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Compulsive gambling starts out as recreational and slowly progresses
to the point where it has serious consequences for both the gambler and
their family. As with any other addiction, compulsive gambling is
threefold in nature; mental, physical and spiritual, with its main
symptom being that of denial and its major characteristic loss of
control. The compulsive gambler frequently spends more time and money
gambling than they intended, and are unable to reliably predict when
they will stop once they have started.
Availability and accessibility determine the number of people that
will gamble. The greater the number of gambling facilities, the greater
the number of people who participate and therefore the greater number of
people who are at risk of becoming compulsive gamblers.
Characteristics of compulsive gambling
- Preoccupation: an
overriding passion that dominates all aspects of life. The
preoccupation transforms the gambler into a withdrawn and moody
person.
- Loss of control: not
being able to stop or limit the amount of gambling once he/she has
started.
- Continuing despite
the negative consequences.
Predictors
of compulsive gambling
- The compulsion to chase
losses.
- Repeated attempts to stop
that are not sustained over a long period of time.
- Gambling in response to
negative emotions such as stress and depression.
Phases of
compulsive gambling
- Winning
- Losing
- Desperation
Most compulsive gamblers report that they had a large win early in
their gambling. This winning leads to fantasies about winning more and
an attitude that gambling is a quick and easy way of earning additional
income.
The losing phase is when the gambler loses more than they can afford
and then attempts to recover their losses by "chasing losses" in the
hope of winning back the money.
The desperation phase is when the gambler gets into the vicious cycle
of occasionally winning, chasing losses and then suffering more losses.
Irrational gambling begins, as does the downward spiral. (eg someone
already in debt will borrow money or take money out of the house bond to
gamble). The size and frequency of bets increase and bigger debts are
accumulated until rock bottom is reached.
Effects on
problem gamblers
In general, gambling produces social and economic costs, poverty,
starvation, family disintegration and criminal behaviour. The majority
of people who gamble to excess develop psychological symptoms of
depression and anxiety. Many of these people turn to alcohol and drugs
as a means of temporarily escaping.
The physical and emotional health of the compulsive gambler starts to
deteriorate as a result of constant preoccupation with financial
problems. They become moody and irritable and often start arguments in
order to leave the house and gamble. Research shows that most compulsive
gamblers suffer from symptoms of major depression. The depression,
coupled with an inability to find a solution, the fear of being
discovered by their spouse, employer or police, exacerbated by alcohol
abuse, can lead to ideas of suicide. Up to 60% of compulsive gamblers
think about suicide and about 20% actually attempt it. Other feelings
experienced are anxiety, anger, muscular tension, headaches, high blood
pressure and fatigue.
The effects on employment are second only to the effects on the
gambler’s family. Gamblers cannot function properly at their jobs, there
is reduced productivity, absenteeism, lost opportunities for promotion,
lack of initiative, attempts to borrow money from colleagues. Lying and
deceit become a way of life.
Other behaviour includes:
- Spending savings
- Cashing in holiday/sick pay
allowance
- Drawing advances from credit
card accounts
- Taking high interest loans
- Pawning jewellery and
household goods
- Accessing other family
members’ bank accounts
- Engaging in criminal
activities.
How gambling
impacts on the family
The financial difficulties cause strain and friction. As gambling
becomes the most important thing in the gambler’s life, partners often
feel betrayed and angry, which in turn leads to loss of trust. There is
confusion, worry, despair and fear. Arguments erupt and people cease to
communicate. Lack of funds for family activities, abusive behaviour,
hopelessness and helplessness often lead to separation and divorce. The
partner suffers similar physical and emotional symptoms to the gambler
and may even become sicker than the gambler. In this environment,
children suffer neglect and fear. This is why compulsive gambling is
referred to as a family illness.
Programme
for gamblers
We believe that the only effective treatment is absolute abstinence,
and a process of self discovery and growth which empowers the gambler to
deal with life effectively and without resorting to any compulsive
behaviour. Both the gambler and the family also need ongoing support to
deal with the consequences of gambling and to prevent relapse. The
inpatient programme at Stepping Stones provides the foundation for this
long but very rewarding process of recovery.
If you or someone close to you needs help, please email or call Carry Bekker on
+27 (0)21 783 4230 at any time.
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