Gambling can stimulate the brain's reward system in the same way as drugs or alcohol, leading to addiction. If you have a problem with compulsive gambling, you can continually pursue bets that generate losses, hide your behavior, drain savings, accumulate debt, or even resort to theft or fraud to support your addiction. The damage of the game isn't just about losing money. Gambling can affect self-esteem, relationships, physical and mental health, work performance and social life.
It can harm not only the person playing, but also family, friends, workplaces and communities. Here are some signs of damage to the game you can look for. Gambling can become an addiction, just like drugs or alcohol, if you use it compulsively or feel out of control. Gambling can affect the part of our brain that releases dopamine, a hormone that “feels good” and that creates sensations of pleasure and reward.
When we win a bet, our brain gives us an emotional reward. If you become addicted to gambling, other pleasurable activities may no longer make you feel good. So, instead, you'll play for the same enthusiasm. Many factors can contribute to gambling addiction, including desperation for money, the desire to experience strong and euphoric emotions, the social status associated with being a successful player, and the entertaining atmosphere of the main game scene.
Unfortunately, once gambling addiction takes hold, breaking the cycle is difficult. Serious addictions can take hold when someone feels financially desperate and wants to recover what they have lost. Once the person finally wins, while they may end up collecting a huge amount of money from that win, it is rarely enough to cover what has already been lost. Most players don't even come close to breaking even.
If you have noticed that the game prevents you from achieving the things you want, it's time to tackle it. Formerly responsible and strong-willed people are just as likely to develop a gambling problem as anyone else. 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. At the same time, you may be furious again with your loved one for gambling and tired of trying to keep up the charade.
It may not happen right away, so many people probably don't understand the negative effects of the game. GamCare offers support and information for members, friends and family of people with gambling problems. Increased accessibility, for example through online gambling, requires greater awareness and appropriate legislation. If you think you or your loved one may be suffering from gambling addiction, call to discuss the signs of gambling addiction and your individual situation.
If you feel like you need to try just one more time, or if you feel anxious when you think about quitting smoking, there is a good chance that you are suffering from a gambling addiction. Because the availability of opportunities to play is related to the level of gambling problems in a given community, Griffiths argues that it is the number of potential rewards, not the actual rewards or even the type of bets, that drives pathological players. Most people who gamble have no problem with gambling, but some people become compulsive gamblers at some point in their lives. Maintaining recovery from gambling addiction largely depends on finding alternative behaviors that can replace gambling.
People who are addicted to gambling cannot control their desire to play, even if they are losing a lot of money. Some people who are affected by gambling may also have problems with alcohol or drugs, possibly due to a predisposition to addiction. You may have spent a lot of time and energy trying to keep your loved one from playing games or having to cover for them. However, rescuing the player from debt can make matters worse by allowing their gambling problems to continue.
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