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Gambling disorder

This article talks about the Gambling disorder, the treatment options, symptoms, causes and much more.

Gambling can be referred to as risking something precious to an individual to receive something more precious. It is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling even if tolls take on your life. Gambling can sometimes stimulate the brain to reward systems as drugs or alcohol do. If an individual has a betting disorder, the person may continually chase bets which leads to huge losses. It can also lead to huge debts. It is a serious condition that can destroy one’s life. Treating gambling can be challenging. Many people who struggle with gambling problems have found help through professional treatment. Let’s see more about gambling disorder treatment.

Treatment

Gambling disorder can have been running through the family for generations. Gambling disorder symptoms can begin in adolescence or late in adulthood. Some individuals can stop gambling on their own. But many individuals need to address their problems and should get gambling disorder treatments. Gambling affects many different ways a person. There are several gambling treatments and therapies like cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, group therapy and family therapy. 

Counselling can assist people and help them understand what gambling is and what are their effects on life. It can also help people to solve their problems. 

Several FDA approved medicines can help with gambling disorder treatment. Support from the family and their close ones can help a person recover from a gambling disorder. 

Counselling can help you in many ways with gambling disorder treatment. Some of them are as follows:-

  • It can increase control over your gambling problem.
  • It can deal with your urge to gamble.
  • Find some things that can be done when gambling comes to your mind.
  • It can maintain your recovery and avoid triggers for gambling.

Some studies have shown that doing physical exercise can help you with your gambling disorder treatment. Some of the strategies through which you can deal with your cravings are as follows:-

  • Call a trusted person when you feel like gambling and ask them to help divert your mind. 
  • Distract yourself from activities when there are thoughts of gambling in your mind.
  • Think about the consequences that it may lead to.
  • Avoid being alone. 

Symptoms

Gambling symptoms can be seen from your childhood to your adulthood. Some of the gambling symptoms are as follows:-

  • Constantly thinking about gambling and being preoccupied. Thinking about getting more money by gambling. 
  • Gambling with an increasing amount of money to get thrills with the money earned in gambling. 
  • Feeling restless and getting irritated when you try to control gambling. 
  • Taking gambling as an escape route from problems in life, anxiety and depression. 
  • After losing money in gambling, again try to recover your money by gambling.
  •  Keep lying to family and friends to hide your gambling problem.
  • Jeopardising precious things for gambling and losing important relationships because of gambling.
  • Taking debts from people to gamble.

Many people who are not suffering from gambling disorders tend to stop after losing money. But individuals suffering from gambling disorders tend to gamble more to recover the lost money. This pattern can lead them to destructive life over some time. 

Causes 

Many factors can lead to the causes of gambling disorder. Facing financial problems and the need for money can lead someone to gamble. Someone’s desire to experience thrills and highs can lead to the cause of gambling disorder. Once there is gamble addiction, it is very difficult to break the cycle. Severe addictions take place, and when someone needs money, they tend to gamble more. When they win a huge amount, they tend to gamble more to make more money. 

Dos and don’ts for partners and family members. 

Dos 

  • Help the person and support them in their problems.
  • Know your partner’s good qualities.
  • Remain calm when you are talking to a person suffering from a gambling disorder. 
  • Let the person know that they need to seek help. 
  • Help them understand the need for the treatment.

Don’ts

  • Don’t lose your calm while talking to a person suffering from a gambling disorder.
  • Do not cut the person off from family and relationships; this might lead to depression.  
  • Don’t expect immediate recovery from the person suffering; give them time to recover. 
  • Don’t blame them for their condition, and don’t leave them.
  • Don’t degrade them emotionally.

Conclusion 

Gambling is a disorder in which an individual is ready to risk something precious to get something more precious. It is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling even if it trolls life. Gambling disorder treatment can consist of physical activities and some medications that FDA approves. Counselling can help in many ways in the treatment of gambling disorders. It can increase control over your gambling problem. Some strategies can help you to deal with the craving for gambling such as not being alone, and doing some activity when you feel like gambling. Some of the symptoms are, constantly thinking about gambling. Thinking about getting more money by gambling.

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