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People tend to try gambling as a way to escape from the mundane everyday stuff. Still, some people may resort to gambling to experience the adrenaline rush of winning, winning some money, and other reasons. If things are temperate and you only play for fun, there is no reason for concern, but problems arise when you start to lose control over your gambling. Apart from falling into financial ruin, there are plenty of mental health issues that gambling brings, and it especially messes with the pleasure receptors in the brain. There are other mental issues related to excessive and problem gambling, which we’ll discuss at length here.
- Gambling can significantly affect your mental state and mental health.
- Excessive gambling can cause low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Gambling changes your brain chemistry and affects the pleasure-seeking and reward systems in the brain.
- You can rebalance your brain chemistry and recover from gambling addiction.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy is currently the best psychological treatment for gambling addiction.
What Is Problem Gambling?
Before we go into detail on the effect gambling has on mental health, we’ll shortly explain what is considered problem gambling. Generally speaking, any gambling that affects your normal everyday life can be regarded as problem gambling. Here are some of the main pointers that refer to problem gambling:
- You spend more money on gambling than you can afford and not stick to your set gambling budget
- You tend to chase losses and don’t know when to stop
- You tend to gamble excessively, even when you should work or spend time with friends and family
- You turn to gambling instead of dealing with complex problems
- You tend to become stressed and anxious when you think about gambling
- You start lying to your friends and family about your gambling
- You borrow or steal money and use it for gambling
Common Causes of Problematic Gambling
Like other addictions, gambling addiction does not just happen spontaneously, but it is often linked to common causes. We assessed plenty of these and compiled a list of reasons why someone may slip down the slippery slope of gambling addiction:
- Personality traits – some people have addictive personalities, meaning they can more easily get hooked on something. While some people can resist the urge, people with addictive personalities more easily succumb to the temptation of gambling and may develop gambling addiction.
- Peer pressure – peer pressure is a strong factor that can lead people towards gambling. If you have friends who gamble and they are constantly pressuring you to go with them and gamble, it can have an adverse effect on you.
- From gaming to gambling/betting – for some people, it is easy to transition from gaming to gambling or sports betting. What is considered harmless fun for some can lead to problems down the line, especially for youngsters who are left unattended for a long time.
- Starting gambling at an early age – people who start gambling at a younger age are more prone to developing gambling problems. It is so because the brain in adolescents has not yet developed a sense of consequences, which develops after 20 years of age.
- Having a close relative/friend with a gambling problem – often, people who struggle with gambling addiction have a close person in their life with a similar situation. It can be a close friend, a parent, or a close relative who’s struggled with gambling addiction.
- Improper medication – some medications, especially medication for neurological disorders, can increase compulsive behavior and exacerbate problematic behavior, including problem gambling.
A Gambler’s Brain
Scientists have done thorough research on the brains of people who struggle with gambling addiction, and there are some concerning data related to this. Namely, they’ve concluded that when a person gambles, it triggers the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. These centers are also related to dealing with social and emotional problems, as well as coping with stress.
Gambling sparks dopamine production, which triggers the reward system, which explains why it can be so addictive. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain; when dopamine is produced in the brain, it shows that the person is doing something pleasurable and links the sensations to a particular action.
In other words, when we gamble, we tend to feel a dopamine rush that feels so good that we constantly seek to repeat the sensation. If we gamble too often, we can become desensitized and need a greater dopamine rush, which is why some may tend to gamble more and more.
Compared to other addictions, like cocaine, heroin, alcohol, or tobacco, which are more physical addictions, gambling addiction is more specific, and some scientists consider it a form of cognitive distortion. We need to mention that the hope that “I’ll win the next round” has a strong pull, as it brings false expectations that one may recoup their losses if they play long enough, which is not something people think about heroin or alcohol addiction.
How to Deal With Gambling Addiction?
Dealing with gambling addiction is challenging, as this is not something people can readily admit to struggling with. In fact, one study has shown that over 90% of people don’t seek help when they deal with gambling problems, as this is an easy addiction to hide. Before we go on, please check out our guide on safe gambling practices, which covers this important topic in detail.
