Prevention and help for gambling addiction
Features of the development of ludomania.
Ludomania begins like this: a person simply wants to relax, try their luck, cope with stress, have fun with friends, like in the movies – bet on black. And then, some people prone to developing addiction fall into a hormonal trap. Adrenaline, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters produced by the brain during the game and at the moment of winning provide such strong sensations that the player returns for them again and again.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that in some cases, during the game, relaxation, emotional tension relief, distraction from unpleasant problems occur, and the game is seen as a pleasant pastime. Based on this mechanism, gradual involvement occurs, and gambling addiction develops.
Types of gambling addiction.
There are several types of gambling addiction:
casino
online casino
slot machines
online slot machines
sports betting, including online
card games
gambling bets
Manifestations of gambling addiction.
The manifestations of gambling addiction are divided into four groups, all of which aggravate each other and form a vicious circle from which it is impossible to escape without the help of a psychologist:
- Psychology. A person is constantly under stress, experiences depression; with severe addiction, suicidal thoughts begin to visit them.
- Physiology. Sleep problems, appetite problems, headaches and muscle pains, cardiovascular system problems; sometimes alcoholism and eating disorders are added to gambling addiction.
Stages of gambling addiction development.
The winning stage. Having tasted success and winnings, the gambler gets into a hormonal loop. He wants to experience euphoria again and again – the addiction mechanism is triggered. It is at this point that it is easiest to help the patient, but it is at this stage that no one thinks about the impending disaster.
The losing stage. Since it is impossible to win constantly, and the only winner is the casino, the gambler starts losing more and more often and in larger amounts. Trying to win back, a person begins to borrow money wherever possible: he takes out loans, pawns belongings, resorts to microloans. Other matters recede into the background; the main focus becomes the game process and the hope of winning back. He tries not only to get his money back but also to feel that sense of triumph and euphoria again upon winning, but it fades and eludes him.
The recklessness stage. At this stage, the gambler has neither money nor close relationships left. Everything that prevents him from gambling becomes absolute evil. At this point, he may even kill to get money for gambling. Occasionally, he may have thoughts of stopping and quitting, but even if he tries to fight – he cannot last more than a couple of days without gambling.
The despair stage. This is a dead end for a gambler. He is disappointed in gambling, he realizes that it is ruining him, but he is unable to stop. The addict is in depression and despair; he often suffers from co-occurring disorders – alcoholism or drug addiction. He has suicidal thoughts, and according to statistics, for a gambler, this is a frequently chosen way to end the craving once and for all. Now the patient may be ready to be treated, but it is very difficult to help him.
Prevention and help for gambling addiction.
Gambling addiction has a powerful psycho-biochemical basis, which means that recovering on your own is practically impossible. The question of how to get rid of ludomania becomes obvious to the gambler only at the fourth stage of the illness. Before that, the recognition of addiction is actively denied.
Therefore, the first and most important step towards recovery is to acknowledge the existence of the problem – gambling addiction. Often, this will require several conversations with a specialist psychotherapist.
These questions, developed by scientists studying ludomania, are intended for anyone who may have problems in this area and are designed to help a person decide for themselves whether they are a pathological gambler.
- Have you missed work or school to gamble?
- Has gambling ever brought you unhappiness?
- Has gambling ever negatively affected your reputation? Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
- Have you gambled to pay off debts?
- Has gambling diminished your ambitions?
- After losing, have you felt the need to return and win back as soon as possible?
- After winning, have you had a strong conviction that you should return and gamble even more?
- Do you often gamble until you lose everything?
- Have you ever borrowed money to gamble?
- Have you ever had to sell something to gamble?
- Do you have a concept of "gambling money" that you use only for gambling?
- Has gambling caused significant financial harm to you or your family?
- Have you ever gambled for longer than you intended?
- Have you ever gambled to escape from troubles?
- Have you ever broken the law to get money for gambling?
- Have you suffered from insomnia due to thoughts about gambling?
- Do problems, disappointments, or frustrations make you want to escape from it all and gamble?
If you answered yes to seven or more questions, it is recommended that you consult a specialist. They will be able to more accurately determine your predisposition to ludomania and help resolve your situation.
In all healthcare organizations of the Republic of Belarus providing psychiatric (narcological) care to the population, "helplines" operate, which also provide round-the-clock psychological counseling to individuals suffering from pathological gambling addiction and their relatives.
At the state institution "Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health," as well as in all healthcare organizations of the republic, psychiatric (narcological), psychological, and psychotherapeutic, including anonymous, assistance is provided to individuals suffering from gambling addiction, as well as to families where one family member suffers from pathological gambling addiction. Medical and psychological assistance is provided in inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as in day care departments, where medications are prescribed, gambling addiction psychotherapy is conducted, and specialized group psychocorrectional sessions are held.