Category: Australia

Gambling, like drinking alcohol, is largely a harmless indulgence for most adults. The thrill of betting and winning holds a real appeal for many people. Most just head out for a day of chance, win or lose, and leave it at that. But for some people, gambling becomes a preoccupation to the point that it impacts their lives on the order of a real addiction. What is the psychology behind this addiction?

One of the most significant flaws in thinking that contributes to compulsive gambling is something called the “Gambler’s Fallacy.” This is when we believe the outcome of a chance event can be predicted past on past events. If I flip a coin nine times and it comes up heads each time, there is still a fifty/fifty chance that it will be tails the tenth time. The gambler’s fallacy leads one to anticipate heads even though the odds are factually against this likelihood.

Once an individual begins thinking with the gambler’s fallacy, they are led to begin making seriously flawed decisions. For example, even after losing money for an extended period of time, the gambling addict, or compulsive gambler, will become convinced that they are due to win simply because they have lost. This kind of thinking does not square with reality and becomes extremely destructive. 

Further flaws in thought lead gambling addicts to make their decisions to bet money based simply on the fact that someone else has won. Simply put, the psychological process of compulsive gambling compels someone to see only the winning example rather than the vast number of losses which attend any chance event. The compulsive gambler is only able to recognize the winner of a lottery. They will not acknowledge the countless losses that attend the same lottery. Those of us who gamble for fun can see the vast odds against winning and make decisions accordingly. The gambling addict does not.

To complicate all of this, gambling will eventually afford almost anyone a win. This partially reinforces the other flaws in thought for the gambling addict. Even after losing nearly everything they have, a short-term gain reinforces the belief that they are due for a big win and that they are the exception to the odds. Thus the cycle of chasing the prize begins anew and the fallacies of thought are confirmed.

Since these modes of thinking are inherently flawed the losses will inevitably pile up. Gambling addicts will then feel the need to recoup the losses. Loss chasing becomes the final psychological trap that fuels gambling addiction. Since the process of losing has put an individual at a disadvantage, they see no option but to continue gambling in order to repair the damage. The problem becomes the solution, and this is a signal feature of addiction. Just as an alcoholic will drink to drive away the suffering of alcoholism, the gambling addict will gamble in order to repair the damage from gambling. The cycle is complete.

Gambling is a real addiction. And it can be treated. This is the good news. Since gambling addiction follows so many of the same psychological patterns as other addiction, the treatments are in place to recover from this problem.  

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Gambling Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

The Internet Has Made Gambling Addiction More Prevalent

 Once upon a time, you had to go to a casino if you wanted to gamble. Now, with gambling available on the Internet, you can gamble from the comfort of your own home just by providing your credit card information. With the advent of online gambling, more and more people around the world have developed a problem with gambling.

Gambling addiction is a major problem for millions of people around the world. It causes financial difficulties, relationship problems, work issues, and it can destroy someone’s self-respect. Once someone becomes a compulsive gambler, they usually need help to get back on track.  

Seven Signs That You Might Have A Gambling Addiction

 Are you a compulsive gambler? Here are seven signs that you may have a gambling addiction:

1. You have financial difficulties because of your gambling. Have you run up significant credit card debt, gotten behind in your rent or mortgage payments, or borrowed money you can’t pay back because of your gambling activities? If so, this is a tell-tale sign that you have a problem with gambling.

2. Your gambling has caused problems in your most important personal relationships. You may have a spouse who has told you time and time again to quit gambling, but you continue gambling anyway. You may have stopped spending time with the people you care about to gamble. If your gambling is putting a strain on the relationships that matter most to you. You may want to consider the fact that your gambling has gotten out of control.

3. You have gambled after you promised yourself you wouldn’t. This is a sign that you have a problem. If you have made the commitment to yourself that you were going to stop gambling and you have continued to gamble anyway, your situation is likely out of control. If you are gambling against your own will, and you seem to be unable to stop on your own, you may need professional help.

4. You are hiding your gambling from others or lying about it. If you have to gamble in secret because you are ashamed of what you are doing – or you know it is going to cause problems in your relationships – you should be concerned. This means you feel you are doing something wrong and you are ashamed of what you are doing. This is a strong indicator that you have a gambling addiction.

5. Gambling is causing problems at work. If your work performance is suffering because of your gambling habits, this is a red flag. If you are missing work to gamble, coming in late because you were up gambling late the night before, or you are unable to focus because you are constantly obsessing about gambling, you’re in trouble.

6. You obsess about gambling. If you are constantly thinking about gambling when you are not gambling, this is cause for concern. People who do not have a problem with gambling do not spend a lot of their thought life focused on gambling.

7. You feel ashamed about your gambling habits. In the beginning, gambling can be tons of fun. Over time, though, it can degrade a person’s self-respect and cause them to feel shame and guilt about what they are doing. If this is how you feel – ashamed and guilty – your gambling probably stopped being fun a long time ago and has become an addiction.

Do You Have A Problem With Gambling? DARA Thailand Can Help

People come from all over the world to get help for gambling addiction at DARA Thailand. We treat behavioral addictions such as gambling with evidence-based treatment that drives positive results. If you have a gambling addiction, chances are you have tried time and time to quit on your own, but you have been unsuccessful. Call us and talk to one of your addiction experts. We can help you get your life back on track.  

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Gambling Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

It may seem odd to think about staying busy when in recovery, but keeping your mind occupied can keep you from thinking about your problem behaviors. Whether you choose to focus on working toward goals full time or spend time doing an activity that helps you relax, you must find balance. The goal is to keep your mind on healthy things so your life can begin to change for the better. Addiction tends to keep our mind focused on a single thing, the actual addiction. If you can learn to refocus your mind and keep it busy in other areas than it will be easier to ignore the addiction. So how do you keep yourself busy and stay focused on recovery? The possibilities are endless, but a few will be shared below.

The best way to keep your mind active is to also keep your body active. Get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Take time to take a brisk walk or go on a slow hike. If the weather is rough spend some time indoors working out, doing yoga, or even dancing. Not only does this help your physical health, but can improve your mental health. Exercise has been known to help alleviate depression, anxiety, and lower stress levels.

If working out is not something you enjoy, try doing things around the house. Set a goal to get things done each day. Clean out a closet, reorganize kitchen cabinets, or even take time to clean out the junk drawer that exists in every house. Anything that requires focus can help you retrain your brain and body while in recovery.

Perhaps cleaning and exercise seem like activities that you would rather not do, even if you should. Take some time to write or paint or something to keep your hands and mind busy. If you have a hobby that has always been something you enjoyed or something you would like to try then now is the time to try. Many places offer free classes or low cost classes and activities that can get you out of the house and active. This also allows you to meet others who enjoy the activity and grow your circle of friends.

Another way to keep yourself busy is through volunteering. Volunteering has the additional benefit of helping others. A great way to further your recovery is to help others, even if it has nothing to do with recovery. If you like animals then most shelters allow for volunteers. Churches are also great places to meet people and find volunteer activities. Other programs such as adopt a highway or homeless shelters are always looking for extra help. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things and take opportunities you may not have been interested in during active addiction.

No matter what you choose, at the end of the day, you have improved your own or someone else’s life. Be proud of what you have done, even if everything does not go as planned. What would you choose to do if you could do anything? The possibilities are endless.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.