Symptoms Of Compulsive Gambling Disorder

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Last updated: 10/25/2018
Author: Addictions.com Medical Review

Reading Time: 3minutes

Disorder

Anyone who likes to gamble doesn’t have to go far to find a way to place a bet. Both legal and illegal gambling operations continue to increase in number; especially with ongoing internet technology advancements at our fingertips.If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling habit, a good first step towards gaining control lies in learning to spot the symptoms of gambling addiction. Not surprisingly, the symptoms of gambling addiction hold a strong similarity to those of other addictions.

Symptoms Of Compulsive Gambling Disorder
  1. Gambling addiction comes in many forms, the primary symptom being a craving for gaming. Some of the signs and symptoms of problem gambling include: Gambling is not a financial problem, but an.
  2. Symptoms Of Compulsive Gambling Addiction Many times a compulsive gambler may find himself ashamed of his gambling habits, for this reason he tries to hide his problems from others. If any of these symptoms are found in a person who has gambling habit, he should seek treatment for his pathological gambling disorder.
Symptoms of gambling disorder

Gambling Addictions

Drastic mood changes are a common sign of gambling addiction.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine describes a gambling addiction as an impulse-control disorder. Like most every impulse-control disorder, a person’s inability to control the behavior is the deciding factor. Symptoms of gambling addiction play out in the same areas of life as an alcohol or drug addiction would. The addict’s behavior becomes excessive to the point where gambling, or the thought of gambling becomes the focus of his or her world. Daily obligations and responsibilities take a backseat to any opportunity to gamble. Much like the drug addict, a person’s life – family, friends and job – slowly slips away as the addiction grows stronger.

Symptoms Of Compulsive Gambling Disorder

Learn to recognize the symptoms of compulsive gambling to help your friend or loved one overcome their addiction. This is an impulse control disorder which can be treated with therapy. A gambling addiction is very similar to a drug or alcohol addiction.

Symptoms of Compulsive Gambling Like drug and alcohol abuse disorders, a gambling disorder can wreak havoc in most every area of a person’s life. Symptoms of compulsive gambling disorder include – Decline in personal appearance and/or hygiene. Signs of gambling addiction include: Thinking about gambling more often; having a craving for gambling that grows in intensely Gambling money or possessions you don’t have Needing to make bigger bets more often to achieve the rush of excitement.

The symptoms of gambling addiction remain the same whether a person frequents an actual casino or online betting sites. Be it playing the lottery, slot machines or playing poker, the addiction cycle functions the same way.

Symptoms

Also known as compulsive gambling, pathological gambling, and problem gambling, an actual addiction diagnosis involves one to four main symptoms that exist apart from any other conditions or disorders. The four main symptoms of gambling addiction are:

  • A preoccupation with gambling to the point where it occupies every waking thought. This includes planning for future gambling pursuits and devising ways to acquire money for gambling purposes
  • An inability to cut back on gambling behavior after multiple attempts have been made
  • Putting important life areas at risk (work, friendships, significant relationships) for the sake of gambling
  • Changes in mood, changes in overall sense of well-being when unable to engage in gambling activities.

Inevitably, significant parts of a person’s life start to fall away as symptoms of gambling addiction take top priority over everything else. In many cases, a person has to hit rock bottom before seeing the problem for what it is.

Symptoms Of Compulsive Gambling Disorder

Gambling Addiction Diagnosis

Symptoms Of Compulsive Gambling Disorders

Since other conditions and/or circumstances can influence a person’s overall behavior, a true gambling addiction exists apart from any other pre-existing conditions. This means, the symptoms of gambling addiction must be able to stand on their own without any other co-occurring influences.

Symptoms Of Compulsive Gambling Disorder List

Co-occurring influences can take the form of problems with alcohol and drugs. Mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder can also trigger gambling binges. Medical conditions can also cause a person to act erratically or act on impulse.

In order to get the kind of help a person needs, a comprehensive physical and psychological evaluation should be done to identify any conditions that may produce symptoms of gambling addiction. Regardless of the source of the problem, symptoms of gambling addiction should be viewed as a warning sign that something’s wrong.

Learn to recognize the symptoms of compulsive gambling to help your friend or loved one overcome their addiction. This is an impulse control disorder which can be treated with therapy.

A gambling addiction is very similar to a drug or alcohol addiction. It is the excitement of the game, not necessarily the money that keeps the gambler coming back for more. Over time, more money is waged to increase the thrill, often in amounts that you cannot afford to lose. Unlike normal gamblers, compulsive gamblers keep playing to win their money back, which eventually ends in ruin. You can recognize the symptoms of compulsive gambling if you think about your behavior towards gambling.

Signs of Compulsive Gambling:

  • Being preoccupied by gambling.
  • Concealing your gambling from others.
  • Lying to hide your gambling from others.
  • Borrowing money or stealing money to continue gambling.
  • Feeling guilty after gambling.
  • Gaining a thrill from risking money gambling.
  • Increasing your gambling risks.
  • Reviewing past gambling experiences in your mind.
  • Trying to cut back on gambling without success.
  • Reducing the time you spend with family to gamble.
  • Reducing the time you spend at work to gamble.
  • Financial ruin due to gambling.
  • Legal troubles as a result of gambling.
  • Loss of career due to gambling.
  • Loss of friendships or family relationships due to gambling.
  • Suicide attempts due to gambling, gambling losses or embarrassment.
  • You Should Seek Professional Medical Advice If Any of the Following Apply to You:
  • You have tried to cut back on gambling, but have failed.
  • You beg, borrow or steal money to continue gambling.
  • You hide your gambling from others.
  • The amount of time that you devote to gambling increases.
  • Gambling is affecting your job and relationships.

There are several ways that can help you with gambling problem. Once of those is to do it step by step and gradually. You may opt to consider online gambling like https://bisadomino.com. With this, somehow, you can minimize your gambling addiction slowly.

If someone has asked you about your problem or has suggested that you have a gambling problem it is a good sign that there may be a problem. If your family members, friends, co-workers, boss or teacher has asked you about your gambling, you may want to review the symptoms above. If you think that you have a problem, contact your doctor or another medical professional to be evaluated, diagnosed and receive treatment. Just because you have experienced one of the above symptoms does not mean that you are a compulsive gambler, but it does mean you should investigate it further.

Symptoms Of Compulsive Gambling Disorder Symptoms

If you suspect that a family member or friend has a gambling addiction, contact your doctor or a professional interventionist for further advice on how to proceed properly.