Gambling addiction is a disorder that requires specialised treatment. Even if you notice the first symptoms early, it is unfortunately impossible to help a compulsive gambler on your own. Only professional treatment can overcome an addiction that stems from deep-seated psychological problems.
A person with this addiction feels an inner, unsatisfied emptiness that can only be filled by gambling. It is a kind of adrenaline addiction.
This condition has serious consequences:
- breakdown of social functioning;
- an illusory perception of reality;
- loss of control and of respect for others.
Possible causes of gambling addiction:
- Various mental disorders (psychopathy).
- Personality traits such as insecurity and shyness often lead to the development of such addictions.
- Many people use games to act out their childhood fantasies and fears.
- A lack of social contact. This is a particularly pressing problem for children and teenagers whose parents are constantly at work.
- Family conflicts. To escape family rows, people often retreat into an imaginary world, which only makes the situation worse.
- Social phobias, in which a person fears interpersonal relationships and real society. Computer games help them escape from real life and feel important and strong. The computer becomes their companion and friend.
Gambling addiction does not appear overnight. It develops in several stages, each marked by particular signs and changes in the gambler’s behaviour.
- The preparatory stage, during which a heightened vulnerability to gambling develops. Personal traits such as low self-esteem, an inability to control emotions, aggressiveness, impulsiveness and hyperactivity, heightened anxiety, depression and a tendency to escape into an imaginary world contribute to the development of gambling addiction in adults and children.
- The winning stage, during which the person comes to see gambling as a means of self-fulfilment and sometimes of financial gain. Judgement begins to cloud, and even a small win strongly fuels their interest.
- The losing stage, when gamblers find themselves trapped in a closed cycle of events. They spend all their available money and are even inclined to borrow. Financial difficulties and constant losses heighten their fear, and the gambler becomes angry and irritable.
- The desperation stage. Because of the constant urge to gamble, the person loses interest in everything else. Problems arise at school or at work, their social circle changes, and their psychological state makes normal life in society impossible. In this state, people may break the law, sell property or valuables and take out loans.
- The hopelessness stage, in which the patient recognises their addiction and understands that there is practically no chance of hitting the jackpot, yet continues to gamble. The desire to experience the familiar emotions of gambling prevails – a sign of psychological dependence.
Treating gambling addiction
Various forms of group and individual psychotherapy are an effective treatment for gambling addiction. Psychotherapeutic approaches include behavioural therapy, rational therapy, long-term suggestive therapy, psychoanalytic therapy and bibliotherapy (therapy through reading).
A clinical psychologist or psychiatrist will help you understand why the urge to gamble is so strong and teach you how to deal with the life problems that can intensify these urges.
The specialist will then teach the person to control their gambling-related thoughts and urges. It is hard to say how long it will take to learn self-control. As a rule, however, people whose addiction is recent recover faster than those who have been addicted for a long time.
