Gambling Addiction

Gambling Addiction.

From the time of ‘Mahabharata’ gambling has been seen as a problematic behaviour. A behaviour that disrupts families and causes lose of both property and dignity. Then why do people still engage in such behaviour? Gambling, like any other addictive substance, gives the individual a euphoric feeling when they engage in it. And the individual continues to play in order to reach that euphoric state but ends up becoming a slave to this uncontrolled greedy behaviour.

In some cultures gambling is a form of entertainment and people do engage in it without any issues. It becomes a problem when the individual’s gambling behaviour starts affecting his/her finance, relationships, career and the individual still continues the behaviour. Gambling starts off as small entertainment behaviour and gradually turns into addiction. As the progress is slow, the individual may find it hard to realise and as a result may not known when to stop. Since the behaviour is gradual and takes quite some time to become an addiction, recovery also takes a lot of time and effort. But why wait for that? Here are the sign and symptoms along with treatments for gambling disorder that will help you realise and seek help at the earliest:

Signs and symptoms

• Feeling the need to gamble with huge amounts so that they experience the desired euphoric state.
• Feeling restless and irritable when they try to stop or cut down on the addictive behaviour.
• There has been attempts to stop the behaviour but all were unsuccessful
• They are always thinking about gambling or finding ways and preparing for the behaviour mentally
• Loses does not seem to stop them, they return the next day to even the previous lose
• Lying and depending on others to provide finance.
• Avoiding responsibilities towards family and work due to this behaviour
• Feeling devastated after losing but still unable to control the behaviour

Treatment

• Cognitive behavioural therapy: Also known as CBT is usually recommended for gambling disorder as it is believed that individuals engage in this behaviour tend to have faulty thinking patterns. CBT focus and aims at changing the pattern of thinking of the individual.
• Behavioural therapies: These therapies help the individual unlearn the addictive behaviour. Here the individual is taught to associate the addictive behaviour with an unpleasant feeling, thus reducing the frequency and gradually ceasing the addictive behaviour.
• Family therapy: Gambling disorder tends to primarily affect relationships in the family. Family therapy is recommended to resolve dysfunctional communications among members and resolve conflicts. At times it is also used to help the suffering individual realise their addictive behaviour and come out of their denial.
• Residential treatment programs: These programs are recommended for individuals who are incapable of controlling their behaviour and need professional supervision. A residential program provides 24 hours care, a multidisciplinary team, and therapeutic interventions along with treatment for other associated disorders.

Gambling disorder can be hard to recover, especially when the individual is in denial. This is common when gambling is a part of one’s culture as a form of entertainment. Here, family member can help individual realise the problem. For that knowledge of earlier signs and symptoms along with the available treatments is essential to detect the issue and provide immediate help. For best treatment options for gambling addiction, call us now on +919611194949.

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