HOW THE BRAIN GETS ADDICTED TO GAMBLING

 

In the past, the psychiatric community generally regarded pathological gambling as more of a compulsion than an addiction—a behavior primarily motivated by the need to relieve anxiety rather than a craving for intense pleasure. In the 1980s, while updating the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the American Psychiatric Association (APA) officially classified pathological gambling as an impulse-control disorder—a fuzzy label for a group of somewhat related illnesses that, at the time, included kleptomania, pyromania and trichotillomania (hairpulling). In what has come to be regarded as a landmark decision, the association moved pathological gambling to the addictions chapter in the manual's latest edition, the DSM-5, published this past May. The decision, which followed 15 years of deliberation, reflects a new understanding of the biology underlying addiction and has already changed the way psychiatrists help people who cannot stop gambling.

The APA based its decision on numerous recent studies in psychology, neuroscience and genetics demonstrating that gambling and drug addiction are far more similar than previously realized. Research in the past two decades has dramatically improved neuroscientists' working model of how the brain changes as an addiction develops. In the middle of our cranium, a series of circuits known as the reward system links various scattered brain regions involved in memory, movement, pleasure and motivation. When we engage in an activity that keeps us alive or helps us pass on our genes, neurons in the reward system squirt out a chemical messenger called dopamine, giving us a little wave of satisfaction and encouraging us to make a habit of enjoying hearty meals and romps in the sack. When stimulated by amphetamine, cocaine or other addictive drugs, the reward system disperses up to 10 times more dopamine than usual.

Continuous use of such drugs robs them of their power to induce euphoria. Addictive substances keep the brain so awash in dopamine that it eventually adapts by producing less of the molecule and becoming less responsive to its effects. As a consequence, addicts build up a tolerance to a drug, needing larger and larger amounts to get high. In severe addiction, people also go through withdrawal—they feel physically ill, cannot sleep and shake uncontrollably—if their brain is deprived of a dopamine-stimulating substance for too long. At the same time, neural pathways connecting the reward circuit to the prefrontal cortex weaken. Resting just above and behind the eyes, the prefrontal cortex helps people tame impulses. In other words, the more an addict uses a drug, the harder it becomes to stop.

Research to date shows that pathological gamblers and drug addicts share many of the same genetic predispositions for impulsivity and reward seeking. Just as substance addicts require increasingly strong hits to get high, compulsive gamblers pursue ever riskier ventures. Likewise, both drug addicts and problem gamblers endure symptoms of withdrawal when separated from the chemical or thrill they desire. And a few studies suggest that some people are especially vulnerable to both drug addiction and compulsive gambling because their reward circuitry is inherently underactive—which may partially explain why they seek big thrills in the first place.

Even more compelling, neuroscientists have learned that drugs and gambling alter many of the same brain circuits in similar ways. These insights come from studies of blood flow and electrical activity in people's brains as they complete various tasks on computers that either mimic casino games or test their impulse control. In some experiments, virtual cards selected from different decks earn or lose a player money; other tasks challenge someone to respond quickly to certain images that flash on a screen but not to react to others.

A new understanding of compulsive gambling has also helped scientists redefine addiction itself. Whereas experts used to think of addiction as dependency on a chemical, they now define it as repeatedly pursuing a rewarding experience despite serious repercussions. That experience could be the high of cocaine or heroin or the thrill of doubling one's money at the casino. “The past idea was that you need to ingest a drug that changes neurochemistry in the brain to get addicted, but we now know that just about anything we do alters the brain,” says Timothy Fong, a psychiatrist and addiction expert at the University of California, Los Angeles. “It makes sense that some highly rewarding behaviors, like gambling, can cause dramatic [physical] changes, too.”

SOURCE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF5SzIN63w8

SOURCE:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-brain-gets-addicted-to-gambling/

WHAT TO DO WHEN MEMBER IN YOUR FAMILY HAVE PROBLEM WITH PATHOLOGICAL GAMBLING? 

