Gambling and Other Problems
Gambling involves betting something of value (money, property or possessions) on an event that is uncertain in nature. This is often done without any clear strategy, though there are examples of gambling that do involve some degree of skill.
People who gamble can experience a range of negative consequences, from mild to severe. These consequences can affect personal, family and work life. In addition, problems with gambling can be a trigger for other mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and other disorders. This is because some of the same neurotransmitters are involved in both gambling and these disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder.
It’s important to know that there are ways to help with a gambling problem. Many organisations offer support, assistance and counselling to people affected by gambling. They can help you learn to control your gambling behaviour, and stop hiding or lying about how much you’re spending.
If you’re worried about your or someone else’s gambling, try our quick self-assessment and support finder below. It’s a good idea to talk about how you feel with someone you trust or seek non-judgemental support from the GamCare helpline.
Occasional gambling is harmless, but if you or someone you care about uses it to make money, distract themselves from difficult thoughts or feelings, or spend more than they can afford, it could be harmful. Problem gambling can also cause serious financial, relationship and work problems, so it’s important to get help if you need it.
Gambling can be addictive because it releases dopamine in the brain, a natural reward chemical. This feeling encourages us to keep gambling, even when we’re losing. However, the longer we continue to gamble, the more likely we are to lose. We also tend to rationalise our behaviour and believe that we’ll win back the money we’ve lost.
In recent years, the understanding of pathological gambling has changed dramatically. Whereas once it was thought that such individuals had a physiological disorder like alcoholism, today it is recognised that they have psychological problems. This change has been reflected in, or at least stimulated by, the changes made to the diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder in the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Having an addiction to gambling can be hard to recognise because it’s often hidden from those closest to you. It’s also not always recognised as a real problem because of the stigma attached to gambling and the fact that some people still consider it a legitimate form of entertainment. There are also cultural beliefs about what gambling is acceptable, which can make it harder to recognize that a person has a problem. However, there are a range of treatments that can help, including cognitive-behavioral therapy. CBT can teach you to recognise and challenge unhealthy gambling behaviors, and replace false or negative beliefs with more healthy ones. It can also help you solve underlying problems that are contributing to your compulsive gambling, such as depression or anxiety.
