Dealing With Gambling Addictions
Gambling involves placing a value on a random event in exchange for a chance to win something of equal or higher value. People gamble in places such as casinos, racetracks, and on the Internet. A person can also bet on sports, card games, and even elections.
It can be difficult to know if you or someone close to you has a gambling problem. If you suspect that you or a loved one has a gambling addiction, there are steps you can take to help them overcome the issue. You can seek counseling, ask for help from a family member or friend, and set limits on spending money. You can also try to find a rehab or treatment program.
The first step in dealing with a gambling addiction is to admit that you have a problem. This can be a difficult step, especially if you have lost a lot of money or suffered strained or broken relationships as a result of your gambling behavior. But the truth is that many people have beaten gambling addictions and rebuilt their lives.
Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals have traditionally classified pathological gambling (PG) as an impulse control disorder, along with such conditions as kleptomania, pyromania, and trichotillomania (hair pulling). In the latest edition of its diagnostic manual, the American Psychiatric Association has moved PG into the addictions chapter, along with other forms of substance use disorders, like drug and alcohol abuse.
Research on the causes of PG has been conducted with both qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews and surveys. The strongest evidence for a relationship between a person’s personality traits and their propensity to engage in risky behaviors, such as gambling, comes from longitudinal studies, which follow groups of people over time. Such studies allow researchers to identify and examine a wide range of influences on gambling participation, from individual and familial factors to societal trends.
In addition to the psychological and social influences on a person’s gambling habits, there are also biological effects associated with the activity. For example, repeated exposure to gambling and uncertainty can cause lasting changes in parts of the brain that activate reward pathways similar to those affected by addictive drugs. These brain changes are thought to be a major reason why some people become addicted to gambling.
There is no single definition of a gambling addiction. However, many experts agree that a gambling addiction is a combination of several factors, such as impulsiveness and the tendency to overestimate the probability of winning. In addition, a gambling addiction is often coupled with a preoccupation with losses and a lack of control over spending. Moreover, a gambling addiction may be complicated by the presence of other mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder and depression. In such cases, a therapist can help the person develop strategies to reduce or cope with these co-occurring disorders. This can be particularly effective if the individual has a co-occurring substance use disorder as well.