People often fail to recognize the dangers of gambling addiction. However, just as with other addictions, the consequences can often be severe. Gambling addiction should be distinguished from Internet addiction and computer game addiction, although they may be related.
What is gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction is also referred to in psychology and psychiatry as pathological (pathological) gambling or compulsive gambling. Among other things, gambling addiction is manifested by the inability of a person affected by it to resist the temptation to engage in gambling or betting. And not only the actions of a person affected by gambling addiction are influenced by gambling, but also his thinking usually often revolves around this topic. Moreover, gambling addiction is expressed in the fact that an affected person is usually aware that his gambling can lead to serious consequences in his private or professional life. As a rule, men are more often affected by gambling addiction than women. According to estimates, approximately 100,000 to 300,000 people in Germany suffer from gambling addiction.
Causes
Possible causes underlying a gambling addiction are manifold and vary depending on the person affected. It is often not possible to clearly define the causes of a gambling addiction, as various causes usually add up. One possible motivation behind gambling, and thus a risk of developing a gambling addiction, is that of wanting to escape negative feelings. Such negative feelings can include, for example, feelings of guilt or anxiety, but also depression. Scientists also discuss certain personality variables that can make people susceptible to a gambling addiction. Furthermore, the environment in which a person has grown up and hereditary factors can contribute to the fact that an affected person is at risk of turning to gambling and subsequently developing a gambling addiction.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Gambling addiction develops in a long, gradual process. The symptoms show up differently in this phase progression. At first, they are not very pronounced and non-specific. As the addiction factor increases, classic signs and complaints appear. An initial indication of a developing gambling addiction may be euphoric behavior due to initial winnings. Larger losses subsequently lead increasingly to irritable behavior. The person affected wants to win back the lost money and increasingly supplies himself with money in an unplanned manner, often spontaneously withdrawing it from ATMs. Since the loss is to be made up for as quickly as possible, the affected person becomes hectic and unfocused. This becomes increasingly noticeable when driving, in the family and at work. Increasingly long periods of absence are explained by lies. The daily routine is increasingly affected by the uncontrollable desire to play. Self-esteem changes and manifests itself through depressive moods as well as aggression. Meals are no longer taken regularly due to the gambling addiction. Personal hygiene and a well-groomed appearance become increasingly unimportant to the person affected. Existing social contacts are neglected. If there are no more own means to finance the gambling addiction, illegal procurement measures may occur. In addition, those affected try to borrow money. Since working hours are also eventually used for gambling, fictitious sick notes are submitted to the employer. Arguments and lies also increasingly determine partnership relationships. Gambling addiction dominates life. A high level of debt and the own assessment of a hopeless situation can ultimately lead to suicidal thoughts.
Diagnosis and course
If an affected person is suspected of suffering from gambling addiction, a diagnosis of gambling addiction can be checked by a psychologist, for example. This is done, among other things, with the help of a so-called standardized test procedure, in which an affected person is asked about his symptoms. In the literature, a so-called (ideal-typical) three-phase model can be found regarding the course of a gambling addiction in a person affected.According to this, gambling addiction can be divided into the phases of winning, losing and despair: During the winning phase, gambling usually still occurs quite infrequently, a sufferer is euphoric and gambling eventually becomes more frequent. During the loss phase of gambling addiction, financial and social losses occur, among other things. Finally, the despair phase can be accompanied by personality changes and sometimes even suicidal thoughts.
Complications
If a gambling addiction is not recognized as such and treated, the loss of regular everyday life is imminent. Gambling addiction affects all areas of everyday life and also has serious consequences for the social environment of the person affected. On the one hand, gambling addicts experience strong psychological pressure to conceal their problem. They fear being ostracized and despised and often shy away from therapy for this reason. On the other hand, even if they are open about their addiction, they experience rejection from friends and family, which can lead to social isolation. This can also result in depression as a complication. A further complication in connection with a gambling addiction is serious financial problems. These can lead to the point where those affected lose all possessions and become virtually destitute. This can also lead to severe psychological problems that, if left untreated, can lead to suicide. Even under therapy, the long-term consequences of a gambling addiction are often so serious that even after overcoming the addiction, those affected still need psychological support for a long time. Self-esteem has often suffered so much from the addiction that resuming a structured daily routine is very difficult.
