Gambling Addiction: Effects on Your Life
In This Article
Gambling addiction, also called gambling disorder, can wreak havoc on your entire life—harm relationships, cause financial ruin, and shatter emotional and physical health.
If you’re struggling with gambling addiction or concerned about a loved one who is, we recommend that you practice compassion as you seek professional help. Gambling addiction is treatable, but it requires the person to admit they have a problem and commit to the recovery process.
How Does Gambling Addiction Impact Your Life?
When it comes to addiction, the gambler’s focus shifts entirely to gambling, leaving loved ones feeling neglected and isolated. Coupled with the stress and shame of the addiction, it can lead to constant conflict and ultimately destroy communication. It leaves relationships damaged and lacking trust.
A gambling addict may also experience the following:
- Shame and guilt
- Damaged self-worth
- Anxiety and depression
- Isolation
- Embarrassment about their problem
The physical impacts of gambling addiction can include:
- Stress-related problems (insomnia, headaches, digestive issues, and overall body tension)
- Unhealthy coping (smoking, overeating, or heavy alcohol use)
- Suicidal thoughts due to hopelessness and the crushing weight of problems from gambling
How Does Gambling Affect Families?
Gambling addiction isn’t just a personal struggle. It has a ripple effect on families that can cause a financial crisis.
Families are left struggling to pay bills and face the potential loss of their homes or businesses. This can lead to complete financial ruin, leaving everyone involved with a long and difficult road to recovery.
Children of addicts are also more likely to experience emotional and behavioral problems or even develop gambling issues themselves. Partners are left feeling overwhelmed, shouldering the burden of keeping the family afloat while battling their own anger, sadness, and despair.
In the worst cases, gambling can tear families apart, leading to separation, divorce, and lasting emotional scars for everyone involved.
Gambling Addiction vs. Recreational Gambling
The main difference lies in the impact on a person’s life. Recreational gamblers can set limits and walk away, win or lose.
For someone with an addiction, gambling causes increasing disruption in their relationships, finances, work, and overall well-being. If gambling brings out negative behaviors and emotions, and the person seems unable to control their urges, it’s time to seek professional help.
What Are the Signs of Gambling Addiction?
The signs of gambling addiction don’t simply show in the amount of money someone spends at a casino. It’s about identifying patterns, behavioral changes, emotional states, and physical health.
If you’re worried about yourself or someone you care about, here are some signs to watch out for:
Behavioral Changes
Here are some warning signs that can indicate a gambling problem. These behaviors can be a red flag for the gambler and those around them:
- Constantly talking about gambling, thinking about it excessively, or spending a lot of time planning their next betting session
- Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money or for longer periods to get the same excitement
- Feeling irritable, restless, or having trouble focusing when they try to stop or cut back on gambling
- Lying about how much they gamble or going to great lengths to conceal their involvement
- Trying to recoup lost money by gambling even more aggressively
- Gambling despite negative consequences like mounting debt, relationship problems, or job insecurity
Emotional Warning Signs
Gambling addiction will make a person turn to gambling when feeling stressed, depressed, anxious, or lonely. They’ll feel highs when winning and severe lows or irritability after losses.
Feeling remorseful or ashamed of their gambling habits is normal, but they’ll still be unable to stop. They may repeatedly try to quit or reduce their gambling but fail to do so.
Physical Indicators
Problem gambling can show in physical ways too. This includes:
- Trouble sleeping or staying asleep due to worry or the physical effects of gambling’s adrenaline rush
- Stress symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, and increased muscle tension are common
- Appearing unkempt or becoming less attentive to grooming
A person addicted to gambling will also notice their eating habits can be disrupted, with skipped meals or overeating due to the distraction.
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Treatment Options and Support for Gambling Addiction
Overcoming a gambling addiction is challenging but absolutely possible. There are effective treatments and support systems tailored to both the person struggling with the addiction and their loved ones.
Let’s explore these options:
Therapy for Gambling Addiction
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective therapies for gambling addiction. CBT helps change harmful thinking patterns about gambling (like believing you can control the outcome) and teaches how to resist urges and manage cravings.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is another therapy approach and is often combined with CBT. It helps people explore their ambivalence about change and strengthens their commitment to recovery.
For some, exploring deeper underlying issues might be helpful. Psychodynamic therapy can delve into potential emotional drivers contributing to the gambling problem.
Support Groups for Gambling Addiction
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) uses the 12-step model to offer support, companionship, and a sense of belonging for individuals committed to quitting gambling.
Meanwhile, Gam-Anon provides a dedicated space for family and friends of gambling addicts. This group allows them to share their experiences, gain an understanding of the addiction, and learn strategies to cope with the challenges it presents.
How Can Treatment Be More Effective?
Sometimes, gambling addiction occurs alongside other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. For more effective treatment, it’s essential to address all aspects causing the condition.
It’s crucial to get a thorough evaluation by a mental health or addiction specialist, as treating these co-occurring disorders is important for full recovery.
Gambling addiction also affects the entire family. Family therapy can help address strained relationships, enable healing, and develop healthy ways to support the recovering gambler without unintentionally enabling the addiction.
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How to Find the Right Treatment for Gambling Addiction
Deciding on the proper treatment is an essential step toward recovery. There’s no single approach that works for everyone. The best option will depend on the severity of the addiction and your circumstances.
Here are some treatment options to consider, highlighting their environment, support levels, and the frequency of therapy sessions to help differentiate them based on your needs.
| Treatment Option | Description | Frequency of Sessions | Support Level | Environment |
| Outpatient Therapy | Best if you have a strong support system at home and work. Allows you to manage daily life while attending regular sessions. | Regular therapy sessions as scheduled by the specialist. | Moderate support at sessions. | Daily life environment with professional support during sessions. |
| Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) | Offers a structured environment with increased support, involving more frequent therapy sessions, including group and individual therapy several times a week. | Several times a week, including group and individual sessions. | High support with peer network. | Structured clinical environment but returns home each night. |
| Residential Treatment | Best for severe addiction or when a complete break is needed. Offers 24/7 care and supervision in a community focused on recovery. | Intensive daily therapy sessions. | Very high, constant support. | Residential center with continuous care and supervision. |
Other Ways to Support Gambling Addiction Recovery
In addition to therapy, there are several ways to support your gambling addiction recovery journey. Self-help materials like books, workbooks, and online resources can provide tools based on principles used in therapy to help you change your thoughts and behaviors.
Financial counseling or debt management programs can be crucial for regaining financial stability after the impact of gambling addiction.
Remember, there is help available for gambling addiction recovery. Helpline resources like the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700) or your state helpline offer confidential support and information on finding treatment.
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