Responsible Gambling

When is gambling a problem?

A gambling problem is about much more than wanting to win money. In fact, preoccupation with money is likely to be a consequence of a gambling problem, rather than the cause. The absolute focus on money comes from having lost unaffordable amounts of money to gambling and then chasing losses. The initial cause of a gambling problem is much more likely to be wanting more and more of the experience that you get from gambling. Your experience of gambling might be feeling a “buzz” a “rush” or a high from gambling. Or your experience might be feeling completely absorbed and calmed by gambling. For some people, either experience becomes addictive.

Gambling becomes a problem when you find that you have difficulty stopping, or you spend more money, and often spend more time on gambling than you can afford to. However, you cannot always measure whether you have a gambling problem by the amount of money you spend. Even if you are not spending unaffordable amounts of money you could still have a gambling problem. If you find that you are always thinking about gambling and put gambling before your important relationships and other commitments, then your preoccupation with gambling could begin to negatively impact these areas of your life. If your level of gambling is causing problems in any area of your life and relationships, and despite this you feel you cannot stop or control the amount you gamble, then these are signs of a gambling problem.

The stress, anxiety, and depression a gambling problem causes also negatively impacts your all-round wellbeing. Your mental health suffers as your emotions feel controlled by whether you are winning or losing at gambling. Eventually this can affect your ability to concentrate and perform at school or work. You are unable to engage healthily in your relationships with friends and family.

If you have developed a gambling problem you may find that you gamble at all costs. You may max out your credit cards and then, because the urge to gamble feels so overwhelming, then borrow money from family and friends. Perhaps you find yourself telling lies about the reasons you need the money because you feel ashamed of the situation caused by your gambling.

Most people who develop a problem with gambling not only hide the problem from others, but they also avoid facing the reality of the problem themselves. This is because the problems caused by gambling feel too much to deal with and gambling acts as a distraction from uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. For many, who develop a problem with gambling, the initial attraction of gambling was as a distraction from life problems.

Another reason it feels very hard to face the reality of a gambling problem is that stopping gambling means letting go of the hope of winning back enough money to pay off debts. However, most people with a gambling problem find that even if they do win, they do not keep hold of their winnings. They crave more of the experience they get from gambling and use the money to buy more of that distracting experience. This digs them deeper into trouble.

Many people feel that they cannot bear to go through withdrawal symptoms from gambling. Withdrawal from gambling does feel hard and needs to be taken as seriously as withdrawal from alcohol or drugs. Be encouraged to know it is entirely possible to get through withdrawal from gambling with professional help and guidance it can feel a lot easier. The worst of withdrawal from a gambling problem is over within a couple of weeks. By the time you have four weeks free of gambling, you will be feeling much better. Your thoughts will be clearer. Your emotions will be more stable. You will begin to enjoy time spent with family and friends again.

Common warning signs

A key sign you may have a problem with gambling is feeling in two minds about gambling. Rationally, you want to stop gambling because you know it is damaging for you, yet another part of you feels you cannot resist the urge to gamble.

Perhaps you are not worried about your own gambling, but you are concerned that someone you are close to may have a problem.

Whether it is your own gambling you are concerned about or that of someone you are close to, it can feel like a big step to make that first call to seek help. Nobody ever regrets taking that step.

If you are wondering if you should take the step to seek help for yourself, then feel encouraged by knowing that everyone now in recovery from a gambling problem once felt similar to the way you feel now. It is entirely possible to take control of your gambling and start living a rewarding, healthy life. There is no better time than now to make a start.

Get help with problem gambling in Canada:

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) - Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital and one of the world’s leading research centres in its field. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

From the GTA: 416 535-8501

Toll-free: 1 800 463-2338

Visit: www.camh.ca

OR

GamTalk is an online facility that allows you to share your experience with someone online. GamTalk connects you with people who have been through this before. Visit GamTalk here https://www.gamtalk.org/