When should you go to the doctor?
A gambling addiction usually develops slowly and insidiously over a period of several years. Experts speak of different phases. In the first phase, gambling is still perceived as pleasant and does not yet have any harmful effects. In the second phase, after about 2 years, gambling takes on excessive proportions and now has more of a compulsive character, the player increasingly loses control over his gambling behavior, the stakes become higher. Habituation has set in. If affected persons notice such signs, they should consult a doctor. When gambling takes on an addictive character, there is increased psychological stress, hands may tremble and often sufferers also sweat profusely. Some are so caught up in gaming that they no longer perceive their surroundings in real terms. It is important that gambling addicts get help as early as possible, because a gambling addiction can have fatal consequences for those affected themselves and also their relatives. Doctors can use a special list of questions to assess the extent of the addiction and check whether other disorders are also present in order to initiate appropriate treatment; as a rule, special psychotherapy helps to combat gambling addiction.
Treatment and therapy
In many cases, people affected by gambling addiction can not overcome the addiction without therapeutic help. And, depending on the phase and severity of a gambling addiction, often not only those directly affected but also close relatives of an affected person need professional support. A therapy for gambling addiction often has to integrate various aspects:
In addition to psychotherapeutic help, debt management may also be necessary in individual cases, for example. Psychotherapy for gambling addiction can take place on an outpatient or inpatient basis; which therapy measure is suitable for an affected person must be worked out on an individual basis. In a first phase of therapy, for example, individual motivations behind gambling can first be considered and therapy goals defined. In a second phase, group discussions with other sufferers can be integrated as part of inpatient treatment. Furthermore, the ability to control oneself is trained, for example. In the final phase of psychotherapeutic treatment for gambling addiction, what has been worked on is stabilized. Among other things, the affected person is often prepared for possible relapses and receives assistance that he can fall back on in appropriate situations.
Prevention
Since the causes of a gambling addiction can be very diverse, it is difficult to prevent a gambling addiction. One possibility, for example, is to carefully observe the first symptoms in oneself and to control them.If a person has the impression of discovering symptoms of gambling addiction in themselves, but cannot fight them without assistance, seeking professional advice early on can prevent it. Anyone who wants to start gambling should be aware: In the end, only the “bank” always wins. Everything else is pure illusion.
Aftercare
Aftercare is of particular importance following inpatient therapy for gambling addiction. It is intended to help the affected person find his way back into his everyday life. Thus, he is confronted again with the typical gambling offers. Outpatient aftercare, which follows inpatient treatment, is considered an important measure. The patient can apply for aftercare at a specialist counseling center while still in the hospital. An important prerequisite for successful aftercare is consistent abstinence from all gambling, including lottery games. Thus, outpatient aftercare aims to achieve stable and lasting abstinence from gambling. It also helps the patient to secure his or her professional performance and to resume an active, self-determined life at work and in the family. This also improves the patient’s quality of life. Outpatient aftercare includes group therapy, which takes place once a week, and regular individual therapy. The partner or relatives can also be included in the therapy by arrangement. Intensive therapy days are also offered. Normally, aftercare for gambling addiction takes six to twelve months. The initial phase is considered particularly important because the relapse rate is highest at this time. The cost of outpatient aftercare is usually covered by health or pension insurance.
What you can do yourself
Gambling addiction is a disease that belongs in the hands of the specialized therapist, especially when it is severe. Nevertheless, there is also within the framework of self-help a whole bundle of measures with which affected persons can contribute to the management of the addiction disease. These are described below, but are ideally discussed with the treating therapist. Self-help groups specializing in gambling addiction are an important point of contact for those affected. Here, there are people who know the problem from their own experience and can support them with an empathetic exchange of experiences and valuable tips. It is important that those affected by gambling addiction change the way they spend their free time. Sports, music or other hobbies are some examples. Friends and family are also helpful companions, since gambling addiction often leads to neglect of the so important social ties. If gambling addiction is linked to money problems, it is important to address this cause. Centers for qualified debt counseling are often suitable addresses in this context. If the gambling addiction is caused by social problems, it is also important to work on this basic problem. This can be initiated with the psychologist and realized step by step through active implementation in everyday life as part of self-help. Alcohol can often limit control over gambling and should therefore be avoided, as should visiting gambling halls or going to casinos on the Internet.
