What Is Gambling Addiction? Stages of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is a type of psychological addiction, which consists in the need for gambling against the background of a loss of interest in social, material and family values. Among the common types of disorder. casino games, computer gambling.

Causes of the disease

1. Unformed psyche (adolescence).
2. Sexual dissatisfaction.
3. Lack/absence of bright moments in life.

Signs of gambling addiction

1. Gambling is an addiction, a computer disease that has its own symptoms.
2. The patient talks a lot about his favorite game, constantly thinks what to play.
3. Lack of desire to be distracted from the included game, aggressive behavior when forced to remove, emotional upsurge when the game is resumed.
4. Loss of interest in food.
5. Inability to tell the exact time of the end of the game.
6. Reduction in sleep time.
7. Refusal to observe the rules of personal hygiene, communication with family members and acquaintances.

Diagnostics

To establish how to treat gambling addiction, the narcologist conducts a general examination and talks with the patient in order to establish the reasons that cause the desire to gamble, also finds out whether there have been attempts to resist the craving for gambling, and how gambling affects lifestyle .

Stages of gambling addiction

Gambling as a disease manifests itself through three successive stages.

I stage. Increased desire to play. At this stage, they do not begin to fight gambling addiction, since it manifests itself superficially. The motive "to play - not to play" is absent. A person can refuse to participate, even if he has a desire to play. Against the background of the lack of awareness of the development of addiction, the future gambler begins to play more often, every time he makes higher and higher stakes, and unconsciously lengthens the sessions.

II stage. It is difficult for a patient to forbid himself to play. Choosing between "to play - not to play", he is increasingly leaning towards the latter. The game gradually becomes unrestrained. There are thoughts of inevitable luck, faith in luck. Cash winnings are spent on new bets. Treatment of gambling addiction as a disease at this stage is easy, but due to a lack of understanding of the current situation, gamers rarely see a doctor.

III stage. In psychological sources, the third stage of the disease of gambling is characterized by a photo of a person sitting at a computer monitor, whose facial expression conveys the strongest emotional excitement. The game continues indefinitely. During "rest" the patient considers his future steps on the playing field. The desire to play again becomes irresistible. There are debts. The issue of treating gambling addiction is very acute at the third stage.

Consequences of gambling

If the problem of gambling is not given sufficient attention, the situation becomes critical. The gambler loses his social status, stops communicating with friends. Personal degradation is observed, large financial debts appear (if the game was played for real money).

The patient does not think about how to recover from gambling addiction, and believes that he is accused of addiction unreasonably. He ceases to pay attention to his appearance, is not interested in what is happening in the world. Possible breakup of the family, dismissal from work, the commission of illegal acts.

How to treat gambling disease

Treatment of gambling addiction in adults is complicated by the fact that most patients do not agree that they have a psychological addiction. At the initial stage, it is important to ensure that the gambler realizes that his addiction to gambling is painful. Among the effective methods of treatment of gambling addiction.

Taking medications. Mood-stabilizing drugs and antidepressants suppress the problems associated with gambling - obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression. It is impossible to completely cure gambling addiction using only them. It is important to complement the treatment with psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy. According to reviews, the treatment of gambling is effective if cognitive behavioral therapy is used. During it, the specialist teaches the patient the skills to suppress cravings for the game, teaches him to concentrate on actions. Identified unhealthy and negative attitudes are replaced by positive, rational ones.

Joining a self-help group. During the meetings of "anonymous players" conversations are held on the topic of how to get rid of gambling addiction. Community members share emotional experiences, problems and successes. They analyze how their lifestyle changes as they stop gambling. Former gambling addicts are often invited to meetings, who tell when and how they recovered from gambling addiction.

How to treat gambling addiction in each individual patient, the doctor decides, based on the results of the survey, the dominant symptoms. But even after a full course of addiction treatment, a person can start playing again, especially if he maintains a relationship with the players. If you have a strong desire to play, it is recommended to immediately visit a psychotherapist to prevent a return to addiction.

Risk group

This disease does not have a specific risk group, since both adults and children are susceptible to gambling addiction. But it has been proven that men have a higher risk of succumbing to gambling than women.

Prevention

In order not to face the problem of how to deal with gambling in the future, it is recommended to avoid gambling and refrain from visiting places where people gamble.