Gambling is the act of betting something of value (such as money or property) on an uncertain outcome that may either be positive (winning) or negative (losing). Gambling activities include card games, dice, lottery tickets and slot machines; individuals often gamble for social, financial and entertainment reasons – although those struggling with addiction may use risky behaviors like gambling as an attempt to alleviate depression, family conflicts or job loss by engaging in risky behaviours like this one.
Gambling can provide hours of enjoyment, yet also become a form of addiction that can have severe repercussions in someone’s life. Gambling poses several major risks including increased debt, financial strain and mental health issues that have an adverse impact on friends and family as well as on communities as a whole.
Problem gambling is an insidious disorder with multiple risk factors ranging from biological and environmental considerations to psychological and social influences. Men tend to be affected more than women, though all age groups can be vulnerable; children who play video games requiring microtransactions or payments are especially at risk.
Social costs and benefits associated with gambling are difficult to assess in terms of quantification; thus they have often been ignored in literature. Current methods emphasize monetary impacts which can easily be measured; yet ignore non-monetary social costs which affect relationships or quality of life of gamblers. A new model for assessing these social impacts and benefits must therefore be devised.
Though it may be tempting to judge those with gambling problems, it’s essential to remember that they did not choose this activity and didn’t set out to become addicted. People may have begun gambling for various reasons – perhaps to forget their worries or feel an adrenaline rush or “high”, but these feelings quickly turn into addiction. Therefore it’s vital that loved ones break their gambling habits while providing alternative coping mechanisms like exercise, hobbies and therapy as a form of stress relief.
For those struggling with gambling addiction, seeking professional assistance from a therapist or counselor is often the best solution. Individual and group therapy as well as 12-step programs modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, peer support groups and educational classes may provide necessary help in combatting it. Such resources may strengthen support networks, find new sources of pleasure, retrain brain chemistry to focus on healthier alternatives to gambling and ultimately stop you gambling altogether – helping to enrich life more fully than before! If you feel yourself becoming trapped by gambling addiction today is time to seek treatment – You deserve it!