How To Determine If You Have A Gambling Problem

How To Determine If You Have A Gambling Problem Average ratng: 3,5/5 4846 reviews

As with drinking alcohol, gambling can become a serious addiction when it interferes with your life. An estimated 85 percent of US adults have gambled in their lifetimes, making this hobby one of the most popular activities. Here are four warning signs that you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, as well as tips on how to treat the. Some gamblers have a real issue on their hands and need to seek help immediately. If you have even the slightest idea that you might have a problem, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. This article is for players who can easily control their gambling, including those who might just need to take a break or back off for a short while.

  1. A Gambling Problem: Recognizing the Signs. A gambling problem is defined as behavior that disrupts life, even if it’s not out of control. The reasons for excessive gambling vary, but many people use it to alleviate stress or feelings of incompetency. The following signs may indicate your spouse has a gambling problem.
  2. Signs that Someone May Have a Gambling Problem or Addiction It is often more difficulty to recognize the specific signs of a gambling addiction compared to a substance abuse addiction as with.

Addiction comes in many different forms. An individual can become addicted to a wide variety of substances and experiences. To date, this blog has primarily discussed addiction as it relates to drugs and alcohol. But gambling is also something that an individual can become addicted to, which can have negative ramifications for the addict and those around them.

How To Determine If You Have A Gambling Problem Even

Like any other addiction, gambling addiction has warning signs. If you’re aware of these warning signs, you can detect the addiction and help yourself obtain the proper treatment. Here are five warning signs you can look for to detect gambling addiction.

1. You Gamble Money You Can’t Afford to Lose

How To Determine If You Have A Gambling Problem

Image Courtesy of luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Usually, casual gamblers set aside a certain amount of money they can afford to lose. They have fun gambling until their budget is gone. Then they have the will power to stop, as they can’t afford to lose any more money. But addicts can’t stop at this juncture.

Gambling addicts will gamble all of their money, not just money they’ve allocated for gambling. They will start to dip into their essentials, like rent money or their family’s food budget. When you start to wager your livelihood this way, you might have a gambling problem.

How

2. You Try to Recover Losses With More Gambling

Gambling can turn your luck in an instant. You can have $1,000 and in an few hands you have nothing. But, there is always the possibility of hitting it big. You could win ten times your money in just one hand. Given this possibility, many gamblers have a hard time walking away during a cold streak. They try to win back all the money they’ve lost with more gambling, because they’re convinced that things could go their one in a moment. Sadly, this is rarely the case, and addicts tend to lose even more money.

3. You Prioritize Gambling Over More Important Things

Gambling is meant to be entertainment. It’s supposed to be fun. But when you cross the line and start to skip important events in favor of gambling, you have a problem. By important events, we’re not referring to sporting events on TV or casual hangout sessions. Rather, we mean significant life events, like your child’s play, or an anniversary dinner. When you choose gambling over important events like these, it’s time to seek help.

4. You Will Do Anything To Find Money

How To Determine If You Have A Gambling Problem At A

Determine

Image Courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Our first point was that gambling addicts wager money they can’t afford. But what happens when they lose the money they can’t afford? Does the gambling just stop? Probably not, which leads gambling addicts to extreme measures to find money.

When someone is a problem gambler, an empty bank account won’t stop them from gambling. They’ll find money any way they can. This can mean borrowing from friends, stealing, forging, or other crimes that will get them money. How they get the money doesn’t matter, as long as they get it.

5. You Can’t Stop

An old poker saying is, “Know when to hold ‘em. Know when to fold ‘em.” Meaning, you have to know when to play and when you need to quit. Gambling addicts can’t follow this advice.

Just like an alcoholic or drug addict, the addict might know that he or she has a problem. But that doesn’t help. They simply can’t stop, no matter what. If you find yourself gambling even when you know it’s wrong, you need to get help.

Gambling addiction might not have immediate health ramifications like drinking alcohol or snorting cocaine, but that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. There are many problems that can arise from gambling addiction. If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, call Prominence Treatment Center today for immediate assistance.