Compulsive Gambling
Singapore, July 2007
One's inability to resist impulses to
gamble, leading to severe personal or social consequences. It affects more
men than women, and it usually begins in adolescence in men and later in women.
Pathological gambling affects 1-3% of adults.
This behavior usually progresses from occasional to habitual gambling. The
urge to gamble becomes so great that the tension can only be relieved by
more gambling. Higher stakes and personal risks become involved, as well as
neglect of other interests, family, and work. Severe family problems,
financial ruin, and criminal behavior to support the habit may result. The
cause for this behavior is unknown.
Gambling addiction is a significant problem in the United States impacting
adults of all ages and their families. Until recently legal casino and
sports betting were limited to two states. The traditional game of chance
for seniors is bingo, a pastime that serves as a recreational event in many
communities. The growth of riverboat and Indian casinos, state and national
lotteries, and Internet access to off-shore sports and parlor betting, has
dramatically increased access for all adults including seniors. Older adults
are, perhaps, more vulnerable than other age groups given their greater
dependence on fixed incomes and more limited ability to recover from
gambling losses.
Symptoms
Signs of Problem Gambling:
Increasing the frequency and the amount of money gambled
Spending an excessive amount of time gambling at the expense of job or
family time
Being preoccupied with gambling or with obtaining money with which to gamble
Gambling creates a special and intense pleasure, an aroused sense of being
"in action"
Continuing to gamble despite negative consequences such as large losses, or
work or family problems caused by gambling
Borrowing money to gamble, taking out secret loans, or maximizing credit
card
Bragging about wins but not talking about losses
Frequent mood swings, higher when winning, lower when losing
Gambling for longer periods of time or more money than originally planned
Secretive behavior such as hiding betting slips or receipts; having mail,
bills, etc., sent to work, a P.O. box or other address
Gambling is a common behavior that is not considered a disorder until the
symptoms listed above are exhibited. When tracing the development of
Pathological Gambling similarities to the development of Substance
Dependence are apparent. Initially, many gamblers report feeling high and
success leads to increased gambling which in turn might result in an overly
large amount that exceeds the gambler's resources; and this leads to
overconfidence and risk-taking behavior..
Health Hazards
If not detected and treated early, compulsive gambling might lead
to estrangement from family and friends as well as financial and legal
difficulties
- Compulsive gambling is a chronic condition: relapse after treatment is a
real risk
Causes
This behavior usually progresses from occasional gambling to habitual
gambling. The urge to gamble becomes so great that the tension can only be
relieved by more gambling. Higher stakes and personal risks become involved,
as well as neglect of other interests, family, and work. Severe family
problems, financial ruin, and criminal behavior to support the gambling
habit may result. The cause for this behavior is not known. One risk factor
may be excessive alcohol use, which lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment.
To understand causes of compulsive gambling or pathological gambling, it is
useful to explore causes of impulse control disorders.
Self-Control
Most people have good self-control. Even when angered or jostled, most
people can keep it together. But some people lose control and go into fits
of rage, creating tense moments for those around them.
For someone who wants to regain control, it's important to identify how rage
begins and what alternative behaviors are available. Therapists recommend
these four steps for accomplishing these tasks.
Tune in to what is going on in your body that lets you know you are about to
lose control.
Figure out what happened to make you feel this way.
Think about ways in which you might control yourself.
Choose the best way to control yourself, and do it.
It's unrealistic to expect someone who has lost control to calmly and
deliberately go through each of these steps. So here's a technique that will
help: Think back to a time when you lost control. What triggered the event?
What signals did your body give off that you were about to lose it? With the
answers to these two questions, you can engage in a mental exercise that can
help prevent losing control in the future. Picture the same circumstance.
Imagine your body giving you the same signals that you"re about to lose
control. Then, imagine yourself doing something else, anything else,
constructive. Imagine this over and over again until you have the
alternative behavior firmly imbedded in your mind. You"ll find that the next
time you begin to feel rage, your mind will already be sending you the
message that you have a choice - you don't have to lose control.
Treatment
Compulsive gambling can be treated. Treatment for the person with compulsive
gambling begins with the recognition of the problem.
Treatment options include individual and group psychotherapy, and self-help
support groups such as Gamblers Anonymous. This is probably the most
effective treatment. It is a 12-step program similar to Alcoholics
Anonymous. Abstinence principles that apply to other types of addiction,
such as substance abuse and alcohol dependence, are also relevant in the
treatment of compulsive gambling behavior.
Recently, medications such as antidepressants have been shown beneficial in
combination with psychotherapy.
Many people are able to gain control over their lives after undergoing
treatment for compulsive gambling.
Prevention
Prevention of the urge to develop addictive behavior is challenging and may
not always be possible. Counseling may benefit people who are prone to
compulsive gambling or other addictive behavior. People who are aware that
compulsive gambling affects close relatives might be at higher risk and
should be especially careful.
Follow the links below for additional reading:
www.imh.com.sg
www.camp.org.sg
www.thkms.org.sg
www.ncpg.org.sg
www.problemgamblingconference.org.sg
Individuals
and families with gambling problems
can ring the hotline 1800-X-GAMBLE or
"1800-9-426253" from
9am-6.30pm on Mondays and Fridays, 9am-9pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays, and 9am-6pm
on Saturdays. The hotline is funded by Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society.