Some Answers to Your Questions About Gambling Addiction

How Do I Know If I Have A Gambling Addiction?

You will know if you have a gambling addiction if gambling has affected your life negatively socially, emotionally, financially and spiritually. If you have gambled alone, and have missed work, lost more than you could afford, or lied about gambling, you more than likely have a gambling addiction. "Compulsive Gambling" is considered an impulse control disorder and is characterized by unstoppable thoughts and uncontrollable impulses to gamble. "Problem Gambling" is considered less severe than compulsive gambling, but it is still a very serious problem.

Someone in my family is addicted to gambling. What should I do?

There are many paths you could take when a family member is addicted to gambling. You can go to a gamanon meeting yourself to get 12 -Step support from other family members of gamblers.(Check links and resources). This might be a good first step in finding out how to approach your family member, since every situation is different. Please check resources page for more information on this topic.

I have a gambling addiction and I have lost a lot of money. I am in debt, and I do not know what to do. Can you help?

Going into debt is one of the biggest after-effects of a gambling addiction. It can effect the gambler long after he or she stops gambling and is one of the long-term consequences of gambling addiction. When you attend a Gamblers Anonymous 12-Step Group you can find support from trusted members on how to deal with your debt problems. Please also visit the links and resources page to find out more about debt and credit solutions as a result of your gambling addiction. Remember, gambling addiction is not a money problem.. it is an emotional and spiritual problem with financial consequences.

Can I have a gambling addiction if I go to the casino.. but mostly win?

Yes. There are 4 phases of a gambling addiction. 1. Winning Phase: Usually starts with a big win and a belief that good luck will continue indefinitely. 2. Losing Phase: More pre-occupied with gambling. You are gambling alone, missing work, lying about your whereabouts, and beginning to chase your losses. 3. Desperation Phase: This is truly characterized by a loss of control, preoccupation with gambling, defaulting on most debt, cheating or stealing,loss of job or primary relationship. 4. Hopeless Phase: You hit rock bottom. You may also start abusing drugs or alcohol. Suicide thoughts and attempts are common in this phase.

I gamble when I am lonely and depressed. How come?

You are most likely known as an "escape gambler" You gamble to escape emotional pain. Most "escape gamblers" can become addicted to slot machines, online gambling, and bingo. An "action gambler" is someone who enjoys risk taking and gambles on games of skill such as sports betting, the stock market, and cards. "Action-gamblers" have been traditionally male, however, the genders are becoming well represented in each group.

I realize that I do have a problem... what is the first step to getting help?

Congratulations for admitting that you have a problem. This is the first step that you can take to getting better. Without this first step, your gambling addiction can continue to progress. Gambling help can be found by going to the resources page within our site. You can also call the gambling hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER. Checking out a local Gamblers Anonymous Meeting at http://www.gamblersanonymous.org is a good first step. Please visit our resources and links page for more information.. and again... congratulations. You are on your way to a better life.

Michelle Tee is a self-help coach and author on the subject of gambling addiction . If you are looking to stop gambling and have not had success in the past, visit her site today.

Questions to Ask Yourself to Help Identify If You Have a Gambling Problem

Gambling takes many different forms. Even bingo and the lottery can be termed as gambling. And although these two forms are not usually a problem, other forms of gambling can become very addictive. And once you become addicted to gambling, your entire life can be effected for a long time. In can put you deep in debt as well as affect your relationship with family and friends.

Many times when someone gets addicted to gambling, it changes his entire ability to deal with all situations. The gambler can become irrational, argumentative and unreasonable. To relieve this situation, some sort of treatment is generally necessary. But before any of this can happen, the gambler must first acknowledge that there is a problem.

Gamblers Anonymous has set down some guidelines to help identify someone with a gambling problem.

Has your attendance at school or work suffered?

If you are late or missing time at school or work, it could be an indication of a problem.

Is your home life unhappy? If you gamble, is it effecting your life at home?
Has your reputation changed? Constant gambling can affect the way people look at you and think of you.
Winning or Losing - Do you feel guilty? No matter if you win or lose, you can feel guilty from gambling.
Is gambling a source of necessary income? Do you gamble to pay off other bills? If so, it can lead to addiction.
Is gambling monopolizing your personality? Are some of your good qualities like ambition and efficiency being affected because of your gambling?
Do you have the desire to win back what you have lost? The feeling of getting back what you have lost can be a sign of gambling addiction.
Does winning create greed? If you win, do you want to gamble again to make even more?
Do you know when to stop? Do you keep gambling until you are totally out of money or do you set a limit. If you keep going, you could have a problem.
Do you borrow from friends so that you can gamble? If you keep losing, do you borrow money from friends and family so that you can return to the table and gamble some more?
Are you selling personal property to get gambling money? If you are selling items to finance your gambling, then chances are, you have a problem.
Are you isolating your gambling money? If you hesitate or refuse to use your gambling money for anything but gambling, this could be a very bad sign.
Is your family secondary to your gambling? If you are finding that both you and your family are becoming secondary thoughts to gambling, then you are probably too far involved in this practice.
Do you play past the point where you planned on stopping? Having difficulty stopping at any given time is an indication of a problem.
Do you use gambling as an escape? Is gambling your way of escaping from problems? If so, it may be time to stop.
Have you considered criminal activity as a means of financing gambling? If you have, then gambling has become a problem.
Are you having trouble sleeping? This can be caused by an increased level of gambling.
Do outside influences force you to gamble? Things happening in your life can drive you to gamble in order to forget them.
Do you celebrate events by gambling? Do you use gambling as a means of celebration?
Have you thought of suicide due to your gambling? The contemplation of suicide is an indication of a serious problem.
If you are a gambler with a problem, then you probably answered "yes" to seven of these points. Here are some suggestions to help you get out of that gambling rut.

Only take a specified amount of money with you to gamble
Leave credit cards and the atm card at home.
Have a strict time limit to how long you will play
Keep in mind that losing is more likely than winning
Do not use any winnings to gamble even more.
If you run out of money, go home - don't keep gambling.
Take someone with you who will be a sort of designated driver to help you quit when you should.

For more online gambling advice please visit the Casino Gamblers Guide online casino guide.