Friday, November 6, 2009

Recognizing a Gambling Problem

By Scott Hastings

Gambling takes lots of various forms. Even bingo and the lotto can be called as gambling. And though these 2 forms aren't usually a difficulty, other kinds of gambling can become very addictive. And once you become addicted to gambling, your whole life can be effected for a very long time. In can put you deep in debt as well as have an affect on your relationship with relatives and friends.

Many times when someone gets dependent on gambling, it changes his complete capability to deal with all situations. The gambler can grow to be illogical, confrontational and unreasonable. To relieve this position some sort of treatment is normally required. But before any of this can happen, the gambler must first recognize that there's a problem. Gamblers Anonymous has set down some tenets to help identify someone with a gambling problem.

  • Has your attendance in class or work suffered? If you are late or missing time at school or work, it may be an indication of a difficulty.
  • Is your house life unhappy? If you gamble, is it effecting your life at home?
  • Has your reputation changed? Constant gambling may influence the way folks look at you and think of you.
  • Winning or Losing - are you feeling guilty? No matter if you win or lose, you can feel guilty from gambling.
  • Is gambling a source of mandatory income? Do you bet to pay off other bills? If this is the case it can lead to dependence.
  • Is gambling monopolizing your personality? Are some of your good qualities like aspiration and potency being influenced due to your gambling?
  • do you have the need to win back what you have lost? The sensation of getting back what you have lost can be a sign of gambling addiction.
  • Does winning give rise to greed? If you win, do you want to bet again to make even more?
  • Do you know when to stop? Do you keep gambling till you are totally out of money or do you set a threshold. If you keep going, you could have a problem.
  • Do you borrow from chums so that you can gamble? If you keep losing, do you borrow money from buddies and family so that you can return to the table and gamble some more?
  • Are you selling personal property to get gambling money? If you're selling items to finance your gambling, then chances are, you've got a problem.
  • Are you isolating your gambling money? If you hesitate or refuse to use your gambling money for anything apart from gambling, this should be a very bad sign.
  • Is your family less important to your gambling? If you are finding that you and your folks are becoming secondary thoughts to gambling, then you are probably too far concerned in this practice.
  • Do you play past the point where you planned on stopping? experiencing problems stopping at any specified time is an indication of a problem.
  • Do you use gambling as an escape? Is gambling your method of escaping from problems? If this is the case it may be time to bring to a halt.
  • Have you considered criminal activity as a way of financing gambling? If you have, then gambling has become a problem.
  • Are you having difficulty sleeping? this is due to an increased level of gambling.
  • Do external influences compel you to gamble? Things going down in your life can drive you to gamble to overlook them.
  • Do you celebrate events by gambling? Do you use gambling as a way of celebration?
  • Have you thought of suicide due to your gambling? The speculation of suicide is a sign of a serious problem.


If you're a gambler with a difficulty, then you probably answered'yes' to 7 of these points. These are some recommendations to help you get out of that gambling rut.

  • Only take a stated amount of cash with you to gamble
  • Leave visa cards and the debit card at home.
  • Have a stern time limit to how long you may play
  • remember that losing is rather more likely than winning
  • Don't use any prize to gamble even more.
  • If you run out of money, go home - don't keep gambling.
  • Take someone with you who will be a kind of delegated driver to help you quit when you should.

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