Gambling Addiction

COMPULSIVE GAMBLING

According to the Illinois Department of Human Services:

Approximately 383,000 people in Illinois have out-of-control gambling behavior.
An additional 761,000 people in Illinois are at risk for developing a gambling problem.
A compulsive gambling problem can be catastrophic causing financial ruin and causing severe depression and anxiety
Compulsive gambling is particularly problematic given the spouses, children, parents, friends, employers, and innocent bystanders who are inevitably harmed in the gambler’s life

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY GAMBLING HABIT IS ACTUALLY PROBLEMATIC?

Some Typical Signs of Problematic Gambling:

1. Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired level of excitement

2. Feeling restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling

3. Having made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling

4. Is frequently thinking of gambling, planning the next gambling trip, or thinking of ways to get money for gambling

5. Often gambling when feeling distressed, helpless, guilty, anxious, or sad

6. Often returning another day to get even or chase one’s losses after having lost money gambling

7. Lying to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling

8. Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling

9. Relies on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations caused by gambling

However, a person does not have to have all of these signs noted above to be diagnosed with a Gambling Disorder. A person with EVEN A FEW OF THESE SYMPTOMS will likely need counseling services to help them overcome problematic gambling and develop the self-control over their impulsive gambling. They will likely need help with overcoming denial regarding the amount of their financial losses. They will likely need help to stop compromising and lying to family members about spent money. They will need help with stopping wasting time in their lives by seeking opportunities to gamble money, and they will need help with overcoming financial hardship associated with lost money.

What are the causes of a gambling disorder?

Research does not give a clear answer as to the cause of a gambling disorder. Similar to other forms of addiction, there appear to be both environmental and genetic factors. Gambling disorder is more frequent among monozygotic than dizygotic twins. Gambling problems are more prevalent in relatives of people with moderate to severe alcohol use disorders. Other disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, substance use disorders, antisocial personality disorder, and anxiety disorders tend to occur along side of gambling disorder.

The Addiction Cycle:

The addiction cycle starts as a person with a gambling disorder first noticed profound feelings of inadequacy, sadness, and stress. Their problems most likely started when they turned to gambling or began engaging in other addictive behaviors in order to soothe these profound negative feelings. They soon learned that their mood improved while they were gambling and dreaming of the big win. Gambling was only a temporary solution to their profound feelings of emptiness. Since the gambling inevitably eventually resulted in a financial loss, they quickly needed to return to gambling to chase their losses or begin to dream again about what their life would be like if they had a big win.

As their involvement in gambling began to escalate, they focused less on their overall losses which they hid from significant others in their lives and focused instead on believing they had an unrealistic probability of recovering their losses. They believe that given the extreme amount of time they have spent gambling, if they gambled one more time, they are about to experience the big win that they have been waiting to see. Having lost more money, they are now embarrassed of the magnitude of their losses and they begin to engage in behaviors to cover up their losses. This can involve borrowing large sums of money from financial institutions, relatives, or friends. It can also involve stealing money to cover their losses. When they try to stop the behavior, feelings of guilt and shame flood them as they feel powerless to stop. The only way out of their troubles appears to be to return to gamble where the experience the emotional high of the anticipation of their fantasized big win. Devastating consequences can ensue from the loss of a spouse/partner, loss of retirement savings, loss of their home and property, loss of their job, and loss of their self-respect.

Could ADHD be making it difficult for me to recover?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that frequently accompanies addiction. One symptom of ADHD is impulsivity. Therefore, individuals with ADHD can have a tendency to not think before they take action. This can have devastating consequences in one’s life and contributes to the reason why individuals with a gambling disorder engage in the risky betting of money without thinking through the consequences of their actions.

If ADHD is present and is not treated through either behavioral strategies or medication, symptoms of gambling disorder will most likely continue. Research has shown that individuals are more likely to abuse alcohol, drugs, and to pursue highly stimulating addictions such a gambling disorder because under stimulation is a common experience for adults with ADHD. This can cause an individual to feel bored, tired, unmotivated, or irritated much of the time.

While some people with ADHD can benefit from behavioral treatments for ADHD alone, some people are best treated with psychostimulant medications which act on neurotransmitters in the brain that influence motivation, learning and reward. This can make it easier for a person to concentrate, feel motivated to complete tasks, and feel a sense of reward and accomplishment when they remain on task.

Dr. Braun completed a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Neuropsychology and also attended an American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology approved postdoctoral residency program in Clinical Neuropsychology and is very qualified to evaluate whether or not clients have co-occurring ADHD symptoms that need to be treated to increase their chances of having long-term sobriety from addictive behaviors.

The GOAL OF TREATMENT for gambling disorder is to help you develop self-esteem, define boundaries, identify and invalidate excuses for relapsing, develop skills for regulating emotions that have contributed to relapsing, develop alternative coping strategies, live a life of self-control over unwanted behaviors, and restore trust and intimacy with a partner or spouse if it has been broken due to your gambling behavior.

The FIRST STEP in solving the problem is to admit you actually have a problem you cannot solve by yourself. Without treating the addiction, you will eventually experience financial, relationship, physical, and employment consequences. Most addicted people grieve the loss of the addictive high, fear rejection from other significant people in their lives if these other people were to discover the truth, and believe that no one will ever discover what they are doing.

However, you are living a life of fantasy by continuing to engage in addictive behavior with the belief that your financial losses won’t bring you to financial ruin and that other people won’t learn of your behavior. All addictive behaviors tend to escalate over time. Common lies all addicts believe are that they have the problem under control and that no one will ever know. If you continue the behavior, the problem will grow.

DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOUR LOSSES ARE SO SEVERE THAT YOU CAN’T FINANCIALLY RECOVER!

Whatever compulsive gambling behavior you are struggling with, make the choice of getting help from a doctor that is both a Clinical Psychologist and who specializes in treating addiction. Other therapists who do not have this training will most likely not solve your problems.

For more information or to set up an initial phone consultation with Dr. Jane Braun, call (708) DR-BRAUN or (708) 372-7286

RESOURCES for GAMBLING DISORDER:

When you suspect you or a loved one has an issue with gambling:

1. Contact Dr. Jane Braun, Ph.D. for help:

(708) DR-BRAUN or (708) 372-7286

2. View the other resources for gambling addiction on the resource page of this website at this link