The coming age has led numerous new pathological addictions, one of them is of addiction to gambling. Pathological gambling was granted the status of an illness by the American Psychiatric Association back in the 1980s. Robert l. Custer, m.d., is a pioneer in this area of problem gambling.
People who fall prey to this addiction are usually those who have an income by means of black jack, poker or other gambling activities secure. They are professional players who visit casinos not for fun sake, but use their skills to earn.
On the basis of their way of playing and the driving force behind the gamblers can be categorized. For example, while professional gamblers are competent and well in their game a casual gamblers plays only for recreation.
The symptoms of gambling addiction are usually difficult to identify. Since this disease differs from other substance addictions such as related to drug or alcohol abuse, the evidence of this disease are subtle. The closest possible way in which the symptoms of this addiction can be made by the "Custer three phase Model". According to his model, the gambling addiction can be characterized by three phases: the phase wining, the losing phase and the desperation phase.
In the wining phase, the compulsive gambler is ecstatic and unnecessarily with this income and is not willing to stop gambling. Therefore, increases the addict usually his intensity of gambling. However, losing the other half of the gambling, wining streak short period only. Nevertheless, recurring losses do not stop him if he wants to win again and to get his money back. Financial stress, loss of sleep, and mental fatigue addicted gamblers to suffer in this phase. They are confronted with problems on the family front. The patient also tend to borrow huge amounts or some money making schemes. If the gambler face loss on each alternative day continues, he finds it difficult to stay away from gambling. Compulsive gamblers may use all means to raise funds for their obsession. They are desperate, with their debt becoming unmanageable. Loss of jobs, fight with friends and family, committing crimes or suicidal tendencies define this phase.
The question why does a gamble, cannot be answered in final terms. One of the dominant reasons is the mental health of the gambler. Gambling n serves as an escape route from their lives for some people. A compulsive gambler plays for kicks. He is just staying away from it. Many researchers also blame the easy accessibility of casinos. The Government and its lottery fund is also widely condemned.
Treatment programs and centers exist in order to treat this disease. Regular therapy and counseling is an effective and a widely used technique to cure this disease. Several support groups have also surfaced, where the addicts share their experiences and strengthen each others desire to stop gambling. Some groups that finance such programs include casinos and state lotteries. Some casinos lay stress on responsible gambling and have taken measures to make people conscious about his addiction.
But the first step, before nay treatment would recognize this disease. With very mild symptoms and effects is difficult to capture this addiction and to recognise. So it helps to be aware to act wisely.
Mansi Aggarwal writes about gambling addiction. More information on [http://www.gamblingaddictinfo.com]
No comments:
Post a Comment