Gambling addiction is defined as a behavioral addiction where one has a compulsive will to gamble despite negative effects on one's lifestyle and mental stability. Gambling is a game where people place bets on activities such as horse racing, card games, lotteries, and casino games. Most can take part in gambling without it turning into pathological gambling. Pathological gambling, or gambling abuse, is a chronic disease that affects not only the gambler, but the gambler's family, friends, and work.
There are numerous factors that show signs of gambling addiction. Some gambling symptoms include, tolerance, gambling withdrawal, illegal acts, and lying. Psychological effects of gambling addiction include preoccupation and escape. An addictive gambler becomes preoccupied with gambling, constantly bombarded with thoughts of how to make more money so they can continue gambling. Pathological gamblers use gambling as a means to escape feelings of guilt, anxiety, depression, or helplessness.
Gambling withdrawal occurs when a compulsive gambler tries to abruptly stop their addiction. Since addictive gamblers use gambling to feel pleasure and comfort, gambling withdrawal creates feelings of irritability and remorse. It is important that gambling addicts be watched so not to transfer addiction during this period. Fortunately, people can seek treatment for gambling addictions before or after the illness causes serious damage to the addict's life.
Like other behavioral addictions, such as binge eating, sex addiction, and workalohlism, various types of recovery programs and therapy can treat gambling addiction. Therapies such as psychotherapy and group therapy are proven to help compulsive addicts recovery from their addiction. During psychotherapy sessions a patient identifies their illogical, destructive and self-defeating thoughts and substitute them for positive, healthy thoughts. This therapy, along with group therapy, helps the addict identify triggers that could lead them to gamble again. Once an addict knows what their triggers are, they can learn to deal with them in a healthy manner.
In addition to therapy, 12-step programs, such as gamblers anonymous can help addicted gamblers remain abstinent from gambling. Based off the alcoholics anonymous principles, gambler anonymous provides a self-help peer program based in spirituality, and fellowship to help addicts recover.
