Have you ever been playing cards with a pot of money in the middle and watched your funds slowly trickle away? You were waiting for that big break, and after it came, you got cocky and stayed in for one hand too many. Or perhaps you’ve spent most of your income on lottery tickets, but you know the payoff will definitely come soon, especially since the numbers were just one off with the last drawing. Maybe the thrill of putting it all on the line, the adrenaline and the exhilaration you get from risking everything is extremely intoxicating. These are all signs of gambling addiction.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be as obvious or stereotypical as any of the examples listed above. Gambling addiction can be any behavioral trend in which people continuously and compulsively make bets or take risky chances even when they know the outcome could be poor and they cannot afford to fail. There are several signs of a compulsive gambler:
- Preoccupation: The person is constantly thinking of gambling and gambling experiences.
- Losing control: The person has tried to stop gambling multiple times and cannot succeed.
- Chasing losses: A gambler continues playing after he or she has lost all money in attempt to win it back.
- Bailout: An addict will continuously rely upon friends and family members for financial support.
- Escape: The addict using gambling to avoid responsibilities.
The cause for gambling addiction is similar to the causes for all other addictions: the brain becomes used to the feeling of adrenaline or euphoria from a particular experience and begins to crave recurrence. If gambling gives you a high of some sort, either that burst of adrenaline when you make a risky move or the flood of dopamine from the relief and reward upon winning big, then it can become all too easy to slip into addiction.
The brain may come to depend upon the increased adrenaline and dopamine levels, or the increased levels of whichever neurotransmitter your body is producing while gambling. If your brain becomes dependent on it, you will have to find a way to achieve those levels or face withdrawal symptoms.
Gambling addiction is a serious problem that many people in America face, and it can cause financial problems that affect not only the addict but also those around him or her. If you know someone with a gambling addiction or fear you have one yourself, explore the Drug Treatment Center Finders website and seek help as soon as possible.
