Compulsive Gambling: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options
Symptoms of Compulsive Gambling
No one becomes addicted to gambling with one trip to a casino or the purchase of a single lottery ticket. Millions of Americans are able to enjoy gambling as a pastime without danger of addiction but many are susceptible and fall prey to the disorder.
Addictive gambling often begins, ironically, with a win. It may be a lucky run of cards, a win with dice or electronic games, or a lottery ticket that pays off but the winner develops a sense that he or she is lucky. They may feel as if it’s not possible to lose or that they have embarked on a “lucky streak”. A desire to repeat the winning experience fires an individual to gamble again in the hope of another win. When additional wins aren’t easy, optimism can quickly turn to desperation.
An addictive gambler lives to gamble. They spend much of their time gambling and when they are not gambling, their thoughts turn toward the next game or to strategies to win again. Addicts seek ways to find additional money to use for gambling and in developing elaborate plans that will beat the system or dealer. Gambling becomes the foremost thought in an addict’s mind and becomes more important than anything, including spouses, family, jobs, children, and other pursuits.
Some compulsive gamblers play to escape problems at home or work issues. Financial troubles are common among gambling addicts. An early win may have provided temporary relief from money problems but the cycle of gambling often makes matters worse. As gambling becomes a need, most compulsive gamblers place larger bets and lose increasing amounts of cash. They gamble away a paycheck or a bank withdrawal or a windfall for a one in a million shot in hopes of hiding a large financial loss from a spouse or family member.
Addictive gamblers lose their control over the game, when to play, and how much to bet. Dishonesty, most often in the form of lying, is a characteristic of a compulsive gambler because most resort to lies to attempt to hide the loss of money. Guilt and depression are other hallmarks of the disorder. Both can serve to fuel further gambling binges in a desperate attempt to make up for losses or to justify actions with a large win.
Some compulsive gamblers become desperate enough that they embezzle funds from their employer, forge checks, or write bad checks. Consequences of such actions are serious. Legal charges, jail time, and restitution are among the consequences.
Gamblers also are prone to ask family and friends for money to pay off debts. Once the money is hand, however, addicted gamblers often spend the funds for gambling. They hope to win enough to pay the debts and still gain a windfall.
Pathological gamblers destroy family relationships as they spend increasing amounts of time away at the race track, the casino, card games, or in bingo parlors. When borrowed money is lost at gaming, those who loaned the money often become angry and upset.
Two out of every three compulsive gamblers are male. Regardless of gender, addicts share several traits. These include a high competitive spirit, being energetic, restless, and prone to boredom. Most have a lifelong trend of being obsessed with approval from others and many are prone to generous, extravagant gestures. Compulsive gamblers on a winning streak often buy large or expensive gifts for loved ones. Statistics show that one in five pathological gamblers have attempted suicide. Female addictive gamblers often were drawn into gambling by home or family troubles. Many female compulsive gamblers suffer from clinical depression.
Pathological gambling has destroyed many educational efforts, careers, marriages, family relationships, and severed ties with close contacts.
Stages of Addictive Gambling And Treatment
Like most diseases and disorders, compulsive gambling follows the same course in most sufferers. The four-phase process begins with the winning stage, that initial win that convinced the gambler that their efforts could pay off with substantial amounts. This early stage is when most addictive gamblers are hooked and pursue another win with determination. A loss seldom slows a pathological gambler but instead drives them to risk larger amounts. This first of four stages can last months or event years.
In the second stage, losing becomes the norm or status quo. The first win or series of wins is not repeated but increasing losses begin to mount up. Gamblers complain of losing streaks but continue to funnel money in hopes of winning. This is the stage in which addicted gamblers often max out credit cards, deplete bank accounts, and borrow from others. The second stage is also when the individual begins to lose interest in work, other activities, and family life. Pathological gamblers at the second stage of the disorder are irritable, withdrawn, and secretive. Although spouses or other close family members may realize that there is a problem, most do not know the extent of debt or the severity of the disease.
Desperation is the hallmark of the third stage of compulsive gambling. In this stage, addicts will often gamble away a large sum borrowed or given so that they can pay off debts. Third stage compulsive gamblers often become involved in illegal activities to gain more money so that they can gamble. By this stage, it is common knowledge that the person has a problem. Many compulsive gamblers who reach this stage find that they have alienated themselves from family and friends, lost jobs and social standing, and that they have exhausted all resources. Some compulsive gamblers seek help at this stage but others advance into the final, most acute phase of the disorder.
The fourth stage, if reached, is earmarked with drug or alcohol abuse. Many compulsive gamblers attempt suicide at this point and some will succeed. Emotional or nervous breakdowns are common. Divorce rates among compulsive gamblers who reach the fourth stage are astronomical. Once the fourth stage is reached, the two options are treatment or eventual death.
Treatment is available. The earlier that the disease is recognized and the individual desires to recover, the better the prognosis for full recovery. Treatment options range from individual or group psychotherapy to support groups such as Gamblers Anonymous. Gamblers Anonymous or GA offers Twelve Step Program for addicts similar to that offered by Alcoholics Anonymous for alcohol dependant persons.
Compulsive gambling is a disease that can be cured. Recovery depends on recognition of the problem, desire to change, and commitment to a treatment program. The two things required to overcome an addiction to gambling are a commitment to give up gambling and undergoing therapy.
Gambling and gaming can be a fun pursuit for many but it can also become a destructive disorder. Know when to stop. Set limits on how much to gamble and be responsible. Should gambling ever become all-important or someone realizes they are spending all their money on gaming, it’s vital to recognize the problem and seek treatment.
