While many people enjoy gambling as a way to spend their time, it can cause them harm in the long run. Those who suffer from compulsive gambling can experience serious financial problems, as well as emotional and physical distress. However, it is possible to break the cycle of gambling addiction and recover. The first step is seeking treatment and recovery programs. You may need inpatient or residential treatment, family therapy, career and credit counseling, and more.
Gambling is an activity in which you wager something of value, usually money, on the outcome of a game or event. This can include placing bets on football games, horse races, or other sports events. You can also bet on the results of a lottery or scratchcard. The result of a gamble is determined by chance and can be positive or negative.
A person can develop a gambling problem because of underlying mood disorders like depression, stress, or anxiety. These disorders can trigger or make gambling worse, and they can interfere with a person’s ability to function at work and home. The key to overcoming a gambling addiction is finding healthier and more effective ways to self-soothe unpleasant feelings and entertain yourself.
Pathological gambling is a behavioral disorder defined by a loss of control over gambling, preoccupation with gambling and obtaining money with which to gamble, irrational thinking about the behavior, and continued engagement in the activity despite adverse consequences. Changes over time in the definition of pathological gambling in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) have reflected or stimulated a move toward more scientific criteria for diagnosing this condition.
