Warning Signs of a Gambling Addiction

Developing an addiction to gambling may happen without conscious realization. Those who suffer from gambling addictions may not even believe they do. Addiction to gambling can cause problems in your home life, on your job and with friends who see that you have an addiction but are unsure how to help.

The truth of the matter is that today many people suffer from different types of gambling addictions for a variety of reasons. In order to understand the addiction itself, it is important to recognize the types and warning signs of gambling addiction.

One type of gambler who is suffering from an addiction to gambling is the escape gambler. Escape gamblers often turn to the casino because the bright lights and visual stimulation allows them to escape their own worries. Escape gamblers don’t need to feel a rush of excitement from gambling but instead seek to have their own feelings numbed by games such as the slot machines, which require basically no thought or action other than to pull the slot.

Another type of gambler who has an active addiction is the action gambler. Action gamblers enjoy the thrill of the chase. Gambling is like a drug to them and once taken, the high lasts only a short while before they want to feel the rush of adrenaline that comes from taking a risk such as purchasing a hundred lotto tickets on a hunch that one will win the jackpot.

There are many different warning signs that there’s a gambling addiction taking place. Some of the more common warning signs include but are not limited to: borrowing money from friends and family, unaccounted for cash with unpaid bills at the same time, unexplained increase in credit card activity, repeated cash advances and loans, shortage in money with no change to expenses or decrease in income, missing valuables, steady decrease in savings, letters and calls from creditors and missing bank statements.

A gambling addiction does not have to mean daily gambling to be an addiction. If you can answer yes to gambling in secret, lying about gambling, feeling remorse after you gamble, spending your last money on gambling, stealing to gamble, gambling to escape your problems, gambling to solve your problems or celebrating by gambling you have a gambling addiction and should seek professional treatment to help you regain control of your finances and your life.

There are typically four phases that come with a gambling addiction. The first phase is the winning phase, creating a false sense of ability to gamble successfully. The second phase is the losing phase where losing is met by more gambling to try and recoup losses of borrowed money. The third phase is the desperation phase shame and guilt result after gambling but the compulsion to continue is a stronger pull. The fourth and final phase is the hopeless phase where gambling can lead to alcohol and drug abuse and in worse case scenarios, attempted or successful suicide.

Any gambling addiction can be treated but the first step involves recognizing the addiction and its warning signs.

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