NABHS helps locate gambling addiction treatment with gambling counselling, behavioral therapy and inpatient and outpatient rehab.
Gambling Addiction is not just about liking to ‘play’ or ‘gamble’, it denotes a much more complex and serious addiction behavior that needs immediate intervention.
What is Gambling Addiction?
Like any other addiction, Gambling Addiction is a progressive addiction that can have negative mental, physical, emotional and social repercussions. It is classified as an ‘Impulse-Control Disorder’ as those suffering from this form of addiction often have no control on their impulsive nature and behavior of gambling.
Is Gambling Addiction a part of DSM-5 ?
Yes, Gambling Addiction is a part of DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition).
What are the Diagnostic Criteria of Gambling Addiction according to DSM-5?
If the person shows four (or more) of the following behavior in a 12-month period, then their persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior is considered clinically distressing and as Gambling Addiction.
- Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement.
- Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling.
- Has made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling.
- Is often preoccupied with gambling (e.g., having persistent thoughts of reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble).
- Often gambles when feeling distressed (e.g., helpless, guilty, anxious, depressed).
- After losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even (“chasing” one’s losses).
- Lies to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling.
- Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling.
- Relies on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations caused by gambling
What are the symptoms of Gambling Addiction?
In simple terms, the symptoms you should look out for in you or your loved one before they fall deeper into Gambling Addiction are-
- An emotional problem where they are preoccupied with gambling.
- They might miss important events to gamble.
- Need to spend increasing amounts of money to feel excited.
- Feel irritable when trying to cut down or told to stop.
- Does not stop even if they face losses.
- Lying about the extent of their addiction.
- Does all possible things to support their gambling addiction.
The instances of Gambling Addiction have increased drastically due to the prevalence of online sites and games and allow for gambling. Online gambling addiction calls for greater awareness and support!
What are the different triggers for gambling?
Gambling addiction is often triggered by different life events and might sustain even after the life event has passed as now the person is already deep into addiction.
Common triggers for gambling addiction can be:
- Stressful life events
- Finacial troubles
- Peer pressure from friends
- Easy access to gambling sites and venues
- Having achieved big wins or big losses in the game
- Retirement and not having anything useful to do
- Loneliness
- Presence of other addictions such as drugs or alcohol is also a big trigger for gambling
Can Gambling be caused by other mental health issues?
It has been found that the presence of other mental health challenges can also trigger gambling. Some of the most common risk factors include-
- Alcohol addiction
- Substance abuse disorder
- Depression
- Personality disorders such as bipolar disorder
- Use of antipsychotic medications or dopamine agonists
- Sex addiction
Treatment
There is no particular treatment for gambling addiction and treating compulsive gambling can be a challenge, but it is not impossible!
What causes the major hinderances in treating Gambling addiction?
- Most people do not accept that they have a gambling problem.
- Situations around you or your lifestyle encourage gambling on a regular basis.
- There is no strong support system that pushes you to get help or stay on the right path.
- You are unwilling to make a change.
It is important to take care of these challenges before seeking out treatment for Gambling Addiction. It has been observed that acceptance alone can be very therapeutic and once you accept that you have a problem and need help, the work becomes easier.
- Therapy: The first and most important way to treat any addiction is to go for therapy. Behavioral or cognitive behavioral therapy might be particularly helpful when dealing with addiction. In behavior therapy you are taught to unlearn unhealthy habits and reduce the urge to gamble. Cognitive behavior therapy also focuses on identifying unhealthy, irrational and negative beliefs that lead to addiction and replacing them with healthy and positive ones.
- Self-help group: Self-help groups like AA (Alcohol Anonymous) are particularly helpful in dealing with any form of addiction. It allows people to share their challenges easily and learn from others as well. It is also encouraging to know that they are not alone on this journey and many people are struggling with the same issues.
- Medications: Medications might also be prescribed depending on the intensity and duration of the addiction. As there is no particular approved medicine for gambling addiction, psychiatrists might try to manage other symptoms using medcines.
Read more about overcoming gambling addiction in our blog here.
Relapse Prevention
It is likely that your recovery journey might be difficult as you can fall back to compulsive gambling, especially if you do not control the triggers.
Make sure you keep your distance from those who gamble or situations where people might indulge in gambling.
If you feel that you will fall off the wagon, call your sponsor or therapist right away and prevent a relapse!
Getting Help
- Recognize that there is a problem
- Know that you are not alone in this fight
- It might take time to see results, but keep fighting
- Set boundaries and make sure that you do not encourage your habit by taking money from friends or family
- Remain calm when offered help
- Recognize your strengths and work on them
- Do not give up hope!
If you or your loved ones are facing the hard challenge of Gambling Addiction, reach out to us and we will get you the right support!
NABHS will guide you to suitable therapist in your area and get you in touch with support groups as well.
We are here with you, every step of the way as you fight the demons of gambling addiction!
