{"id":12103,"date":"2022-04-08T06:33:15","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T06:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/?p=12103"},"modified":"2024-10-01T18:20:36","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T18:20:36","slug":"gambling-addiction-recovery-know-when-to-hold-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/gambling-addiction-recovery-know-when-to-hold-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Know when to hold them, know when to fold them and know when to walk away know when to run. (Kenny Rogers)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Know when to hold them, know when to fold them and know when to walk away know when to run. (Kenny Rogers)<\/h1>Reach out now, we can help<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/header>
Home<\/a> \/ <\/div>

Know when to hold them, know when to fold them and know when to walk away know when to run. (Kenny Rogers)<\/h3>
08 April, 2022<\/span>Articles, News<\/span><\/div>\n

Excessive Gambling has been\nrecognised as a definable behavioural disorder and is also delineated in The\nDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition which\noutlines the criteria for diagnosis as a gambling addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this is a very clinical\ndefinition it is helpful to consider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behaviour\nleading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as indicated by the\nindividual exhibiting four (or more) of the following in a 12­month period:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a. Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order\nto achieve the desired excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b. Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or\nstop gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

c. Has made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut\nback, or stop gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

d. Is often preoccupied with gambling (e.g., having\npersistent thoughts of reliving past gambling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture,\nthinking of ways to get money with<\/p>\n\n\n\n

which to gamble).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

e. Often gambles when feeling distressed (e.g., helpless,\nguilty, anxious, depressed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

f. After losing money gambling, often returns another day to\nget even (“chasing” one’s losses).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

g. Lies to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

h. Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job,\nor educational or career opportunity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

because of gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

i. Relies on others to provide money to relieve desperate\nfinancial situations caused by gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compulsive gambling is a serious condition that can destroy\nlives. Although treating compulsive gambling can be challenging, many people\nwho struggle with compulsive gambling have found help through professional\ntreatment mostly in the inpatient gambling rehab setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Unlike most casual gamblers who stop when losing or set a\nloss limit, people with a compulsive gambling problem are compelled to keep\nplaying to recover their money — a pattern that becomes increasingly\ndestructive over time”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of this many gambling rehabs have introduced\nprogrammes to deal with this process addiction using similar approaches to\nhandling any other addiction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a gambling disorder? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A “compulsive, or pathological, problem gambler” are terms that\nhave been used to describe and individual who is unable to manage or stop his\nor her impulse and action in terms of gambling. Gambling disorders can lead to\nserious emotional, financial, relationship and other social consequences if there\nis no intervention to arrest the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is apparent that people who suffer severely from the\ndisorder are unable to stop by using their usual coping mechanisms and need the\nhelp of a certified and registered gambling rehab. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you know that you may have a problem with gambling\ndisorder? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to specialists in this area from the Mayo Clinic\nif the following apply to you, you could be suffering from a gambling disorder.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compulsive gambling addiction is not related to morality or\nvalues issues it is fraught with complex motivations and often related to\ntrauma of some sort.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also very much a systemic family disorder, or its\nconsequences almost always impact the family system of the gambler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compulsive gambling can have many consequences on financial\nresources and interpersonal relationships. Often the gambler is rejected by the\npeople that he or she has hurt as a result of the behaviour and it becomes\nincreasingly difficult for the person to find the support, they need in order\nrecover in the family context. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Hence the need for a focussed\ngambling rehabilitation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gambling addiction requires a specialised customised and\nholistic approach as the issues are specific and the risks of later relapse are\njust as high as any other form of addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bearing this in mind there is a distinct focus on family\ndynamics during the treatment process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gambling can stimulate the brain’s reward system much like drugs\nor alcohol can and this turns into addiction. If you have a problem with\ncompulsive gambling, you may continually want to persist with the behaviour\nregardless of the outcome.  Gambler often\ntake bets that lead to losses, hide their behaviour, deplete savings,\naccumulate debt, or even resort to theft or fraud to support your addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is often accompanied by cross addiction such as Alcohol Addiction,\nDrug addiction or Sex addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The treatment modalities\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n