Why is it important to seek professional help for gambling addiction?

These are the reasons why gambling addiction is a problem that should be treated.

It is estimated that around 0.9% of Spaniards will develop a gambling addiction at some point in their lives.

This is a psychological disorder that, despite the fact that in many social circles it is very normalized, requires therapeutic support as soon as possible, because its effects are reflected in a wide variety of severe problems.

Throughout this article you will find a summary of these harmful effects of gambling addiction, and several guidelines on what to do about this pathology..

What is gambling addiction?

As its name suggests, gambling addiction is a type of addictive disorder in which all the fundamental characteristics of these pathologies are present, including dependence on a certain pattern of behavior and the need to delve ever deeper into these behaviors to avoid discomfort. a certain pattern of behavior and the need to delve deeper and deeper into these behaviors to avoid discomfort..

However, unlike what happens with drug addiction, in this case the person does not feel the need to consume a particular psychoactive substance, but the problem is based on the need to play games of chance (although it should be clarified that there is also addiction to video games as a separate category).

Characteristic symptoms of gambling addiction

These are the most characteristic symptoms of gambling addiction, and signs of the extent to which this disorder is a problem that goes beyond simple gambling addiction.

1. Appearance of the feeling of discomfort if a time passes without playing.

One of the distinctive features of this disorder is that it does not simple well-being is not expressed by the fact of participating in games of chance.What drives the action is, above all, the avoidance of the discomfort produced by not playing.

2. The need to gamble more and more

This need is expressed both in qualitative and quantitative termsGambling is becoming an increasingly important part of a person's life.

3. Use of deception to ask for money and hide liquidity problems.

In order not to arouse suspicion about the instability generated by the addiction (something that could lead others to put pressure on the person to end the gambling habit), the person tries to disguise their economic problems, in order to have easier access to loans..

4. Poor anger management and a tendency to be irritable.

Something as simple as going many hours without playing makes the person see as an intolerable obstacle anything that would cause him to postpone those sessions even longer, or anything that would distract him from the game.or anything that distracts them from thinking about and fantasizing about the subject.

5. Tendency to play hide-and-seek

This is another of the behavior patterns associated with hiding the existence of the pathology. For example, it takes the form of going to the casino without telling anyone, or participating in gambling games without telling anyone.or in participating in poker games by locking oneself in the bedroom, etc.

6. Discomfort due to negative emotions

Along with the development of this disorder, emotions associated with the discomfort arise, especially of anxious and depressive type. In fact, people diagnosed with this condition are statistically more likely to suffer from suicidal ideation..

What are the solutions to this disorder?

Gambling addiction can be overcome, but all solutions involve seeking professional help and initiating a treatment process. In this sense, you must take into account these criteria to know how to find a good therapy option.

• It must be a team formed by accredited health professionals.
• That these health professionals have many years of experience in addiction treatment.
• That the team of therapists work with health-accredited programs.
• That the detoxification center is accredited for treatment of addictive behaviors.
• Different types of treatments are offered, adaptable, and include a follow-up process.

Looking for addiction treatment?

If you are looking for treatment options for addictive disorders, whether they are drug addiction or pathological gambling and other behavioral addictions, please contact us.

Llaurant la Llum is a detoxification center specialized in the treatment of addictions both through outpatient care and through our residential treatment program, both based on methodologies supported by scientific evidence. Our residential admissions center is located in Picasent (Valencia) and our outpatient clinic is in the center of Valencia, next to the City of Arts and Sciences.

Bibliographic references:

• American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Becoña Iglesias, E. (2004). Pathological gambling: prevalence in Spain Salud y drogas, vol. 4(2): PP. 9 - 34.
• Griffiths, M. (2003). Action plan: Problem Gambling. The Psychologist. 16 (11): 582–585.
• Moreyra, P.; Ibáñez, A.; Saiz-Ruiz, J.; Nissenson, Kore; B., Carlos (2000). Review of the Phenomenology, Etiology and Treatment of Pathological Gambling. German Journal of Psychiatry, 3(2): pp. 37 - 52.
• Potenza, M.N. (2008). The neurobiology of pathological gambling and drug addiction: an overview and new findings. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363(1507): pp. 3181 - 3189.