GAMBLING ADDICTION IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX ADDICTIONS TO UNDERSTAND

If you’re reading this because someone you care about has a gambling disorder, or you suspect they have, then you’re probably feeling confused, scared, frustrated, angry and generally in despair.

You might feel you no longer recognise the person you love, and feel they don’t care about you because they choose gambling over your relationship.

It can feel like trust has been destroyed.

If you don’t understand the meaning of what’s going on for the person you care about, then their behaviour makes no rational sense at all. You wonder why they don’t just stop gambling if it’s causing so much stress and damage to their finances.

Gambling addiction is one of the most complex addictions to understand. But what’s key to understanding it is knowing it’s about a lot more than just money, or a love of gambling.

The obsession with money and trying to win back what they lost is a consequence of their addiction to gambling. The cause of gambling addiction, like any other addiction, can be mental health problems like anxiety, depression or stress. And it can be triggered by intolerable thoughts and feelings about a life crisis, like a bereavement, a relationship break-up or losing a job.

The Signs

How would you know if someone you care about has a gambling problem? Gambling addiction is much easier to hide than alcohol or drug addiction, but there are signs and symptoms:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Borrowing money
• Depression
• Hiding bank statements
• Increasing debt
• Isolating
• Loss of interest in hobbies and socialising
• Mood swings
• Poor self-care
• Secretive behaviour with smartphones and laptops
• Seeming unusually distracted and preoccupied
• Unexplained money problems

Can someone ever get over a gambling addiction?

Yes, they can.

It’s entirely possible to have a lifelong rewarding recovery. Some people can manage to stop their addiction by themselves, but withdrawal from gambling can be as hard as withdrawal from alcohol and drugs.

It’s easier to get through withdrawal, and to create a healthier and happier life afterwards, with professional help and support.

Remember: if you are close to someone who has an addiction to gambling, it will have an impact on you. There is help and support available for you, too.

Take the first step and contact us today.

Changing gambling addiction patterns during the Covid-19 health crisis

Many of them were, and still are, experiencing an aggravation of underlying mental health problems, such as stress, anxiety and depression. In most cases, addictive gambling was a coping mechanism for these problems — and the crisis is testing new, healthier coping mechanisms.

In lockdown, boredom and frustration are a problem as they are unable to engage in stimulating activities that provide a healthy substitute for the gambling ‘high’.

A chance to ‘move ahead’

For those in the early stages of recovery from addiction to sports betting (1 week — 4 months), my clients report missing both watching and betting on sport.

However, many are telling me they feel a sense of relief that they cannot currently bet on sports. They feel it gives them a chance to move ahead into strong recovery without the temptation to bet — although they recognise they would be tempted to bet, if it were possible, to lift their mood.

For the very few in this group who relapsed just before the sports ban, it was because of economic anxieties.

For example, the self-employed found the loss of income re-triggered irrational thoughts about gambling and the likelihood of a significant financial win. They also fantasised about their own ability to remain in control if they gambled.

A relief and welcome respite

Those addicted to online or land-based slots and bingo (mainly women and young men aged 21 to 29) used gambling as a way to switch off patterns of over-thinking that triggered stress, anxiety and depression.

As the pandemic worsened, and during the first week of lockdown, this group reported to me high levels of anxiety about the health of themselves and their families. They also had economic anxieties if lockdown affected their income.

Interestingly, from the end of March (week two of lockdown) until 21 April (time of writing), women in this group — without exception — reported being quite comfortable with, and even thriving in, lockdown. They describe it as a relief and welcome respite from the time pressures and overwhelming responsibilities and expectations in their lives.

This makes sense, as most women I treat for gambling addiction use the absorption of online gambling to escape from such pressures and demands and the mental health problems they cause.

A 29-year-old from this group told me, “I feel bad saying it but, actually, I love lockdown. Gambling addiction was my bubble. This is just a big bubble.”

Boredom risk

The young men in this group are also managing lockdown well and better than those who prefer the stimulation of fast-moving gambling products such as casinos and sports betting.

However, they are starting to talk about frustrations due to a lack of choice, and not being able to go out and see friends — and that the boredom is setting in.

So, what do I predict?

Gambling addiction develops in those who have low tolerance for emotional and psychological distress. And those who feel trapped in long-term situations causing toxic levels of stress.

Whether addicted to fast-moving products that provide the addictive ‘high’ or the complete absorption of slots or bingo, what becomes addictive is stopping uncontrollable and overwhelming thoughts and emotions via gambling.

Necessary adjustments

The current health crisis is a huge test of mental and emotional resilience. Lockdown triggers health and economic fears. It also creates loneliness or frustrations at spending too much time with partners and families.

In the worst cases, men and women are trapped at home in situations of domestic violence or coercive control. Those who become addicted to gambling online frequently use it to mentally and emotionally escape through a screen from situations they feel physically trapped in.

For those who have engaged in treatment, and are now able to recognise and manage their stress levels — and have made the necessary life adjustments — they present a lower risk of relapse.

For those currently gambling responsibly and able to manage their stress levels, they have a protective factor against developing a problem.

However, for both groups, there is a risk of feeling overwhelmed by the crisis and using gambling as self-medication.

Structure and routine

Generally, those who bet addictively on sports – who tend to be male – would not get the same feeling of intense excitement they crave from playing slots or bingo, either land-based or online.

They currently say they wouldn’t wish to try these alternatives. I believe this could change if lockdown is extended and so mental health problems develop or are aggravated.

I’ve identified that uncertainty and feeling out of control are frequently experienced as intolerable for those who develop a gambling addiction and are contributing triggers for the addiction developing.

This is a period of extreme uncertainty and feeling out of control. The structure and routine of healthy relationships, work, social life and exercise are for all of us the foundations of a healthy life and mental and emotional resilience.