Pathological Gambling
Description
Pathological Gambling is much like an alchol or drug addiction. It is a disorder in which the person involved always feels the need to gamble or thingk about about gambling. It is a very powerful addiction usually leaving the person bankrupt and unsatisfied.
Causes
- Usually begins in early adolence in men
- For women it occurs between the ages of 20 and 40
- Shares symptoms with obsessive compulsive disorder and may be triggered from that
- Generally starts as occasional gambling then becomes an addiction
Symptoms
- Preoccupation
- Tolerance
- Loss of control
- Withdrawel
- Escape
- Chasing
- Lying
- Illegal Activity
- Risked Relationships
- Bailout
Treatment
- The first step is recognizing you have a problem
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Self-Help Support Groups like Gamblers Anonymous
- Anti-deppresents and opioid antogonists