When there’s a problem or compulsive gambler in the family, more than just the gambler is negatively affected. The entire family suffers as a result of the behavior and thinking of the gambling addict. How each family is impacted depends on the severity of the gambling problem, how long it has gone on, the closeness of the relationship with the gambler and other factors. Serious financial, psychological, emotional, social and legal problems may completely undermine family functioning to the point of collapse.

How to help with a gambling problem Compulsive and problem gamblers often need the support of their family and friends to help them in their struggle to stop gambling. But the decision to quit has to be theirs. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is seeing the effects, you cannot make someone stop gambling. If your family member has a gambling problem, you may have many conflicting emotions. You may try to cover up for a loved one or spend a lot of time and energy trying to keep him or her from gambling. At the same time, you might be furious at your loved one for gambling again and tired of trying to keep up the charade. The gambler may also have borrowed (or even stolen) money from you with no way to pay it back.

It can be painful and frustrating to see someone you love suffer from a gambling problem. Even worse, you may be suffering the negative impacts of problem gambling even though you don't have the problem. Remember that it's not your fault. You did not create the problem. And unfortunately you cannot make a gambler stop gambling. But you may be able to help your friend or loved one to help themselves.

Tools for family members of problem gamblers

Start by helping yourself. You have a right to protect yourself emotionally and financially. Don’t blame yourself for the gambler’s problems. The right support can help you make positive choices for yourself, and balance encouraging your loved one to get help without losing yourself in the process.

Don’t go it alone. It can feel so overwhelming coping with a loved one’s problem gambling that it may seem easier to rationalize their requests and problems “this one last time”. Or you might feel ashamed, feeling like you are the only one who has problems like this. Reaching out for support will make you realize that many families have struggled with this problem. Or you might consider therapy to help sort out the complicated feelings that arise from coping with a problem gambler.

Learn to say "NO" to the problem gambler. This will force the gambler to face the problem head-on. Try to unify friends and family in saying no as well. Set boundaries in managing money. If a loved one is serious about getting help for problem gambling, it may help if you take over the family finances to make sure the gambler stays accountable and to prevent relapse. However, this does not mean you are responsible for micromanaging the problem gamblers impulses to gamble. Your first responsibilities are to ensure that your own finances and credit are not at risk.

Consider how you will handle requests for money. Problem gamblers often become very good at asking for money, either directly or indirectly. They may use pleading, manipulation or even threats and blaming to get it. It takes time and practice to learn how you will respond to these requests to ensure you are not enabling the problem gambler and keeping your own dignity intact.

Learn as much as you can about problem gambling including its warning signs, negative impacts and options for help and recovery. When confronting someone about problem gambling, stay calm and be supportive. Tell them how their gambling affects you. Recognize their good qualities and any positive steps they have made.

Don’t preach, lecture, or allow yourself to lose control of your anger. Also don’t exclude the gambler from family life and activities.

Don’t expect immediate recovery, or that all problems will be resolved when the gambling stops. Remember that change takes time, effort and often several attempts to be successful. Be sure to identify triggers and help them learn how to deal with urges to gamble.

SOURCE:https://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/behavioral-process-addictions/how-problem-gambling-affects-the-family/

SOURCE:http://www.paproblemgambling.com/get-help

SOURCE:http://www.haveigotaproblem.com/download/331/Helping-a-family-member-with-a-gambling-problem

SOURCE:http://www.masscompulsivegambling.org/get-help/help-for-family-members/

PROTECTIVE FACTORS

While risk factors make people more prone to experiencing substance use, problem gambling and mental health issues, protective factors serve to help buffer or shield people from the effects of negative things going on in their lives. As a result, protective factors can help prevent or lessen problem gambling, substance use or mental health issues.

Biological Protective Factors

Just as the genes people inherit from their parents can make them more susceptible to mental health, problem gambling and substance use issues, people’s genes can also make them less susceptible. Also, people may inherit adaptive personality traits that serve to help them “bounce back” faster after depressing events happen to them. Likewise, people also could inherit a tendency to deal more successfully with anxiety-provoking situations, thus helping to protect them from developing anxiety-related disorders.

