Are you addicted to gambling? Or is someone you know? (Gambling Disorder) Let's talk about this!

Sometimes, gambling, which you start with a little fun, with friends and a small bet, can gradually become a big problem that controls your life without you realizing it. Have you had such an experience? Or have you seen someone you know, a friend, or a family member suffering from this gambling addiction problem? This is a topic that many people are reluctant to talk about, but it needs to be talked about. So, today we will talk in detail about this condition called Gambling Disorder , or more precisely, the abnormal addiction to gambling.

What is Gambling Disorder?

Simply put, gambling disorder is a mental health condition. It is characterized by an uncontrollable, repetitive, and unhealthy gambling behavior. It can cause significant distress . It can also have a significant impact on your family relationships, work, schoolwork, or financial situation.

When we say "gambling", it means any activity in which a person puts something valuable (such as money or property) at risk in the hope of winning something more. There are many different types of gambling. The most common ones are casino games and betting on sports . However, it is important to remember that not everyone who gambles develops this addiction.

The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies gambling addiction as a behavioral addiction . In fact, it is the only behavioral addiction currently recognized in the DSM-5. In some ways, gambling addiction is similar to substance use disorder . Both affect the chemistry of your brain. They can also cause withdrawal symptoms and tolerance when you stop using the drug.

Some people also call this condition "Compulsive Gambling" or "Problem Gambling" .

Who is most affected by this situation?

Gambling addiction can affect both adolescents and adults . Although gambling is illegal for those under 18 in countries like the United States, it is relatively common among those in that age group. Starting to gamble at a young age has been identified as a risk factor for developing gambling addiction later in life. Therefore, it is important to be aware of this issue for your children.

How common is gambling addiction?

Researchers estimate that between 2% and 4% of the American population is affected by this gambling addiction. However, these statistics may not be entirely accurate. Because not everyone who suffers from this condition seeks medical advice or treatment. Even in our country, it is difficult to say exactly how many people actually suffer from this problem, since it is not talked about openly.

What are the symptoms of gambling addiction?

The most obvious and obvious symptom of gambling addiction is that it interferes with important aspects of your life, such as your family relationships, work, and financial stability. Imagine, you have a friend who is constantly having money problems, fighting with his family, and not being able to do his job properly. If all of this is because he is constantly gambling, that is a big warning sign.

Here are some other special features that can be identified:

• Constantly thinking about gambling: Gambling is always on your mind, to the point where you can't think about anything else. Things like how you're going to make money next time, where you're going to go and gamble.
• The need to spend more money or valuables to get the same pleasure and stimulation (Tolerance): The pleasure that initially came from playing with a small amount of money, over time, becomes less felt. Therefore, the urge to play with more money to get the same pleasure.
• Repeatedly failing to control or stop gambling: No matter how much you think, "I won't gamble anymore," you just can't do it.
• Feeling restless or irritable when trying to stop gambling (Withdrawal): Just like someone addicted to drugs, when trying to stop gambling, you feel anxious, irritable, and bored.
• Gambling when feeling stressed (as an "escape" from negative emotions): When you feel sad or worried, you think gambling is the only way to get rid of it.
• Chasing Losses: Gambling to regain recent gambling losses , often resulting in more losses.
• Lying to loved ones about their gambling behavior or hiding information: Lying to or hiding from family and friends about their gambling and how much money they lost.
• Relying on others to finance their gambling or to cover gambling losses: Borrowing money from others, mortgaging property, and doing things like that.
• Continuing to gamble despite knowing that it is negatively affecting one's financial situation, job, education, or personal relationships: Unable to stop gambling, even though one knows that everything is going to fall apart.

If you or someone you know has one or more of these symptoms, it's time to be concerned.

What are the causes of gambling addiction?

There is no single cause for gambling addiction, or any other addiction. It is a very complex condition. Here are some factors that contribute to gambling addiction:

• Chemical changes in the brain.
• Genetic influences.
• Personality traits and other coexisting mental health conditions.

Brain chemistry

Gambling affects the reward center of your brain. We are all biologically wired to seek rewards. Often, these rewards come from healthy behaviors. When you spend time with someone you love, or when you eat a delicious meal, your body releases a chemical called dopamine . This makes you feel good. It's like a cycle: You seek out those experiences because you get good feelings.

Even when you gamble, you can get a lot of this `Dopamine` flowing through your brain. Think of the euphoria you feel when you hit a big jackpot! However, instead of motivating you to do the things you need to survive (like eating, working), these high `Dopamine` levels can have a detrimental effect on your thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

This can lead to an unhealthy urge to gamble, rather than to enjoy healthy activities. Over time, gambling changes your brain chemistry, and you become less sensitive to its effects. Then, you need to gamble more to get the same pleasure you used to get. This is called tolerance .

Genetic influences

Gambling addiction tends to run in families. This means that it may have a genetic link . Studies of identical twins have shown that genetic factors, rather than environmental factors (such as negative experiences in childhood), may contribute more to the risk of developing gambling addiction. This means that if someone in your family has had this problem, you may also be at risk.

Personality traits and other mental health conditions

Several studies have shown that the following personality traits or behaviors are more common among people with gambling addiction:

• Impulsivity: The tendency to act without thinking.
• Sensation-seeking: The desire to do new, exciting things.
• Compulsivity: An uncontrollable feeling of having to do something.
• Difficulty making decisions and planning.
• Affective instability: Feeling happy one moment and sad the next.

Additionally, people with gambling addiction are more likely to have other mental health conditions at the same time. Some of these include:

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD), especially problems related to alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorder).
• Impulse Control Disorders.
• Mood disorders, for example , depression.
• Anxiety Disorders.
• Personality Disorders.

