Lucy Payton 
Gambling, particularly online, is becoming an ever-growingly popular pastime worldwide. While many see this activity as a leisure pursuit humans indulge in to blow off some steam and get entertainment, for some, it can have highly negative consequences on multiple fronts. These can involve emotional, social, and financial issues stemming from overly partaking in this pastime without reasonable restraint. Those who fall prey to this behavior are usually individuals who have impulse control issues or persons who have developed an addiction to this hobby.
Also called ludomania, pathological gambling now gets defined as a mental disorder per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition), categorized with substance-related and addictive disorders rather than impulse-control ones. The DSM-5 also introduced the term gambling disorder, replacing pathological gambling, which was done so that this condition would more closely align with other addictive disorders. Nevertheless, many still prefer using the former term, which the DSM-5 explains as a continuous urge to bet, despite an awareness of the repercussions this may bring. So, it entails turning a blind eye to potential ramifications to satisfy powerful compulsions, showing a lack of self-discipline.
For someone to be characterized as a person suffering from this disorder, that person must meet the 10 criteria for pathological gambling noted in the Fifth Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. These are listed below, and according to data from the National Council on Problem Gambling, around 2.5 million adults in the United States are projected as individuals who meet the standards for having a severe gambling problem in a given year.
They use this pastime to alleviate discomfort by looking for wins that will give them a sense of control or achievement. That then becomes a tool to counteract sadness and feelings of powerlessness.
Medication, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mood stabilizers, and opioid antagonists have also shown decent efficacy, as has motivational interviewing.
A Preoccupation with Gambling
This refers to constant thoughts about this activity, an intrusive fixation with it. A person tries to relive the excitement of past gambling experiences, neglecting vital aspects of their life to focus on their future gambling ventures, putting intense emotions into strategizing how and when they will gamble next.A Need to Gamble More Than Before
Like most substance addicts, gamblers also build up a tolerance. That means they cannot get the same high while taking the same level of risk as they once did. Hence, they must wager more to achieve the excitement they seek, incurring more risk.Irritability When Not Gambling
Experiencing physical and emotional discomfort when gamblers try to reduce how much they bet or stop altogether. That will produce withdrawal-like effects such as mood swings, mental agitation, impaired cognitive functions, social isolation, fidgety behavior, anxiety, stress, and various other undesirable feelings.Repeated Unsuccessful Efforts to Control Gambling Frequency
A gambler has attempted to reign his betting cravings via conscious self-imposed limits, recognizing that his gambling behavior is problematic. Yet, he keeps relapsing, falling prey to his urges and is unable to override his resolve to put control over his behavior.Gambling When Distressed
Psychologists call this a coping mechanism, as problem gamblers seek temporary escape from distressing emotions.
They use this pastime to alleviate discomfort by looking for wins that will give them a sense of control or achievement. That then becomes a tool to counteract sadness and feelings of powerlessness.
Lies to Conceal Gambling
Another hallmark of this disorder is feeling shame or guilt about indulging in it and lying to others to avoid judgment/criticism while also downplaying the severity of this issue and avoiding some of its negative consequences.Chasing Losses
This is probably the most dangerous phenomenon, financially, connected with pathological gambling. It is a response to the frustration of losing, often driven by the cognitive distortion known as the gambler’s fallacy, which leads gamblers to believe that a win is due after a string of losses.Borrowing Money for Gambling
Few people have an endless pit of money they can scoop cash from to fund their gambling needs. Those who compulsively bet will eventually wind up losing streaks, and in those situations, those with poor impulse control turn to asking for money, justifying this to themselves via the belief that a big win is around the corner that will cover their existing debts. However, this traditionally only leads them to an even bigger financial rut.Jeopardizing Opportunities Because of Gambling
That entails career and social ones, as a problem gambler will prioritize betting on games of chance, sports, and poker over spending time with loved ones or fulfilling their commitments, which produces feelings of betrayal and resentment for most.Parting in Illegal Acts on Account of Gambling
In other words, a person committing nefarious non-legal acts to finance gambling activities, like engaging in forgery, fraud, theft, embezzlement, etc. The distress a problem gambler experiences when not being able to gamble may cause him to resort to illegal means to obtain money so that he can continue his gambling ways, regardless of the legal implications this will bring.Treatments for Pathological Gambling
The most modern one is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which has shown itself to be quite effective in reducing gambling behaviors by offering gamblers coping strategies for managing triggers. It accomplishes this by letting them identify unhealthy patterns and improve their decision-making skills.
Medication, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mood stabilizers, and opioid antagonists have also shown decent efficacy, as has motivational interviewing.
