Bright lights, elaborate signs, the sound of cards slapping together, laughter and excited exclamations overlapping to create the lively soundtrack of the evening … there is no question of the allure of gambling. Considerably less glamorous and often glossed over though, is the potential for significant financial loss and the development of an addiction.

According to Debt.org, roughly 15% of Americans gamble at least once a week and more than 5 million people meet the criteria for “problem gambling.” What’s even more astonishing is the average accumulated debt of problem gamblers; for men the total averages between $55,000-$90,000 and for women, it’s around $15,000. In fact, over 20% of individuals with a serious gambling problem file for bankruptcy.

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How Do I Know If I Have A Gambling Problem?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to assess your own behavior (or that of a loved one) and determine if your gambling is problematic. The following list is not absolute, but can provide a helpful frame of reference.

1. You are preoccupied with constant thoughts about gambling.

If you find yourself continually thinking about gambling, either the last time you went, when you get to go again, or ways you can obtain more money to gamble with, it might be a sign that your relationship with the activity is an unhealthy one. Thinking about it occasionally or every so often is one thing, but when it starts to cloud your vision and take up significant brain space and thinking power, you may have a gambling addiction.

2. You require increasingly more money to reach the same level of thrill as before.

What was once $250 now might become $2,500, $3,000, and higher and regardless of your financial ability to fund this habit, you continue to bet more and increase your risks just to chase that high of winning big.

3. You’ve tried to curb, control, or cut back on your gambling with no success.

When you gamble, do you find that you are able to walk away at any time, regardless of the outcome? Have you gone to many lengths to prevent yourself from gambling just to find yourself circumventing your own obstructions and betting your money anyway?

4. You feel restless or irritable when you try to limit your gambling.

You may feel uncomfortable and on edge if you’re unable to gamble, much like someone with an alcohol use disorder abstaining from alcohol. Your mind and body crave the high risk and chance of reward and when you don’t obey, you feel agitated and tense.

5. You find yourself gambling to avoid your problems or to combat negative feelings like anxiety, guilt, helplessness, or depression.

In the same way people struggling with substance abuse use their drug of choice to escape, using gambling as an emotional coping tool is not healthy. Unlike yoga, meditation, or journaling which help us process and work through challenging feelings and situations, gambling does the opposite and will most likely make you feel worse. Generally, the odds of walking away a winner are only about 30%.

6. You try to win back all the money you’ve lost from gambling.

You realize how much money you’ve gambled away and in hopes of earning it all back, bet even more. However, because so much of gambling is left up to fate and luck with little to no reward, your chances of winning that cash back are slim to none and you’ve created an even deeper financial hole.

7. You lie to the people in your life about your gambling habits.

While it is certainly normal to enjoy our hobbies and interests without telling the world, when you start lying to the ones you love about how and where you’ve been spending your time and money, it might be time to really evaluate your behavior.

8. You go to extreme ends to either hide the money you’ve spent or to obtain more money to gamble.

You tell yourself it’s fine because you can shift money around between various accounts or “borrow” from children, spouses, or parents. Maybe you’ve resorted to criminal activity because the pull of your gambling habit is too strong. Are you neglecting to pay your bills or maxing out your credit cards? These are all signs of compulsive and problematic gambling behavior.

9. You risk losing important relationships and other aspects of your life like your job, school, or possible career-advancing opportunities in order to gamble more.

Prioritizing gambling over all else is a sign that you might be experiencing an addiction. A fun, harmless activity should never jeopardize your relationships, your education, or your career.

10. You’ve had to ask friends or family to help you out of a tough financial situation that came as a result of gambling.

Asking for help is part of what makes us human, but if you’ve found yourself in a place where you’re in over your head and require outside financial assistance, it’s a sign that your gambling might be out of control.

Where Can I Get Help?

It’s important to remember that you’re not alone and there are many resources available to help you. Depending on the severity of your addiction, treatment can vary. The most common approaches include therapy, medications, or self-help groups. If you or someone you love is exhibiting signs of a gambling addiction and considering online therapy options, resources can be found here. It’s never too late to take that first step into a new and brighter life.

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The post The Top 10 Signs Of A Gambling Addiction appeared first on Addiction Center.

Addiction transference, also known as a cross addiction, is when a person has an addiction to two or more addictive substances or behaviors, which can include addictions to not only drugs and alcohol, but also gambling, sex, video games, food or other compulsive behaviors. Addiction is the continued use of a substance or behavior despite the potential for personal problems or negative consequences. A person with an addiction may want to stop, yet struggle doing so on their own.

