Gambling
Why Do We Gamble?
People gamble for a whole range of reasons including:
- the buzz, the excitement, and the high adrenaline release
- the competitive element – trying to beat other players, the bookie, or the dealer
- the thrill of risk taking, of placing large bets
- to solve financial problems
- a way of escaping from stress or worries.
Sensible Gambling
Some people say that there is no such thing as safe gambling. Others argue that gambling is like drinking alcohol – it’s safe to do as long as you follow some sensible rules.
- Keep away from high-risk forms of gambling where you can lose large sums of money very quickly.
- Limit the amount of time you gamble. This will give you time to do other, more important things with your life.
- Limit the amount you spend to the amount you can afford to lose. When you have spent this much, walk away.
- Quit while you are ahead. If you continue, you are likely to lose because the odds are always stacked against you. That’s how bookies and the casinos make their money.
When Gambling Becomes A Problem
For most of us, gambling is a harmless activity. But, for some people, gambling is a way of life, an addiction that can wreck their lives.
You may be a compulsive gambler if:
- you spend more money on gambling then you can afford. If you continue to gamble, you could get into serious debt. You could also lose your home and your possessions
- you spend so much time gambling that you neglect other important areas of your life, like your family or your work. You could lose your job or end up divorced or separated from your partner and children
- your feelings and behaviour change. For example, you may become depressed when you lose or over-excited when you win. In serious cases, you may feel that you are only really alive when you gamble
- it leads you to inappropriate or even criminal behaviour. For example, you may lie to family and friends about your gambling activities or you may steal to fund your gambling habit.
Questions to ask yourself
If you think you may have a gambling problem but are not sure, ask yourself:
- Is gambling making me unhappy at work or at home?
- Is gambling making it hard to sleep at night or concentrate during the day?
- Am I lying to other people and myself about how much I gamble?
- Am I gambling to get away from problems or worries?
- Am I gambling to get money – so that I can pay off debts or solve financial problems?
- Am I borrowing money or selling possessions so that I can gamble?
- If I have just won or just lost, do I feel I need to gamble just a little bit more?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may have a gambling problem.
What Causes Compulsive Gambling?
All compulsive behaviours have social, psychological and biological origins. Gambling brings us into contact with others, even if we are using internet gaming rooms. This can provide a sense of community, however damaging the associated behaviours. Social meaning and acceptance by others are important to us all and for the compulsive gambler these can be found in virtual gaming rooms, real casinos, bookmakers and so on.
Gambling also changes how we feel psychologically as well as socially. It allows us to escape our normal lives and the everyday struggles we experience. During a period of gambling our mind is occupied by the odds, the bet, the race, the actions of other gamers, the run of the cards and so on. It can be all-consuming and therefore provides an engaging, exciting escape from ordinary life.
At the biological level, compulsive behaviours can have a direct effect on the brain’s dopamine reward system. This system regulates our responses to natural rewards like food, sex and social interaction. Repeated compulsive behaviours can act on this system with a power and persistence that changes its cells chemically and structurally. This in turn can have an overwhelming effect on our well-being. People may no longer respond normally to rewards such as food, sex and social interaction, and instead depend on gambling for their sense of reward.
Compulsive gambling can therefore develop through the social meaning and psychological relief that it offers. This is further compounded by the chemical changes in our brain that accompany these experiences. It is in fact artificial to separate these factors since they all occur simultaneously for the compulsive gambler. Social meaning, psychological relief and a fired dopamine reward system can be a difficult combination of experiences for the most hardy of individuals to resist.
Helping Yourself
If you feel that you have lost control of your gambling, there are some things you can do to help yourself.
- Admitting you have a problem is the first and most important step.
- Find someone you can trust to talk to about your problem. It could be a friend, a relative or a specialist advisor.
- Avoid locations and situations where you may be tempted to gamble.
- Take control of how you spend your money, so that you don’t waste it on gambling.
- If you can’t do this by yourself, you may need to ask someone else to help you do this.
- Take one day at a time. Don’t expect everything to improve straight away.
Living With Someone Who Gambles
Living with someone who gambles can be just as difficult as living with someone with any other kind of addiction. It can be very stressful and it can lead to the breakdown of your relationship.