Environmental Protective Factors

There are many beneficial things one can do to reduce the impact of negative life circumstances. As described below, protective factors can include actions taken to increase coping with life stressors, avoiding substance use and problem gambling, and seeking treatment for problematic mental health issues. Just as substance use, problem gambling and mental health problems can be risk factors for each other, avoiding substance use or problem gambling and maintaining good mental health can help prevent problems in these areas as well.

Coping Skills

One category of protective factors involves developing good ways of coping with stress and improving overall emotional well-being. In general, coping involves creating a supportive and nurturing environment for oneself, developing skills for interacting effectively with people, and maintaining a stable living and working situation. Good coping mechanisms include:

• Learning effective communication skills

• Learning problem-solving skills

• Developing a good support system

• Learning to take responsibility for one’s actions and well-being

• Maintaining employment and a meaningful day-to-day routine

• Participating in recovery/support groups (for substance use, problem

  gambling and mental health problems)

• Practicing relaxation skills and enjoying life

SOURCE: http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/lib/dmhas/pgs/Cooccuringworkbook.pdf

BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS

Just as genetic makeup (biology) and environment vary from person to person, the way they interact creates a unique combination of risk factors for individuals.  Although the genes people inherit are out of their control, it is possible for people to take control of the environment and how they deal with that environment.  Addressing risk factors can reduce chances of developing or worsening substance use, problem gambling and mental health issues.

Biological Risk Factors

People can inherit from their parents’ genes that make them more or less likely to develop substance use, problem gambling or mental health problems.  Although the likelihood of developing one of these problems if one or both parents have the problem is not 100%, people whose parents have substance use, problem gambling or mental health problems may be at greater risk for developing them themselves.  The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition (1994) provides information regarding the increased risk for developing the mental health, gambling and substance use problems that will be discussed in this manual.  As can be seen in the table below, there is an increased occurrence of these disorders for individuals who have a firstdegree biological relative (i.e., close relatives like parents and siblings) with the disorder as compared with people in the general population (i.e., who do not have first-degree biological relatives with the disorder). 

was attributable to genes that influence both disorders.  These genetic studies strongly suggest an overlap in the genetically transmitted vulnerability of both substance use and problem gambling disorders.  One example of a biological factor that might contribute to risk for developing a substance use or gambling problem is differences in brain chemistry that make certain people more vulnerable to the effects of gambling, drugs or alcohol.  

Other biologically influenced characteristics such as personality traits, gender, and ethnicity also may affect how susceptible people are to substances of abuse and gambling and how likely they are to become addicted to them.  For example, some personality traits such as antisocial personality and impulsivity are associated with increased risk for gambling, alcohol and drug problems.  Females tend to be affected more by alcohol and/or drugs because of their body size and composition.  In terms of ethnicity, many people of Asian descent tend to have negative reactions to alcohol and, therefore, tend not to drink it as much.  As a result, they have reduced risk for alcohol problems when compared to other ethnic groups.  

Although it is not possible to choose one’s parents and the genes inherited from them, it is important to remember that genes are not everything a person is.  People may inherit a predisposition to thinking, acting, and feeling certain ways, but it is possible that people can change the ways they behave and feel and think.  Additionally, people can exert a great deal  of control over the environments in which they live and work, and, as the next section discusses, the environment can play a large role in how likely people are to develop mental health, problem gambling and substance use issues.

Environmental Risk Factors

Most often environmental risks involve some kind of stressor for the individual.  Stress may include life stressors, the relationships people maintain, and their health.  Stress can influence how likely it is that people will develop problem gambling,  substance use and mental health issues.  Likewise, gambling, substance use and mental health problems can become risk factors for each other.  In other words, using substances can influence gambling and both substance use and gambling can influence mental health.  Likewise, mental health can influence how likely people are to gamble or use substances. 