Cross addictions do not necessarily have to occur simultaneously. For instance, someone may be in recovery from a drug addiction, such as opioids, and may even be clean for many years, but later develop an addiction to alcohol or engage in behaviors that may become compulsive. This triggers the brain’s dopamine reward center. People who have or have a history of one addiction have a higher propensity for developing a cross addiction. Addiction transference occurs when a person substitutes one addiction for another.

How Does Addiction Transference Happen?

There are various reasons for why addiction transference develops; however, it is often accidental. For example, a person with an addiction or history of addiction may have surgery and be prescribed Percocet or Vicodin, and the euphoric feeling they get from the drug reinforces the continued use of the drug until it leads to increased use and eventually becomes an addiction. Another common cause of addiction transference or cross addiction is lack of understanding that another addiction exists. A person may be aware they have an addiction to a particular substance but may not realize they have an addiction to another substance or compulsive behavior, making it pertinent that individuals with a substance use disorder, or history of one, be aware of the risk of cross addiction.

Another reason addiction transference may occur is if someone has unresolved mental health issues, otherwise known as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis. A person with trauma, depression or anxiety may begin to use alcohol with other drugs as a way to comfort themselves. Cross addiction also occurs as an attempt to compensate for uncomfortable changes in behavior and routines, as well as due to emotions and thoughts that the person may struggle coping with. A common example is when a person recovering from an alcohol addiction begins gambling heavily. This can lead to financial stress and feelings of hopelessness. However, because of the compulsive nature of gambling and the reward of dopamine in the brain, the behavior continues as a way to cope.

How Common Is Addiction Transference?

According the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there are approximately 21 million people age 12 or older who reported having a cross addiction. Many people do not seek help for their addiction due to not believing they can stop or not being ready to stop, while some do not believe they have a problem at all.

How Is Addiction Transference Treated?

Addiction transference is best treated at an addiction treatment center with the help of 12-step programs or other recovery support groups. There are many different types of support groups that focus on specific addictions, including specific drugs as well as compulsive behaviors, such as gambling, sex, or food. A good treatment program will further address any co-occurring mental health issues by implementing evidenced-based treatment modalities. There is also the benefit of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for certain individuals.

If someone has a history of addiction, it is best to speak with a professional prior to the use of any prescribed medications that are considered addictive substances, such as opioids or benzodiazepines, due to the high risk of developing a cross addiction. If one must take addiction medications, having a family member dispense them may help reduce the risk of abusing them.

The best way to avoid a cross addiction from developing is by educating yourself and others. When a person is in early recovery from one addiction, they are more susceptible to developing a cross addiction because their brains are still seeking out the dopamine rush that they received when they were actively using. Despite this, it can still occur after many years of being in recovery. The best form of action is to be aware of the risks and take proper inventory of your behaviors to prevent developing a cross addiction.

Get Help Now

Perhaps you or someone you know is struggling with addiction transference. If you are unsure or feel you need help, do not be ashamed to reach out for help. Regardless of the circumstance, addiction help is available. Contact a treatment provider today who can assist you with finding treatment.

The post Understanding Addiction Transference appeared first on Addiction Center.

Behavioral addictions or non-substance addictions, like gambling addiction, are a set of behaviors that a person becomes dependent on and craves. While no one doubts the existence of physical addictions to different substances, behavioral addictions are still hotly debated and outright disregarded by many doctors, institutions, and everyday people.

What Is An Addiction?

When someone abuses a substance, be it prescription or illicit, their body can grow dependent on the substance to function. After a period of time, this dependence could evolve into cravings for the drug and, eventually, they could become erratic without it.

Certain substances, like Opioids and Benzodiazepines, are more addictive than others. This is because of the physical reactions they have in the body. There is indisputable, biological evidence of what these kinds of drugs do to people’s’ bodies in the long-term. However, non-substance related addictions are another story.

Behavioral Versus Physical Addiction?

While there is debate on how society should treat people suffering from addiction, there is no doubt that physical addiction is a thing experienced by thousands of Americans. Behavioral addictions, however, are another thing entirely.

Also known as non-substance addictions or addictive behaviors, there are certain actions out there that people have found to be addictive. These can include:

The idea behind these is that someone feels the symptoms of addiction, but not to a substance. Rather, an action or set of actions that creates some calming feelings, or even euphoria, in the user.

Gambling addiction is the only non-substance addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM). However, even the validity of that ruling is debated by some medical professionals, and other addictions that are commonly claimed, like sex and shopping addiction, have not been recognized at all. The reason that so many question these addictions is because they don’t see them as biological addictions. They see them as a mental diagnosis. Gambling addiction is the perfect example of how behavioral addictions impact people.