Gambling addiction is a severe blow to the ego and pride, and people may long resist admitting they have a problem. However, once someone acknowledges they have a problem, it is a great starting point for dealing with said problem. Here are the main ways to tackle gambling addiction:
Self-exclusion
The primary step to take when looking to resolve your gambling addiction problem is to self-exclude. It means to stop gambling altogether and to do this, you can ask the online casino platform to exclude you from their website. There are such tools at most reputable online casinos that you can apply, like limiting the amount of money and time you spend on the website or becoming wholly excluded from the platform. Try using blocking software to altogether block access to all gambling websites so you remove the temptation to gamble.
Self-help
Self-help is important; if you are aware that you have a problem, you can ask for help. One of the first places to look for help is with a mental health professional, particularly one who has experience working with people with addictions. You can also ask for help from professional helplines and support groups that specialize in such cases. Learn more about this in our complete gambling addiction guide.
Professional help
Professional help is essential, as trained psychiatrists who have worked with people with addictions can assume the correct approach and help someone with a gambling addiction problem. So far, cognitive therapy has shown to be most effective in helping people with gambling addiction. However, there are also some medications being tested that show promising results in treating gambling addiction.
Support groups
If you are a recovering gambling addict and you need help and support, then we suggest you check one of these globally available services that help people with gambling problems:
| Helpline | Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| Gamblers Anonymous | GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS is a globally available fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strengths, and hopes with each other so that they may solve their common problems and help others recover from gambling problems. | Phone: (909) 931-9056 Address: GA International Service Office 1306 Monte Vista Avenue, Suite 5, Upland, CA 91786 USA |
| National Council on Problem Gambling | The National Council on Problem Gambling is a US-based service that provides a range of resources, including answers to commonly asked questions, a gambling behavior self-assessment, information about treatment, and the National Problem Gambling Helpline to help connect you with local resources. | Phone: (800) 426-2537 Address: National Council on Problem Gambling 730 11th Street NW, Suite 601, Washington, D.C. 20001 |
| Gambling Therapy | Gambling Therapy is a global service offered by Gordon Moody, and it provides free practical advice and emotional support to anyone affected by gambling. | Email: [email protected] |
FAQs
Why Do People Get Addicted to Gambling?
Gambling is a form of entertainment that triggers the pleasure centers in the brain, which leads to a dopamine rush that feels amazing. People tend to get addicted to this sensation and look for the “high” feeling when expecting the results of the round.
How To Recognize the Symptoms of Compulsive Gambling?
Some of the most recognizable symptoms of compulsive gambling include stress and anxiety, losing too much money that one can’t afford, lying and changing everyday routines, hiding things and spending more time alone, avoiding everyday responsibilities, and the like.
Is Online Gambling More Dangerous Than Land-Based Gambling?
In some ways, online gambling is more dangerous than land-based gambling as this is available to anyone, anyplace, anytime. So, it is more challenging to recognize when someone is dealing with gambling issues, mainly because this addiction is easy to hide.
Is Gambling Considered a Mental Health Problem?
Yes, some scientists consider gambling to be a mental health problem, and it is more prevalent in people who have addictive personalities, people with a history of trauma or neglect, and people with antisocial and impulsive risk-taking urges.
Is There Medication to Help With Gambling Addiction?
No, at this time, some medication is considered and is in the early stages of testing, but it is not yet approved to help with gambling addiction.
What Is The Best Therapy for Gambling Addiction?
So far, the most effective therapy to help with gambling addiction is cognitive behavioral therapy, which includes talking to the person and finding practical, long-term ways to avoid gambling.
How Does Gambling Affect/Damage the Brain?
Gambling affects the brain by influencing the pleasure-seeking center and affecting normal dopamine production. Every spin/win triggers a small dopamine rush that brings a euphoric feeling, which overrides the normal reward/pleasure feeling. Compulsive gamblers tend to search for this sensation with every consecutive bet, no matter how adverse an effect it has on their lives.
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