If you are not sure whether you are living with someone who has a gambling problem, ask yourself:
- Do they promise time and time again to stop gambling but carry on anyway?
- Do they disappear for long periods of time without telling you where they were?
- Do they spend large sums of money without being able to account for it?
- Do you hide money to stop them spending it?
- Do they lie to cover up or deny their gambling?
If you answered yes to most of these questions, then they may have a gambling problem.
How To Help Someone Who Gambles
It is important to remember you are not the only person in this situation and there are lots of people who can help.
- Talk it through with the other person and, if necessary, get professional help link to a-z talk therapies
- Be firm and constructive. You need to make sure the other person actually faces the problem but also has some ideas of how to move things forward.
- Do not condemn them or try to make them feel bad about themselves. Just telling them to ‘snap out of it’ may not help and could actually make it worse.
- Be realistic. Compulsive gambling is an addiction, so it will take them time to overcome it. Some days will be better than others.
- Do not trust them with money until they have overcome the addiction.
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For Further Support Contact The Samaritans
Samaritans is a unique charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide. Every six seconds they respond to a call for help. They’re there 24/7, before, during and after a crisis and they make sure there’s always someone there, for anyone who needs someone.
GP’s
GPs are there to help you with any problem related to your mental health as well as physical health.
You can go to them if you feel sad after a relative has passed away, if the pressures of life are making you unhappy and anxious, or if you feel angry or confused.
Mental ill health can have a negative impact on your physical health, just as a having a physical health problem can affect your mental health. GPs don’t just prescribe medicines for mental health conditions. They can also help you to access talking therapies and point you towards specialist help.
Why Go See A GP Over A Problem You Think Will Eventually Pass?
- A minor problem could develop into something more serious if ignored.
- Recurrent problems (like feeling anxious) can impact on your quality of life and lead to other problems.
- Seeing a GP regularly can help you to learn more about the support available to you, and helps your GP to better understand your needs.
Think about the following in advance to get the most out of your appointment
- Do you need a double appointment? You have the right to book 20 minutes rather than the usual 10 if you think you need longer to talk to your doctor.
- You can specify if you want to see a GP with specific skills (like one that speaks your language or a specialist GP) or only a male or female GP.
- Ask a friend or family member to come to the appointment with you if you think it might help.
- Prepare a list of the concerns you want to discuss. Include physical and mental symptoms, how long you’ve felt this way and how it affects your life.
- Be open and honest. GPs are trained to deal with intimate and uncomfortable things in a professional and supportive way and everything you tell them is legally confidential (unless you could be a danger to others).
- If you think you know what will help you, tell the GP.
- Ask them to write down anything you don’t understand and make notes during the appointment if you need to.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions or get the GP to repeat things.
- Make sure you fully understand what the next steps are before you leave the room.
- If you’re unhappy, you can see another GP at your practice or make a complaint (see below).
If you’re worried about speaking to your GP or aren’t sure how to talk to them about your mental health, download Mental Health Foundations free guide
Getting Doc Ready
To help prepare you for your GP appointment, Doc Ready offers additional advice, information and helps you build a checklist of what you’d like to say during your appointment.
Getting A Second Opinion
If you’re unhappy or want to be sure that the advice or support you were given was right, you can ask for a second opinion from another GP or a specialist. This is not a legal right, but you do have the right to see a GP who is competent to deal with your case. You can also make an appointment with another GP in the practice, or change practice altogether if your GP refuses to arrange a second opinion for you.
Accessing a GP
You must be registered with a local practice to make an appointment. All the information you need can be found at YourMentalHealth.ie.
Finding The Best GP For You
You can change GPs whenever you want. You may wish to consider changing GP for the following reasons:
- It may be more convenient to find a practice that offers specialised counselling or mental health services.
- If you feel that you have a bad relationship with your practice or do not get on with your GP, you may wish to look for other practices in your area which offer a better or friendlier service.
Complaints
If you disagree with the way your GP wants to treat your health problem, or you’re unhappy about the service provided by your GP practice, you may wish to make a complaint. You can complain directly to the GP or Practice Manager, or make a written complaint by following the practice’s complaints procedure which should be readily accessible on the practice website or at the reception. If there is still an unresolved problem you can complain using information from Health Complaints Ireland.
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