Stress 

In a more general sense, stress can be the result of trying to deal with negative things in the environment.  When people cannot adapt to stress, they become more prone to developing, or making worse, substance use, gambling or mental health difficulties, particularly if they are also at risk biologically.  Types of stress include the following:

Life stressors:

• Work (loss of employment, problems at work, new job)

• Moving to a new place

• Money (being unable to pay bills or having more money than usual)

• Being a victim of abuse or other  crime

• Housing problems (losing one’s home)

• Legal problems Co-Occurring  Disorders

Relationships:

• Death of a loved one

• Divorce, separation, remarrying

• Parenting (difficulties raising/caring for one’s children or having  unresolved           parent/child issues)

• Frequent arguments among family members and spouse/significant other

• Having few or no friends (lack of social support)

• Having friends who use drugs or alcohol or gamble

• Grief

 Health and Mental Health:

• Illness, injuries, or accidents

• Not getting enough rest or eating well

• Caring for a sick relative or friend

• Not dealing with feelings

• Abusing substances

• Gambling excessively

• Experiencing mental health symptoms

An example of a risk factor leading to mental health difficulties is the death of a spouse causing someone to feel depressed.  It is completely normal to feel depressed from time to time, especially after the loss of a loved one.  However, as will be discussed in upcoming modules, mental health issues that become too severe or last longer than is normal can sometimes become mental health problems that may require treatment.  An example of a risk factor leading to substance abuse or gambling problems is drinking or gambling to avoid dealing with emotional problems such as feelings of depression or drinking or gambling to cope with work stress.   

SOURCE: http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/lib/dmhas/pgs/Cooccuringworkbook.pdf

HERC TIME TEAM ON THE WORLD MENTAL HELTH DAY

World Mental Health Day (10 October) is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy agaist social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. This day, each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on peoples' life worldwide. 

Herc Time Team

QUOTES FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY

If you’re struggling to overcome an addiction, no one needs to tell you it’s tough – you’re living it. Sometimes you could use a few encouraging words to remind you that you’re not in this alone and that, yes, change really is possible. Here are some quotes for addiction recovery that can strengthen your will and path while overcoming your addiction problem:

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard

“If things go wrong, don’t go with them.” – Roger Babson

“Our greatest glory is not in ever failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“If you can quit for a day, you can quit for a lifetime.” – Benjamin Alire Sáenz

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe

“You must do the things you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“What is addiction, really? It is a sign, a signal, a symptom of distress. It is a language that tells us about a plight that must be understood.” – Alice Miller

“If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome.” – Michael Jordan

If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” – Vincent Van Gogh

“To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life.” – Samuel Johnson

“Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it.” – J. Petit Senn

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up some place else.” – Yogi Berra

“Amazing how we can light tomorrow with today.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking of what we want to become. Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking about who we don’t ever want to be again.” – Shane Niemeyer

“Every noble work is at first impossible.” – Thomas Carlyle

“Not feeling is no replacement for reality. Your problems today are still your problems tomorrow.” – Larry Michael Dredla

“I think that the power is the principle. The principle of moving forward, as though you have the confidence to move forward, eventually gives you confidence when you look back and see what you’ve done.” – Robert Downey Jr.

“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” – Charlotte Whitton

“Every experience in your life is being orchestrated to teach you something you need to know to move forward.” – Brian Tracy

SOURCE: http://www.addictiontreatmentpost.com/addiction-recovery-quotes-overcome-fear/

SOURCE: https://www.addiction.com/7215/70-best-quotes-for-addiction-recovery/

                

            10 GREATEST GAMBLING MOVIES

Gambling has always been an interesting subject for a film adaptation. The gambling means not only the act of gambling, sitting at a machine or roulette and investing / acquiring / losing money, but also deceiving, searching for money, constant pressure, conflict and disruption of relations with others, and often, to fraud. All together makes an ideal combination for a great action and drama.

Here are ten movies about gamblers that have received a high aggregate critical rating. Films are listed in order of their critical ranking, from lowest to highest.

