Gambling is an activity in which a person places a bet on the outcome of a specific event, such as a football match or scratchcard. The amount of money a person can win is determined by the ‘odds’, which are set by the betting company. While most people enjoy gambling as a social activity and are in no danger of developing an addiction, a small number become seriously involved in terms of time invested and money wagered. Their addiction has negative personal, family, and financial consequences.
In some cases, the psychological ‘high’ from winning can turn into depression and despair. This can lead to self-harm, suicide attempts and even the loss of life. If you have thoughts or feelings of suicidal ideation, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. Treatment is very effective and support can help reduce suicidal feelings.
It is common for people who are addicted to gamble to spend more and more money than they can afford to lose, leading to debts which often increase rapidly. People with low incomes can be particularly vulnerable, because they may have more to lose than those on higher incomes. Moreover, they often have less to fall back on, and are more likely to find other ways of coping with their financial problems, such as borrowing or stealing from family members or friends.
There are a variety of approaches to studying the impacts of gambling. One method, used in alcohol and drug research, is to study the costs of gambling by assigning monetary values to the effects. While this is useful, it neglects the benefits of gambling. A more useful approach is to take a public health perspective, which examines gambling at all severity levels and includes both positive and negative impacts.
There are a number of other ways to deal with unpleasant emotions, including exercising, spending time with non-gambling friends, taking up new hobbies and relaxing through meditation. It’s also important to remember that gambling is not a substitute for mental health care, so it’s essential to seek professional help for problems with gambling if you need it. A GP or NHS service should be able to offer support, and there are lots of charities that specialise in gambling related issues. It’s also worth trying to identify any underlying issues that are contributing to your problem, such as anxiety or depression. These can be treated with medication or psychotherapy, or even by simply talking to someone. A therapist can help you develop better ways of dealing with unpleasant feelings and learn to manage your gambling behaviour. They can also teach you to challenge irrational beliefs, such as the belief that a series of losses means you’re due a win. This is known as cognitive-behavioral therapy, and it’s a very effective treatment for many types of gambling addiction. In addition to these therapies, there are a number of other treatments available, such as group therapy and hypnotherapy. Having an understanding of how gambling affects you can help you make informed choices in the future.