Gambling involves placing a bet on an event whose outcome is dependent on chance. It’s been a part of human society since prerecorded history and continues to play an important role in some cultures today. While the vast majority of people who gamble do so without problems, a small group develops gambling disorder, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). People with this disorder have serious difficulties controlling their gambling and it has significant negative effects on their personal and professional lives.
Gamblers make a bet by choosing what they want to risk, which is often money or something of value. They then match this bet to the odds of winning, which are set by the betting company – these can be written on the ticket or scratchcard. A ‘loser’ can then attempt to get back their money by increasing their bets, which is called ‘chasing losses’. This can become a vicious cycle where the person feels they have to gamble to recover lost money and may lie to family members or therapists to conceal their involvement. They may also steal, embezzle or forge cheques in order to fund their gambling, jeopardizing their employment, education and relationships.
People with gambling disorders often experience intense emotions, such as denial, anger, guilt and shame. These feelings can trigger a range of physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea and sweating. They can also cause a lack of sleep and changes in appetite. People with this condition may experience a recurrent desire to gamble even when they have made a loss, and are frequently restless or irritable. It’s not uncommon for them to use alcohol or other drugs in an attempt to soothe these symptoms.
Problem gamblers are also more likely to have underlying mood disorders, such as depression or stress. These conditions can trigger gambling problems or be made worse by them and are sometimes overlooked by family members who focus on the gambler’s addiction. It’s therefore important to consider whether someone has a mood disorder and seek treatment for it, if they do have one, before trying to help them with their gambling issues.
Families can support their loved ones by setting boundaries on how much they spend and by taking steps to prevent them from gambling, such as limiting access to credit cards, putting someone else in charge of their finances, closing online accounts and keeping a limited amount of cash on hand. They can also look into local resources that offer effective treatments for this condition. They can also encourage their loved one to seek support groups and find out more about the effects of gambling on other families. The more they understand that this is a common problem, the more receptive they’ll be to getting help.
