Problems with gambling are detrimental to physical and psychological health. People living with this addiction may experience depression, migraine, distress, bowel disorders, and other anxiety-related problems. As with other addictions, the consequences of gambling can cause feelings of despondency and helplessness. If gambling becomes a problem, it can lead to low self-esteem, stress, anxiety and depression.
If you're feeling depressed, the idea of earning some money may seem like all you need to feel better. Fong, MD, author of “The Biopsychosocial Consequences of Pathological Gambling”, gambling aggravates depression, stress-related conditions such as hypertension, insomnia, anxiety disorders and substance use problems. Many people who play excessively feel stressed, anxious, and depressed. This can make sleeping, thinking, and problem-solving more difficult.
Using CCHS data, Humphreys et al found that recreational and casual players were less likely to have diabetes, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and high blood pressure than their non-gambling counterparts. Its self-assessment tool can help you understand the impact that gambling has on your life and provides you with resources to help you change your gaming habits. If you suffer from both a gambling disorder and a mental health disorder, this is known as a dual diagnosis and these disorders must be treated simultaneously for a successful recovery. Gambling means that you are willing to risk something you value in the hope of getting something of greater value.
When you play and experience pleasure, the set point of your mood increases temporarily and returns to normal afterwards. Financial impacts, for example, include revenues from gambling, tourism, impacts on other industries, and change in the value or cost of infrastructure. If you have noticed that the game is preventing you from achieving the things you want, it's time to tackle it. If you see that gambling is a problem for someone you care about, you better be honest with that person about how it is affecting you.
For example, increased debt and financial strain on players affect the lives of family members, and the effects of escalating bankruptcy and homelessness are also seen in the community. Gambling problems in the family: a stratified probability sample study of prevalence and reported consequences. DW's have been used to measure the intangible social costs of players, but they could also be used to uncover game harms that affect the player's social network. Increased incidence of cardiovascular disorders in older adults with pathological gambling characteristics in a prospective study.
CBT will look at these beliefs around betting, as well as how you feel and behave when you want to play. The Gordon Moody Association offers counseling, counseling and residential treatment courses for anyone with gambling problems.
