Gambling involves betting something of value on an event that is determined at least partly by chance. The goal is to win a prize. Traditionally, this has meant placing a bet with money, but gambling can also involve putting up other objects of value such as cars or houses. The act of gambling is often illegal and can cause serious financial hardships for those who cannot control their urges.
Some people have a natural love of risk and enjoy the thrill of winning big, but compulsive gambling is a serious problem that can ruin lives and ruin families. If someone you know has a problem with gambling, there are several things that can be done to help them overcome their addiction. The first step is to stop them from gambling by cutting them off financially. It is important to cut off credit cards, put someone else in charge of money management, close online gambling accounts, and only carry a small amount of cash with you.
Another option is to seek professional help. Counseling can help someone understand their behavior and think about the way it affects others. It can also help them solve problems and make decisions. There are no medications approved by the FDA to treat gambling disorders, but counseling can help to alleviate symptoms.
It is also important to realize that a person with a gambling disorder does not necessarily have an underlying mood condition such as depression or anxiety. In fact, these problems can actually be made worse by gambling and are common among compulsive gamblers. Therefore, it is essential that they get help for their mood disorder as well.
One of the most effective treatments for pathological gambling is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches people to resist unwanted thoughts and habits. Among the most effective techniques are learning to challenge irrational beliefs, such as believing that a recent loss makes future losses less likely or that a near miss (such as two out of three cherries on a slot machine) will result in a big jackpot.
Other treatment options include family-based therapies, which can be especially helpful if the gambler is a child or a spouse of the problem gambler. These types of therapies can teach the problem gambler how to cope with negative emotions, improve communication skills, and learn new coping mechanisms.
In the past, psychiatry has generally treated pathological gambling as a compulsion rather than an addiction. However, in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the American Psychiatric Association has reclassified it as an addictive disorder in order to increase recognition, encourage screening, and promote research into effective treatments. This reclassification reflects the findings that pathological gambling shares many features with substance abuse disorders and is associated with similar brain changes and physiology. In addition, the high comorbidity of pathological gambling with mood disorders is now recognized. This reclassification should also facilitate the development of more effective interventions.
