Gambling Disorders – What Are Gambling Disorders and How Can They Be Treated?
Gambling is an activity where people risk money or something else of value in an attempt to win more than they have invested. It involves predicting the outcome of an event, such as a football match or a scratchcard, based on chance. People can bet on just about anything – including a horse race or a lottery. It is important to remember that gambling is not necessarily a good thing, and it can lead to addiction. In fact, pathological gambling has serious consequences and can have psychological, social or financial impact.
People who are addicted to gambling may have an underlying mental health condition or personality traits that predispose them to the behaviour. There is also a range of factors that can increase the chances of developing a problem with gambling, including genetics, environment and personal choices. Symptoms of gambling disorder can include lying to friends and family about how much you have lost, relying on others to fund your gambling activities and continuing to gamble even when it is having a negative effect on your life.
When you gamble, your brain releases a chemical called dopamine, which makes you feel happy and excited. This is a response similar to the one you experience when you spend time with loved ones or eat a delicious meal. However, with gambling, the feelings don’t just last when you win – you feel them every time you gamble, even when you lose. Eventually, your body starts to need this feeling, and it becomes difficult to stop gambling.
The most common reasons that people gamble are to try to win money, for social reasons, as a way to pass the time or because it gives them a buzz or high. It is important to understand why you are gambling, and to consider what other activities you could do that would give you a similar effect.
There are different types of therapy that can help with gambling disorders, such as behaviour therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is designed to change the way you think about and react to your impulses. It can help you learn to recognise when you are about to gamble, and how to stop yourself.
It is also important to get support from family and friends. If possible, seek out a peer support group such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is based on the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is a great way to meet people who are going through the same thing, and can provide motivation and moral support to keep you from returning to your former habits.
Some cultures view gambling as a normal pastime, which can make it harder to recognize that there is a problem and seek help. Changing your thoughts and behaviour can be difficult, but it is worth the effort. A range of therapies are available, such as psychodynamic therapy, which explores how your unconscious processes influence your behaviour, and family therapy, which can help you reestablish healthy relationships with your loved ones.