Looking At Gambling As A Behavioral Addiction

After the 5^th edition of the DSM included gambling addiction, it became widely accepted as the first behavioral addiction. It is the only non-substance related addiction to be accepted under the category in the DSM-5, which is widely regarded as the official ruling on what is and what is not a diagnosis. Why is it accepted?

Studies have shown that gambling activates similar parts of the brain as other drugs, like alcohol. These parts of the brain are responsible for our “reward” functions. This is what gives our bodies’ dopamine after we do some healthy behavior, like exercise or eating a good meal. Certain drugs are capable of activating these parts of the brain to release up to ten times the normal amount of dopamine. Over time, our brains produce less and less, and we would need more of that substance in order to get the same effect.

This is building a tolerance and the first step to a budding addiction. Just like people can build a tolerance to drugs they can build a tolerance to gambling. Building a tolerance means they have to bet more and more to get the same rush. This is how so many people who have a compulsion to gamble lose so much money.

Can Treatment Centers Help With A Behavioral Addiction?

While most recovery centers only help with substance use disorders, there are many out there who treat behavioral addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders as well. These are centers that try to help people by treating the underlying causes of addiction, and this could help with a non-substance related addiction. If you would like rehab-related help reach out to a treatment provider today.

The post Behavioral Addictions, What Are They And How Does One Develop? appeared first on Addiction Center.

The unpredictability of winning bets and money from gambling is an exciting activity for many. Everyone from celebrities to retirees indulge in the “fun” risk-taking venture to gain money in the challenging pursuit of thrills. Social attitudes toward gambling are becoming more relaxed; however, rates of gambling addiction are growing.

Problems arise when gamblers struggle to reduce the frequency of their habit. Someone doesn’t have to gamble each day to have a gambling addiction. For example, a person who gambles as a hobby has a cut-off point when they can safely pull away. Someone with a gambling addiction cannot and will not stop despite the consequences of their actions.

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Why Does One Develop a Gambling Addiction?

The emotional rollercoaster of thrill and loss can create an attachment. When someone gambles, the brain releases a surge of dopamine, or “feel good chemicals,” which reward gamblers when they win. Many have compared the feelings associated with gambling to drugs like Heroin and alcohol, making it easy to get addicted if left unchecked. Factors that can contribute to an increased risk of gambling addiction include:

• Family history of gambling addiction
• Gender (men are more likely to be gamblers)
• Low serotonin
• Job loss
• Failed attempts to cut down on gambling
• Trauma
• Alcoholism/ substance abuse disorders
• Restless and competitive personalities
• Dependence on gambling to ease stress

In order to determine if a gambling addiction is present, diagnosticians look at gambling behavior over the course of 6 months to a year.

Gambling and Mental or Emotional Disorders

There are connections between mental health disorders like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, and depression with gambling addiction (co-occurring disorders). Someone with bipolar disorder may cycle through manic and depressive stages while gambling, further complicating their attachment. Obsessive compulsive disorder can worsen for someone who gambles, as they risk becoming more anxious and preoccupied with gambling.

Individuals with gambling addictions may turn to alcohol to ease the anxiety of lost money and broken relationships. Statistics inform us individuals who abuse alcohol are nearly 25 times more likely to gamble. Individuals with PTSD have a higher gambling risk compared to the general population as well. With these co-occurring conditions, gamblers may turn to substances to alleviate their symptoms.

Just A Fun Compulsion Or Gambling Addiction?

There are different tiers of gambling ranging from social or recreational gambling to compulsive or pathological gambling. Social gamblers gamble less often and for recreation. The losses are reasonable or calculated, and they can pull back without risking too much money. Compulsive gambling (or pathological gambling) occurs when the gambler cannot control their gambling or spends too much time and/or money gambling.

Compulsive gambling can transition into what experts consider gambling addiction or problematic gambling. According to the American Psychiatric Association, results of gambling addiction can include:

• Anxiety over gambling
• Hiding gambling passion from others
• Guilt with gambling
• Poor health
• Poor impulse control
• Prioritizing gambling over other commitments
• Relationship problems
• Craving excitement through gambling
• Spending long hours gambling
• Borrowing money to support gambling habits
• Inability to reduce gambling practices
• Using gambling to avoid or escape problems

Pathological gamblers may have delusions about gambling, which may encourage their addictions, in addition to compulsive gambling traits.

Why Treatment May Be What You Need

If you or a loved one has a gambling addiction, it is not too late to get help. Gambling can wreak havoc on the gambler’s life and the life of loved ones. The end result usually creates financial problems and mental preoccupation. If you cannot control your addiction, intervention or treatment may be the next steps forward. Discover your online counseling options here.

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The post Is Gambling Addiction Real? appeared first on Addiction Center.