Gambling is a real problem and it can ruin your life. Maybe you think that you do not have a gambling problem, most people think this way, and yet, they do. Read the article and see for yourself if you have an addiction or not. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Compulsive gambling, also called gambling disorder, is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on your life. Gambling can stimulate the brain’s reward system much like drugs or alcohol can, leading to addiction.” Gambling disorder can begin at any age. Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of gambling compared to adults. This may be linked to their stage of brain development, with decision-making and impulse-control skills still developing. Gambling can cause depression and anxiety. According to verywellhealth.com, “Approximately 1% of the population currently has a gambling disorder. Some common symptoms of gambling disorder include not stopping or controlling gambling, lying about gambling, being preoccupied with gambling, and spending excessive amounts of time gambling. Gambling causes problems with mental and physical health, relationships, finances, and more.” It doesn’t have to be at a casino or online sports betting, how about video games? According to addiction researchers, loot boxes create dynamics similar to gambling behavior. In a recent survey of adolescents by these Central Queensland University researchers, they found that a majority of the best-selling video games had loot boxes, that almost all adolescents aged 12-17 or 18-24 had played a game with loot boxes, and that the average 12- to 17-year-old spent on average $50 per month on loot boxes. The average 18- to 24-year-old spent on average $72 per month on loot boxes. Importantly, this same research showed that loot box purchases significantly increased the odds of problem gambling later.
Here are some symptoms.
- Lying about gambling behavior
- Gambling more than you can afford to lose
- Stopping doing things you previously enjoyed
- Ignoring self-care, school, work, or family tasks
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Missing family events
- Changes in patterns of eating, sleeping
- Regular lateness for school or work
- Increased alcohol or drug use
If you are having gambling disorder, or even the beginnings of any of these symptoms, seek help. Talk to someone about it, a close friend, a family member, even your doctor and do it now before it’s too late. Help Guide.org says this, Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to as a “hidden illness” because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers also typically deny or minimize the problem—even to themselves. However, you may have a gambling problem if you: Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. You might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won’t understand or that you will surprise them with a big win. A problem gambler may gamble frequently or infrequently. Gambling is a problem if it causes problems. Problems caused by excessive gambling are not just financial. Too much time spent on gambling can also lead to relationship and legal problems, job loss, mental health problems including depression and anxiety, and even suicide. Gambling problems affect people of all levels of intelligence and all backgrounds. Previously responsible and strong-willed people are just as likely to develop a gambling problem as anyone else. Problem gamblers often try to rationalize their behavior. Blaming others is one way to avoid taking responsibility for their actions, including what is needed to overcome the problem. Quick fix solutions may appear to be the right thing to do. However, bailing the gambler out of debt may actually make matters worse by enabling their gambling problems to continue.
If you think you may have a gambling problem, seek help today. Visit the “First Aid Kit” at safetyzoneforteens.com or at judeochristianclarion.com