10) Hard Eight (1996)

Before striking gold in 1997 with Boogie Nights, cerebral American filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson debuted with Hard Eight, a pared-back drama about a pro gambler past his prime. Just how a first-time director managed to assemble this all-star cast – which includes Samuel L Jackson and the sadly-deceased Philip Seymour Hoffman – is a mystery, but certainly pays dividends. Hard Eight is an indie gem that combines black as the ace of spades humour with a knowing study of high-stakes casino gambling.

9) Owning Mahowny (2003)

This semi-fictional tale of bank manager turned criminal gambler is a glimmering star vehicle for Phillip Seymour Hoffman who owns every moment of Owning Mahowny. The title character’s gradual descent into the dark recesses of addiction stands as a grave warning to us all that never feels preachy or condemnatory. Meanwhile, director Richard Kwietniowski employs sparse direction to downplay any sense of glamour in favour of a very human story of vice overcoming a man’s soul. You won’t leave this movie elated, but it’s sure to stick with you.

8) Croupier (1998)

Poor Clive Owen. Where did it all go wrong? The guy was a national treasure with some awesome roles under his belt, but a few too many dodgy projects have stripped him of his former glory. Still, at least he’ll always have Croupier. Jack Manfred (Owen) is a struggling writer who takes a job as a casino croupier to make ends meet. Subsequently, he’s sucked into a story of dark intrigue involving robbery, murder and deadly double-crossing. Owen oozes cool in the main role and the movie ingeniously uses the blackjack tables as a metaphor for the nature of fate, chance and happenstance in defining his life.

7) The Gambler (1974)

While a bloody good film by any standard, The Gambler is also a major downer, coming at a time when smiles were banned in Hollywood. James Caan stars as Axel Freed, an English professor whose problem gambling rapidly spirals out of control. With $44,000 in debts and a psychopathic bookie breathing down his neck, Freed resorts to desperate measures to try and balance the books.The film was apparently a favourite of Caan’s who commented: "It's not easy to make people care about a guy who steals from his mother to pay gambling debts." Damn right, and you pulled it off, buddy.

6) Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)

Another talented actor who’s wasted the last decade on absolute rubbish, Johnny Depp does a cracking job in this iconic performance as drug-addled journo Raoul Duke. In the film, Duke and his buddy Dr Gonzo embark on a psychedelic voyage to Vegas in search of riches, glamour and the American Dream. Freely adapted by Terry Gilliam from the Hunter S Thompson masterpiece, Fear And Loathing remains a filthy pleasure to behold, portraying Sin City as a surreal dreamscape through the eyes of its whacked out protagonists. If that sounds like your kind of thing, pop a pill and give this one a look. It’s far out, man.

5) The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

Not until Casino Royale in 2006 would poker be so engagingly portrayed on film. Norman Jewison’s direction perfectly captures the tense excitement of seeing the pot stack after the flop and of devising the best play while keeping an eye out for tells.Steve McQueen absolutely kills it as poker prodigy Eric ‘The Kid’ Stoner and is at his best during the film’s iconic ‘last hand scene’ (check it out in the vid above). Jewison later dismissed the film as an ‘ugly duckling’ and went on to enjoy greater success with movies such as Fiddler On The Roof, Rollerball and The Hurricane. Nevertheless, this has to be his magnum opus.

4) Rain Man (1988)

As well as being something of a comeback project for Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man is one of the best-loved (and certainly better known) gambling movies ever made. So, why is it way down at number four? Well, there may be better casino flicks out there, but this shouldn’t detract from the brilliance of Rain Man. The film’s conceit of a severely autistic introvert and his preternatural card counting talents has been referenced and parodied so many times, it’s all too easy to forget how great it was the first time around. Do yourself a favour, put down that DVD of The Hangover and get the real McCoy.

