How to Support a Loved One When Their Gambling Has Become Problematic
Gambling is a popular pastime that involves betting money or other valuable items against an outcome. Whether it’s playing poker, horse racing or slot machines, gambling triggers the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with reward and pleasure. However, gambling is not without its risks and some people have difficulty recognizing when their gambling behaviour has crossed the line into problematic territory. It’s important for family members to understand these risks and know how to support a loved one when they are struggling with gambling addiction.
Many communities consider gambling to be a common pastime, which can make it difficult for individuals to recognize when their gambling is becoming problematic. It can also be hard to ask for help if your community has certain values that promote gambling activity as desirable and normal. Identifying these cultural or social norms and understanding how they influence your views can help you seek treatment and change your habits.
People who gamble often develop friendships around their shared interest in gambling and this can provide a sense of social connectedness and belonging. These friendships can become toxic, though, when individuals begin lending or borrowing money from each other and engaging in self-destructive patterns of behavior. Changing these patterns of interaction can be challenging, but is necessary to reduce the negative impact of problem gambling on your life.
Increasingly, people are accessing gambling websites and betting apps through their computers, smartphones and tablets. Some of these sites offer self-exclusion options, which allow people to ban themselves from gambling activities. Removing these digital temptations can help prevent impulsive decisions. Additionally, deleting gambling applications and removing auto-fill information on devices can make it harder to access casinos and other gambling websites.
Aside from monetary consequences, gambling can have other serious health and wellbeing impacts on people. It can cause mental illness, especially depression and anxiety; it can interfere with a person’s work or education; and it can lead to loss of employment, homelessness or other serious financial problems. It can also have a negative impact on relationships and a person’s health.
The psychological consequences of gambling can be complex and varied, with different observers offering a range of theories as to why some individuals have problem gambling. These include recreational interest, diminished mathematical skills, poor judgment, cognitive distortions, moral turpitude and more. There is no agreed-on nomenclature to describe the disorder, and different people use their own terms when describing problem gambling (American Psychiatric Association 2000).
Individuals who experience difficulties with their gambling can benefit from psychotherapy, which is an established form of treatment for a variety of mental health issues. There are several types of psychotherapy available, including cognitive behavioural therapy and group psychotherapy. Family therapy can be particularly helpful for people with gambling disorders, as it helps them build a stronger support system and improve communication with family members. In addition, psychodynamic therapy may be beneficial to people with gambling disorder as it focuses on the unconscious processes that can influence their behaviour.
