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November 8, 2023
Gambling addiction is a difficult impulse control disorder that disturbs the personal and social functioning of people.
With this addiction, there is a need for some harmful action to be performed, and this action is followed by a feeling of satisfaction. Also, there is no resistance to doing something undoubtedly bad for the perpetrator or other people.
Gambling addiction is multi-destructive
There is no doubt that gambling addiction is a disease. The main sign is continuous participation in gambling, which becomes more and more regular in spite of consequences such as financial problems, loss of job, family and marital conflicts, divorce, and family breakdown.
Some people occasionally gamble with friends to exclude themselves from everyday concerns, and this is usually the beginning. However, not only money but also mental health is lost, and social relations are destroyed. All that is worth is lost, and practically nothing is won. Unfortunately, addicts do not realize this.
The diagnostic manuals list the criteria that must be met to make the diagnosis of pathological gambling, and some of them are:
- continuous and obsessive thinking about gambling;
- spending increasing amounts of money on gambling
- anxiety when trying to control gambling activities;
- tendency towards illegal actions to finance gambling activities;
- hiding gambling from close people;
- loss of jobs, conflicts, and divorces as a result of gambling.
The effects of gambling addiction
Gambling negatively affects both personal and social life. Addicts have mood swings, are irritable, and lying about the frequency of gambling leads to disturbed interpersonal relationships.
People begin to ignore their obligations and are absent from work, neglecting the partner and the rest of the family. That is why divorces and family breakups are so frequent with addicts. Financial problems take tremendous proportions: family property, real estate, valuable things are sold, eventually leading to bankruptcy. It happens that people lose virtually everything that they have gained throughout their life and are left without anything.
Bear gambling addiction
First of all, it is important to note that the treatment requires time and that nothing happens overnight.
Addicts do not admit they have a problem or reduce it, saying, “It’s nothing, everyone does it sometimes” while you, their family, watch silently and despair, unable to stop them in these dangerous activities. That is why we encourage you to get involved in the healing process and take the initiative; only you can do it. If you notice some of the above signs, the best you can do is to react as quickly as possible to minimize damage.
Gambling addiction is a disease that devastates the whole family, so do not hesitate to seek professional help, as this is the only way to help your loved ones and preserve family harmony. Know that there is a solution, and we are here to offer it to you.
At Dr Vorobjev clinic, we successfully treat addictive disorders. In addition to gambling addiction, we are very successful when it comes to treating addiction to marijuana, tablet abuse, and alcoholism.
Treatment of gambling addiction is a process that requires effort, patience, and time, but there is a chance for recovery, at least such is our experience with patients. With proper care, support, and advice of our internationally recognized doctors, this can become only a bad memory, and the life of a former addict and his family will take some better course.
Published on November 8, 2023
Dr Vorobjev Clinic team