Some people may have these conditions before they become addicted to gambling. For others, these conditions may develop after they become addicted to gambling.

How to recognize gambling addiction?

To determine if you have a gambling problem, your doctor may refer you to a psychologist or addiction counselor . There, the doctor will ask you (and possibly your family members) questions about your gambling patterns.

Mental health professionals use criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to diagnose gambling addiction. To receive this diagnosis, you must have experienced at least four symptoms of gambling addiction within the past year .

What are the treatments for gambling addiction?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved any specific medications to treat gambling addiction. However, various types of psychotherapy may be helpful.

Psychotherapy is a combination of different treatments that help a person identify and change their unhealthy feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. This happens with a trained, licensed mental health counselor (such as a psychiatrist or clinical social worker).

Therapy can help you with:

• Control your gambling.
• Manage stress in a healthy way.
• Find other ways to spend your time.
• Manage your finances well.
• Rebuild relationships with your loved ones.
• After recovery, maintain that state and avoid triggers.
• If you have other mental health conditions that are affecting your gambling behavior, address those as well.

Here are some specific treatments that can help with gambling addiction:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is a targeted, structured treatment. A mental health counselor helps you explore your thoughts and feelings. You will learn how your thoughts affect your actions. Through CBT, you can change unhealthy and uncontrolled thoughts and behaviors and develop healthier thought patterns and habits. CBT is the most commonly used psychological intervention for treating gambling addiction.
• Motivational Interviewing: This therapy helps you to identify and address your own insecurities about making healthy changes. Through this method, you analyze your problematic gambling behavior and compare it to the gambling patterns of the general population. This motivates you to make behavioral changes. Doctors often use it in conjunction with other therapies.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: This therapy looks at how unconscious processes influence your behavior. The goal is to increase your self-awareness and understanding of how past behaviors influence your current behavior.
• Group Therapy: This is a type of psychotherapy. Here, a group of people come together to discuss their problems under the supervision of a mental health professional. Group therapy can be a valuable source of motivation and emotional support for those with gambling problems, especially those who are isolated from friends and family due to their condition.
• Family Therapy: This treatment method can help educate your loved ones about the condition and create a more stable home environment.

Gambling affects everyone differently. There are also different types of gambling. Therefore, some treatments may work better for some people than others. It may take some time to find the right method or therapist for you. But it's important to keep trying.

Can I prevent gambling addiction?

Yes, there are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing a gambling addiction:

• Avoid or limit gambling behavior: Avoid or try to limit your gambling. This means being careful about how often you gamble, how long you gamble at a time, and how much money you spend on gambling. If you feel that gambling is starting to take over your life, see a doctor or mental health counselor immediately.
• Know your family history: If someone in your family has a history of substance abuse or behavioral addictions, you may be at higher risk for developing a gambling problem. Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk.
• Manage stress healthily: The risk of addiction increases during times of stress and life changes. During times like these, it's important to turn to healthy coping mechanisms, such as exercising, meditating, or taking up a new hobby. If you're having trouble managing stress or other mental health conditions, see a mental health counselor .

What is the prognosis for gambling addiction?

The outlook for gambling addiction, that is, the ability to recover, depends on several factors:

• The severity of the condition.
• Whether you seek treatment or not.
• Whether you have other mental health conditions.

Unfortunately, less than 10% of people with gambling addiction seek professional treatment . Many people try to work it out on their own. Remember, therapy with a mental health counselor can help you manage this condition.

Compared to the general population, people with gambling addiction are at higher risk of suicide . One study of people seeking treatment reported that 32% of them had suicidal ideation, and 17% had attempted suicide at least once.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, please talk to someone you trust immediately, or seek medical advice. You can also call Sri Lanka's mental health helpline numbers (e.g. Sumitrayo 0112696666, National Institute of Mental Health 1926).

If I have a gambling problem, how can I help myself?

In addition to seeking professional help, here are some steps you can take to manage your gambling addiction:

• Consider joining a support group like Gamblers Anonymous (GA) . Find out if there are similar groups or support services in Sri Lanka.
• If you have a craving to gamble, distract yourself by engaging in other activities. Like reading a book, listening to music, exercising, or talking to a friend.
• When you feel the urge to gamble, be patient. If you give yourself some time, the urge may go away or become weaker.
• Don't be alone. Ask for help from trusted loved ones. Talk to them about your problems.

How can I help someone who is addicted to gambling?

Finding out that someone you love has a gambling problem can be very challenging and stressful. Here are some tips to help your loved one and yourself:

• Speak up: The sooner someone with a gambling problem gets treatment, the better. Express your concerns and help them find treatment as soon as possible. Call a helpline, see a doctor or mental health counselor , or suggest going to a place like Gamblers Anonymous. Offer your help and support without judgment.
• Practice Empathy: Even if you don't agree with your loved one, listen carefully to what they have to say. The more you listen to them, the more they will see you as someone they can trust.
• Be patient: Don't expect your loved one's addiction to be cured with one conversation or action. Gambling addiction is a complex, chronic condition. There are no quick fixes to overcome it.
• Take care of yourself too: Friends and family members of people with gambling addiction often suffer from stress, depression, grief, and loneliness. It is important to take care of your own mental health and seek help if you are experiencing these symptoms.

Finally, remember (Take-Home Message)

You may be embarrassed to admit that you have a gambling problem, or you may think that you can fix it on your own. But remember, there is nothing wrong with admitting that you have a gambling problem. The sooner you get help, the better off you will be. If you are concerned about your gambling behavior, talk to your doctor or a mental health counselor . They are here to help and support you.

You don't have to go through this journey alone. Ask for help, it's empowering.

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