Dealing With Gambling Addiction

Gambling involves putting a stake, bet or wager on an event or game with the hope of winning money and other prizes. Gambling can be a fun pastime for some people, but it can also lead to serious addiction and financial problems. Those with gambling problems often have trouble with their personal relationships, their jobs and their finances. The good news is that help is available.

A therapist can help you overcome your gambling addiction and get your life back on track. The first step is admitting that you have a problem, which can be hard to do, especially when your gambling has caused strained or broken relationships and financial difficulties. Then, you can take action to break the habit and begin the journey towards recovery.

One way to deal with a gambling problem is to set and stick to time limits for yourself when you are gambling. You should also avoid gambling when you are feeling depressed, upset or angry. Another important thing to do is to balance gambling with other activities, like socialising or working. This will help prevent gambling from taking over your life and give you something else to focus on.

In the past, psychiatry viewed pathological gambling as more of a compulsion than an addiction, but in the latest version of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the American Psychiatric Association classified it with other impulse-control disorders such as kleptomania, pyromania and trichotillomania (hair pulling). The change means that researchers are beginning to recognise that gambling is an addictive disorder, just as they now recognize that alcoholics have a chemical dependency on alcohol.

Studies of gambling behavior and addiction are growing more sophisticated, but longitudinal research is still a challenge. It is difficult to follow a group of people over a long period of time, and the results can be affected by factors such as aging and period effects. However, the new knowledge being gained is helping to make gambling addiction treatment more effective.

It is important to be aware that a person can become addicted to any type of gambling, even video games. Whether it is lottery tickets, scratch cards, casino games or online gaming, the risk of developing an addiction is high. It is important to seek professional advice if you think you have a problem, as there are many treatments available.

In the end, the best way to stop gambling is to not start in the first place. Educating yourself on the dangers of gambling and keeping away from those who gamble can help you avoid it completely. It is also helpful to talk about your concerns with a trusted family member, friend or counsellor. You should also avoid using credit cards when gambling and carrying large amounts of cash with you. This will make it harder for you to be tempted to gamble when you are out and about. Lastly, it is crucial to stay focused on your goals and not allow yourself to be lured into a gamble by peer pressure.