3) Casino Royale (2006)

007’s stunning return to form in 2006 is simultaneously the best entry in the entire franchise and one of the finest action movies ever, full stop. However, central to the action of Casino Royale is the utterly awesome high-stakes poker tournament, in which Bond fights to bankrupt terrorist banker Le Chiffre. If you’d bet that it was possible to make 40 minutes of cinematic poker edge-of-your-seat thrilling, I would have taken you at 100/1 odds and called you a chump. Fortunately, nobody did, so I didn’t have to fork over my pension fund. Lucky escape.

2) Rounders (1998)

Rounders is a thing of grim beauty. The narrative is as classic as they come: it’s the Rocky arc, with a plucky upstart forced to bounce back after getting his backside handed to him. However, it’s the performances that make this flick - particularly John Malkovich’s brilliant turn as deranged gangster Teddy KGB.

1) Casino (1995)

This movie would have to make the top three if only for Nicky Santoro.  Even if literally everything else about it was complete crap. Happily, Casino (1995) has a hell of a lot more to it than Joe Pesci’s smart mouth. Martin Scorsese is a pretty safe pair of hands (particularly when Mafioso are involved) and he’s on absolute top form here. Depicting the tense relationship between Las Vegas casinos and their criminal benefactors in the early 1970s, every aspect of this film is brilliantly realised. The casting, direction and script are all perfect – what more is there to say? Go watch it, unless you’re just a “low-life, motherf**ing degenerate prick".

SOURCE: https://www.rightcasino.com/news/10-greatest-gambling-movies/

WHAT REALLY CAUSES ADDICTION?

     The word “addiction” is derived from a Latin term for “enslaved by” or “bound to.” Anyone who has struggled to overcome an addiction—or has tried to help someone else to do so—understands why. Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in an activity (e.g., gambling, sex, shopping) that can be pleasurable but the continued use/act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health. Users may not be aware that their behavior is out of control and causing problems for themselves and others.

     Most addictive behavior is not related to either physical tolerance or exposure to cues. People compulsively use drugs, gamble, or shop nearly always in reaction to being emotionally stressed, whether or not they have a physical addiction. Since these psychologically based addictions are not based on drug or brain effects, they can account for why people frequently switch addictive actions from one drug to a completely different kind of drug, or even to a non-drug behavior. The focus of the addiction isn't what matters; it's the need to take action under certain kinds of stress. Treating this kind of addiction requires an understanding of how it works psychologically.

What really causes addiction — to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do — and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.

     It is not enough to “just say no”. Instead, you can protect (and heal) yourself from addiction by saying “yes” to other things. Cultivate diverse interests that provide meaning to your life. Understand that your problems usually are transient, and perhaps most importantly, acknowledge that life is not always supposed to be pleasurable.

SOURCE: https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/addiction
SOURCE: https://www.ted.com/talks

HOW PROBLEM GAMBLING AFFECT THE  FAMILY 

When there’s a problem or compulsive gambler in the family, more than just the gambler is negatively affected. The entire family suffers as a result of the behavior and thinking of the gambling addict. Families may be affected in different ways. Gambling problems can be hidden for a long time; so many families are shocked when they learn how much money has been lost. Some relationships do not survive a gambling problem. Other families struggle through difficulties and grow stronger together. People can and do recover from problem gambling, but it takes time and patience to work through all the issues.

How each family is impacted depends on the severity of the gambling problem, how long it has gone on, the closeness of the relationship with the gambler and other factors. Serious financial, psychological, emotional, social and legal problems may completely undermine family functioning to the point of collapse.

Financial

The most common problem is the loss of money. Savings, property or belongings may suddenly be lost. This kind of money crisis makes the family feel scared, angry and betrayed.Out-of-control gambling and repeated gambling losses take a tremendous toll on the family finances. Well-meaning family members, usually the spouse of the gambler, often try to “help” the gambler by lending them money, bailing them out of financial difficulties, paying their bills, helping them to stash money to gamble, and other behaviors related to providing money to the gambler. This is classic enabling and does no good either for the gambler or his or her family. Ultimately, the financial losses become too great. The home may be forced into foreclosure. The family may have to declare bankruptcy. When bills can’t be paid because the gambler has squandered all the money on chasing the losses, more than just money is at stake. The provider can no longer provide, and everyone suffers.

