What is a gambling addiction and ways to get help
What is a gambling addiction and ways to get help. Whether you are young or old, male or female, gambling is dangerous and addictive.
It presents the a false illusion where you can “get rich quick” or a road to easy money.
However and to some peoples detriment, if not controlled it can very quickly lead to the financial ruin of a person.
Realistically, the odds are never in your favour and this is whether you back the horses, do the lotto or play card games like poker.
As the saying goes, you never see a poor bookie and the truth of the matter is “The house always wins” Taking care of your well-being is very important.
Different types of gambling additions
Gambling is such a diverse activity which means there are many different types of gambling addictions.
It is not always noticeable that someone you know is addicted to gambling.
Contradictory to some popular beliefs, the act of gambling is not always restricted to just gaming machines in casinos or placing a bet in your bookies.
The need to consistently buy a lotto or raffle ticket or betting on your favourite sport all comes is a gambling addiction.
A gambling addiction can often start when a person is stressed about money.
They feel they have a chance of winning a few euro to cover their debts.
Sadly and more often than not, this is never the case.
What is a gambling addiction and ways to get help
By loosing will see the person stretch further into debt by trying to recoup money from their previous losses.
Another form of gambling addiction can see a person place high end stakes to seek an emotional high or fix.
This is a risky business as odds are they will probably loose what they cannot afford.
It also puts pressure on their relationship with family and friends because of their losses.
Causes behind an Addiction to Gambling?
There can be many different factors that can contribute to a gambling addiction.
Causes are it can be a person’s desperation for money or their ambition to seek a high.
It can also be attributed to social pressure at the start where it is perceived by people in their social group to gamble.
Sadly, once a gambling addiction takes hold of a person it is an extremely hard addiction to kick.
However, through the support of counselling and friends, thousands of people in Ireland today have recovered from their gambling addiction to go on and lead normal happy lives.
Signs to check for gambling addiction?
There are a few watch out or tell-tale signs to check to see if you or a person you know has a gambling addiction.
Some of the common ones to look out for are:
- A feeling of the need to be secretive about your/their gambling habit
- If you/they are experiencing trouble controlling gambling habits
- You/they are gambling when they simply can’t afford it
- Family and friends express their concern about their/your gambling habits
Like any addiction, the main tell-tale sign of a person’s gambling problem is they don’t feel they can stop.
If a person feels the need to have ‘just one more go” or start to feel anxious about stopping gambling,
It is a main sign they are suffering from a gambling addiction.
Test yourself?
If you think you or a person you know may have a gambling problem, ask yourself or them this very simple question.
I’m going to stopped gambling now, can I do it?
If you or they feel anxious or are straight away strongly dismissive of the challenge or question, then there is a high probability that you/they are suffering from a gambling addiction.
Links between gambling and depression
Gambling addiction is often associated with depression and there are some signs to watch out for.
- Mood swings
- A need for secrecy
- Snappy in their attitude to others
- They don’t want to mingle with other people
- A constant sense of tiredness
- Their outlook on life becomes very negative.
Seeking help for Gambling Addictions
OK, we all assume that the road to quitting any addiction is hard and this to some extent is true.
However, it is possible and can be done but the first step to any type of recovery of an addiction is actually admitting you have one.
Make no mistake, this is as nearly hard as the road to recovery itself.
The good news is that it is possible and with the right professional advice and support of friends it can be done.
There is no embarrassment in admitting you have an addiction.
It’s not a sign of weakness but a sign of courage, will-power and strength that you want to turn your life around for the better.
If you think that you or someone you know may be suffering from a gambling addiction then call the organisations highlighted to chat.
You can discuss your worries or concern in private and without being judged.
The sooner you address the matter, the smoother the road to recovery will be.
What is a gambling addiction and ways to get help
