Day: August 26, 2024
How to Cope With a Gambling Disorder
While most people have gambled at some time in their lives, a small percentage of those who gamble go on to develop gambling disorder, defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as “a pattern of betting or wagering that involves significant distress or impairment.” While anyone can develop gambling problems, some groups are more vulnerable than others. These include young people, particularly boys and men, who are more likely to participate in new forms of gambling such as sports betting and video games with gambling elements. People with low incomes, who may have more to gain from a large win, are also at greater risk of developing gambling disorders. Often, people who have a gambling problem have little or no support system in place to help them deal with their addiction. To combat this, many people find it helpful to seek the advice of a professional or join a peer-support group. These groups can be found through online resources, in local communities or through organizations such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is based on the 12 Step recovery program developed by Alcoholics Anonymous. In addition to a supportive network, it’s important to engage in healthy activities that can give a person something else to focus on. Taking up a hobby, spending time with friends in other ways, or volunteering can help provide a sense of purpose and reward that can help replace the feeling of winning or losing money. People who are vulnerable to developing gambling problems can be influenced by many factors, including their genetics, environment, medical history and level of education. They can also be attracted to certain types of gambling, such as slot machines and online casinos, or to particular betting markets, such as horse racing. People who have a mental illness or are depressed may be more likely to become gambling addicts. Although many of us think of gambling as an activity involving skill, there are actually very few gambling activities that require much or any skill, and most involve chance. Even poker, a game that involves some degree of strategy, is primarily a game of chance. As the availability of gambling products has expanded, psychologists and other researchers have become increasingly concerned that it can lead to problematic behavior. They have identified a range of factors that can contribute to gambling addiction, including recreational interest, impaired mathematical skills, cognitive distortions, and impulsivity. They have also questioned the appropriateness of using the term gambling to describe a behavior that involves the manipulation of probabilities and outcomes based on chance, rather than using words like wagering or betting. The nomenclature surrounding this area of research is complex and controversial, because it is used by research scientists, psychiatrists, other treatment providers, and public policy makers who frame questions differently based on their discipline and training. This has led to a wide range of views about what is and isn’t gambling. Moreover, different groups have their own world views and paradigms from which to consider these issues, which can lead to conflicting interpretations of the evidence.
Read More