Breakdown In Family Relationships

Trying to deal with the stress and tension brought on as a result of the gambler’s behavior jeopardizes the bond among family members. When the spouse, children, siblings and other family members can no longer trust the gambler, feel no sense of security, have no confidence in the gambler or even fear for their future, the result is a breakdown in the family relationships. Endless lies, staying out late or not coming home at all, threats, manipulation and violence or domestic abuse all contribute to the dissolution of family ties.Shame, avoidance of friends, secrecy and trying to hide the pain further magnify the isolation the family members feel as the gambler’s behavior gets more and more out of control.

Many families under stress have trouble coping. One member may try to keep things in control by taking on more tasks. This can lead to burnout. Family members often focus on the person with gambling problems, and forget to take care of themselves or to have fun.

Emotional Devastation

Gambling problems cause strong feelings.These feelings make it harder to solve problems. .Anxiety, guilt, shame, depression, insomnia, behavioral problems and emotional insecurity begin to afflict all the family members that are closest to or living in the same environment as the problem or compulsive gambler. The spouse or family members may hide their feelings and refrain from saying certain things, afraid that it may trigger an explosive outburst. Children often seek to distract the attention away from the gambler by being disruptive, comedic or inordinately charming, or they react in the opposite manner and become withdrawn, quiet, and fearful. Older children may assume the role of protector of the younger siblings, or attempt to pick up the responsibilities of one or both parents. They often try to overcompensate at school, believing that if they were only better in their scholastic achievement, maybe their gambling parent would love them more and quit gambling. The emotional roller coaster continues to wreak devastation on the children’s emotional development the longer the gambler keeps gambling and does not get treatment. But, again, everyone in the gambler’s family suffers emotional consequences.

Sexual Dysfunction

With no trust in the gambler, no belief in their word, the spouse of the gambler often withdraws from the relationship in the form of sex. What sex there is may become perfunctory at best. Harboring intense feelings of anger and blame, the non-gambling spouse cannot show feelings of love. As the cycle of gambling continues with even more damaging consequences, the gambler loses all desire for sexual intimacy – his or her life is now controlled by gambling. The result for the non-gambling spouse is often complete demoralization, loss of self-esteem and confidence.

Violence

Family violence is more common when families are in crisis.With tensions escalating at a dangerous pace, the arguments and emotional outbursts may end in violence. Gambling problems can lead to physical or emotional abuse of a partner, elder parent or child. Both parents may vent their anger at the children, while the children may try to stick up for one parent or defuse the tensions. They may also become pawns in the never-ending squabbling. The bigger the losses, the longer the out-of-control gambling goes on, the greater the potential for serious bodily harm to family members.

According to the systematic review, over half of people with gambling problems (56%) report perpetrating physical violence against their children (Dowling et al., in press). Moreover, several recent Australian studies have found that one-third to one-half (34-53%) of people with gambling problems and their family members report some form of family violence in the previous 12 months (victimisation (27-41%), perpetration (23-33%); Dowling, Jackson et al., 2014; Suomi et al., 2013). In these studies, parents, current partners and former partners were both the most common perpetrators and victims of the family violence. However, results from studies involving family members other than partners must be interpreted with caution. Only a few studies are available with large variability in reported prevalence estimates.

Gambling And Dependency

Some problem and compulsive gamblers have more than one dependency. It is commonly accepted that individuals with one type of addiction often have others as well. This may be an addiction to alcohol, illicit drugs, pharmaceutical drugs used for nonmedical purposes, or other type of substance. Just because someone gambles, however, doesn’t mean they’re automatically going to be addicted to something else, but the patterns of behavior are already established – particularly if one or more of the gambler’s parents had a problem with alcohol, drugs and/or gambling.

