2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43
Today, addiction to various gambling is considered a hobby. However, in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) by the World Health Organization, the pathological craving for gambling is included as a disease, along with alcoholism and drug addiction. Gambling addiction refers to non-chemical addictions that entail a number of emotional disorders and cause a depressive state. Social spheres of life are destroyed, loved ones suffer. Often, the disease is complicated by the use of alcohol and drugs.
Gambling addiction, or gambling addiction ("I play" + "passion, madness, attraction"), are divided into two types:
- on-line games in which certain cash investments are required to complete the next level;
- gambling ("playing for money") - sweepstakes, lotteries, all gambling, trading in stock and foreign exchange markets.
Psychology of the game
In many ways, gambling addiction resembles alcohol or drug addiction. The basis of its emergence and development lies in the psychological roots. In most cases, before the pathological enthusiasm for the game, a person develops addictive behavior. The gambler shields himself from the harsh reality, creating his own illusory world.
The danger of gambling addiction lies in the imperceptible progressive development. To complicate matters, the games themselves are socially acceptable and most of them are legalized. Therefore, the addict and his relatives do not realize how serious their situation is.
The first session of the game smoothly develops into the next. Gradually, a person gets carried away and gets involved in the gameplay. There is a feeling of faith in success, which is confirmed by the winnings. Excitement intensifies and strengthens. Especially if the game is for money. Gradually, all the winnings are invested in the game and the money loses its value, becoming only a game unit. The feeling of time is lost, the world around it goes into the background. Even outside the game, the addict remembers victories, analyzes losses, mentally develops plans and strategies for the next stage.
The gambling addict is characterized by excessive excitability and aggression when losing, an irresistible desire to win back. He begins to lie, borrows money. Life turns into a cycle: play-lose-take. Interest in everyday life disappears, positive emotions can be experienced only during the game. Debts are sharply increasing, family relationships are destroyed, problems with the law arise. Like chemical addicts, cravings arise. With a long break between games, apathy sets in, a kind of "withdrawal".
At the last stage of the disease, all hope of winning disappears, but the game continues for the sake of the game itself. Euphoria and excitement are gone, the addict plays aimlessly, to the point of exhaustion. Depression occurs, suicidal thoughts appear. Sometimes this addiction is fatal. Very often gambling addicts begin to abuse alcohol or drugs. Addictive behavior is exacerbated and chemical dependence develops. The gambling addict endangers not only his life, but also the whole family, which may be homeless due to numerous debts.
How to cure gambling addiction?
Drug treatment for gambling addiction is not used. Medicines are prescribed by a doctor only when it is necessary to cure the consequences of addiction: depression, insomnia, psychosomatic diseases, etc.
The rehabilitation program for gambling addicts is based on identifying the causes of the disease and finding the best way to satisfy frustrated needs. In the case of simple isolation from the game, gambling addiction will be replaced by another form of addiction - alcoholism, drug addiction. Therefore, the work is based on psychotherapeutic methods of treatment. Techniques such as psychoanalysis, introspection, group therapy are used. The main goal is to plunge into the nature of pathology and find the roots of addiction. Running from reality arises from psychological trauma, feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem. Gambling addiction is a symptom of a mental illness. Treating the symptom does not remove the pain itself, but only exacerbates it. An experienced psychologist and psychotherapist helps to find the origins of the disease and new opportunities for living in reality. Complex therapy is aimed at restoring mental processes and state of mind.
It is important for the relatives of gambling addicts to understand all the consequences of gambling addiction and turn to specialists. Gambling addiction is a disease that requires timely treatment!
Psychologist at the Vershina-Bryansk Rehabilitation Center
Zoya Aleksandrovna Belousova
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