Gambling larger amounts of money to try to recoup previous losses 
thats so me mate 

[Kate]

5 hours ago, niki014 said:

1. Needing to gamble progressively larger amounts of money
6. Gambling larger amounts of money to try to recoup previous losses 
thats so me mate 

That 6. I guess Is for everyone mate not only you xD. I learned that from Gennady12

[banditc]

i am also addicted...but its ok...its not the only addiction i have anyways

 

[la_st1]

On 1/19/2018 at 7:40 PM, PugLife said:

The culprit are the neurons inside our head - dopamine. They are the ones responsible as why hooman tend to bet more, than stop.

It won't stop til it get what it wants which is the green win.

Pretty much the same with what we call LSS(Last Song Syndrome) where you cant seem to stop singing a catchy song in your head no matter how much you try to stop singing it. Our brain are wired to complete a task. It won't stop singing the song until you listen to it all the way through and finish it. So yep, to get rid of it, you just have to satisfy your craving for that song by listening to it.

Thats how gamblers mind goes; they wont stop til get that big win. They experience great pleasure from winning that they are blinded by the fact they are losing more money waiting for that next win. 

 

My source?

Im a pug.

yup, Dopamine is a bitch. I take meds to up my dopamine. Which means I am far more likely to get addicted to things.

[Kate]

Only way to stop an addiction is to gave another addiction