There are, of course, many gamblers who do not become otherwise addicted, saying that no other activity or substance gives them the kind of euphoria, excitement or “high” that gambling does.

SOURCE:https://aifs.gov.au/agrc/publications/impact-gambling-problems-families/what-are-impacts-gambling-problems-families

SOURCE:https://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/behavioral-process-addictions/how-problem-gambling-affects-the-family/

SOURCE:https://www.problemgambling.ca/gambling-help/support-for-families/how-are-families-affected.aspx

 

Relationship between gambling and mental health disorders

When many of us think about problem gambling, we are often drawn to the one obvious negative consequence – financial struggle.  It’s time we start talking about the elephant in the room – the connection between mental health and problem gambling.  No one is really sure which came first, but there are strong connections between problem gambling and mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bi-polar disorder, personality disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

Anyone can develop a gambling problem – it does not depend on age, gender, income, education or ethnic background – and the transition from being a non-gambler to someone with a gambling problem can be swift. For people experiencing mental or physical health problems, stress, loneliness, anti solution, or loss and grief, the risk of problem gambling developing is greater. Problem gambling can be thought of as a behavioral addiction, sharing some features of other addictions such as alcoholism and drug addiction. Problem gambling is not easy to spot. Sometimes, by the time anyone realizes there is a problem, the person already has mental health problems and is close to financial ruin. Like other addictions, the longer problem gambling goes on, the harder it is to break free.

Some possible theories

 

While a well-developed theory to explain the nature of problem gambling is not available, the “self-medicating” hypothesis provides some physiological insight. This theory explains that human beings strive to maintain a balanced state of contentedness, free from anxiety, fear, or sadness. When there is a disturbance to the balance, through genetic or environmental factors, we attempt to regain the balance through whatever means available to us. At a neurochemical level, this balance is best known to be related to levels of the identifiable neurotransmitter dopamine. Common substances such as alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, etc., are known to increase the levels of dopamine, however transiently, thus restoring the sense of well-being. This explains why some individuals are more susceptible to being addicted to these substances. Recent studies have also found that gambling can increase the levels of dopamine, providing the link to a form of substanceless addiction.

Research has also linked a high level of impulsivity and compulsivity to a disturbance in the neurotransmitter serotonin. Correspondingly, many problem gamblers have difficulty controlling their impulsivity and compulsion, and recent research has shown that some of these gamblers indeed have a serotonin deficiency. The serotonin theory thus provides some insight into the nature of problem gambling as an impulsivity and compulsion problem.

Of course, a neurochemical and medicalized explanation of gambling problems is a gross oversimplification of the issue, and pathway 1 clients are unlikely to have many addiction, impulsivity or compulsion problems — their problem may be mostly environmental and circumstantial. Nevertheless, knowing the common neurochemical links does help us understand the relationship between problem gambling and other psychiatric disorders for pathway 2 and 3 clients. For example, a low level of serotonin is highly associated with major depression, attention deficits and anxiety disorders — perhaps those pathway 2 and 3 clients are more likely to have concurrent psychiatric disorders because of this shared neurochemical vulnerability.

It’s time we have the conversation about problem gambling and mental health to prevent any more negative consequences associated with either disorder. Some hope that the roll of the dice or the spin of the slot machines can help them have some fun in life and help them relax. In reality, over time it often makes the depression and anxiety worse.

In fact, one in five problem gamblers attempts suicide.  That number is two times higher for problem gambling than it is for any other addiction. The study also showed that gamblers who committed suicide were three times less likely to have consulted a health service in the year preceding their death. “Gamblers don’t consult professionals because they believe the problem will solve itself,” said Boyer. “They believe their financial or alcohol or drug problems are the result of gambling and therefore they seek a solution in gambling rather than get help.”

 

SOURCE:https://www.recoveryranch.com/articles/dual-diagnosis/gambling-addiction-often-co-occurs-with-other-disorder/

SOURCE:https://www.problemgambling.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/12944/problem-gambling-and-depression-beyond-blue.pdf