Gambling addiction has been a modern problem in society. There were no studies conducted in the past that answer the questions on gambling addiction. Today, the costs of rehabilitation are very high. But the costs of the damage to families done by these gambling addicts are higher. An understanding on how gambling can develop to addiction is important. Read on the phases of gambling addiction and see if you're in any of it.
The first phase of Gambling Addiction is the Winning Phase. Gambling addiction in this phase is short. The gambler gets comfort from gambling. Gamblers get boosted self-esteem and gains confidence. The loneliness is masked by the excitement felt by gamblers in this phase. Usually, the problems of gamblers in this phase are not too bad.
The second phase of Gambling Addiction is the Losing or Chasing Phase. When gamblers interpret their losses as mere bad luck, then they are in this phase. The main symptom of gambling addiction in this phase is discontentment in small wins. A gambling addict in this phase ignores his family and becomes more irritable when unable to gamble. In this phase, a gambling addict makes gambling as the only form of escaping his problems. This phase lasts for years with gambling bets increasing gradually. To sustain the need for gambling, the addict gambler starts to borrow money from friends to finance gambling. This is where the financial downfall of a gambling addict begins.
The Desperation Phase is the third phase in Gambling Addiction. For addict gamblers in this phase, nothing is more important than gambling. The gambler begins to lie and manipulate people to be able to gamble. The addict gambler ignores his work and family. Blame projection is the feature of this phase. When there is no one to blame, extreme anger develops.
The addict gambler also encounters the financial toils. In desperation, the addict gambler seeks for loans or requests advance pay slips. Bills get unpaid with debts increasing steadily. Bankruptcy is imminent in this phase. Thoughts about suicide are usually present with the addict gambler. In this phase, addict gamblers view death as the solution to all his problems.
The Hopeless Phase is the last phase in gambling addiction. The addict gambler has clinical depression that leads them to do undesirable acts. Addict gamblers only get away from doing harm if they gamble. The addict gambler realizes his condition is already untreatable. This is usually the make or break phase. Change solely relies on the ability of the addict gambler to realize the damage he's done to himself and the people around him.