Health Effects

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Highlights

  • Feeling the need to continue using large amounts of money to gamble
  • Being unable to control or reduce your gambling habits
  • Seeking financial help to gamble

Summary

Gambling addiction is a psychological problem that comes with a lot of negative consequences. It can strain your relationships, interfere with your work, and cause financial problems. It can also cause negative behaviors such as stealing and lying.
Luckily, you don't have to struggle with this addiction as there is help. From cognitive-behavioral therapy to joining a support group, there are things you can do to beat the problem. Use these above-discussed tips to recover your control over gambling.

Gambling Addiction: Symptoms, Effects, and How to Overcome it

Compulsive gambling is a psychological disorder that involves the uncontrollable urge to gamble despite the negative health, social, and economic impact on your life. Gambling can stimulate the reward system of the brain just like alcohol and drugs, leading to addiction. If you believe you are addicted to gambling, you don’t need to worry as there is a way out. This guide provides in-depth details about this addiction. Read on.

Signs and symptoms of gambling addiction

The following are the common signs and symptoms of gambling addiction.

  • Staying preoccupied with gambling
  • Feeling the need to continue using large amounts of money to gamble
  • Being unable to control or reduce your gambling habits
  • Gambling to relieve the feeling of restlessness
  • Getting irritable when not able to gamble
  • Gambling more to recover lost money
  • Lying to your family members about your gambling activities
  • Seeking financial help to gamble

Health effects of gambling

People with gambling addiction can suffer from these health problems:

Depression

People who are addicted to gambling tend to spend more money than they should on placing wagers. This can result in bankruptcy, and in turn, lead to severe emotional and physical breakdown.

Chronic stress

When people keep gambling impulsively, they lose money. This can lead to a lot of stress that may result in health conditions like high blood pressure.

Ways to Keep gambling moderate

In order to avoid the above problems, it’s important for gamblers to keep their habits within acceptable limits. There are several tips you can employ to wager responsibly. These include:

Have fun

Gamblers should avoid using gambling as a source of income. Instead, you should take it as a hobby. This way, you can avoid taking it as a do-or-die affair.

Limit the time spent gambling

It’s important to avoid spending a lot of time gambling. Instead, focus on other activities for the better part of the day.

Set a budget

You need to have a budget for the money you would like to gamble. This way you can avoid going overboard.

How to overcome gambling addiction

Some of the steps to take to overcome gambling addiction include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Gambling can be treated in the same way as other addictions. One of the most successful treatments for addictions is cognitive behavioural therapy. CBT will get deeper into the cause of the addiction and recommend the most suitable solution.

Medications

To reduce the symptoms and illnesses that come with gambling addiction, a doctor may prescribe mood stabilizers. If you are already depressed, they may prescribe antidepressants.

Self-help group

The chances are several self-help groups of addicts are available in your region. One of these is Gamblers Anonymous, which is made up of gambling addicts.

Other ways to get help

Find out more about how you can get help for addiction in New Zealand on our page about contact for addicts.