Topic: Signs of an addiction - page 25. (Read 3557 times)

I have never experienced the signs of addiction, however, I know quite a lot about this topic as you wrote - it all starts with obsessive thoughts. Just as we, cryptans, experience FOMO, gamblers and betting fans tend to often think about how they made the wrong bet and the winnings passed by, but did not fall into their hands.
And this is bad.
Each person, understanding the decision, makes it and makes a choice: a bet at the gaming table or in betting. And in no case should you then regret the wrong bet and think "I was very wrong, what a fool I am." This is the first step to addiction.

self-justification problem, yes many gambling addicts think and feel that what they do is right and that is what underlies them to continue playing non-stop and even willing to do anything to get capital.

in countries that legalize gambling, there is usually counseling for gamblers when they feel uncomfortable with the gambling habit that has disturbed their personal and social lives and usually they will be given direction to control whatever is on their minds, especially by providing the doctrine that excessive gambling is a mistake, not a right thing.

Yes I notice this one from a former work colleague in particular prioritizing money
for gambling ahead of more important applications.

And from the OP's list I would be familiar with points 2 to 5 with this same person
but the big one that stood out was the fact that this person was preoccupied and
obsessed with gambling and was visiting the bookies a number of times each day
during work.

I think the OP's list is quite accurate.

The list of gambling addiction symptoms or signs is endless if we want to dwell on its discussion. However, this particular point I qoute is not really a sign of gambling addiction. Some people might actually be addicted and trying to conceal it from others but that's not a general case.

I'm a gambler but a responsible one and I do conceal it from some friends and family members for some personal reasons. It doesn't make me addicted gambler but it protects my identity and reputation. The nature of the society we live in is the reason why some people conceal their gambling activities and not purposely because they want to deny it. Moreover, addiction can not be concealed or denied unless it's still at developing stage.

When you have feeling that you can get back your loses and youre are always positive that you can make good return after all even you spend too much and most of the results of your bets are not good ,probably that's what we called the addiction.  I mean such those people who are not taking it for fun only but to achieve something on gambling, which is they keep playing even its impossible as they're not good on it.  For me that's the sign of addiction came from .

Good pointers written in this thread, but actually this situation may vary depends on the person. Sometimes we cannot easily detect if the person is experiencing addiction since there are people who's good to hide on what they are going through.

I meet lots of people online and outside of this space that doesn't show up anything hardships in life.  We will just notice it that they are in this situation once they are in late stage, where everything messed up with them. Its good to have support system in this situation and also we should be always vocal to what activities we are participating so that our family would know how to take action once they see that we cannot handle ourselves its because we are experiencing this kind of condition.

This is almost the same as prioritizing gambling.

 If you are prioritizing gambling ahead of other activities and ahead of other people in your life, like your family members and friends, prioritizing gambling ahead of work, and prioritizing money for gambling ahead of essential bills, it is an indication that you are already on your way to a full-blown addiction. At this point, if you cannot help yourself, seek help; don't procrastinate.

Everything when not according to expectations will create a rapid mood swing without the need to gamble. This is a normal response depending on how long the mood swing response occurs. Liking to be alone is indeed a habit of many gamblers and I also do not recommend continuing to lock yourself away because of thinking about defeat after defeat when gambling. Trying to vent all your frustrations in the wild is much better for self reflection and mentality.

Personally since the international break I have not done any gambling activities at all, it feels fine. Normal gambling is a way that everyone must control starting from themselves.

It’s just going to get worse if you don’t treat it. Some pay for therapies or counseling while some just make sure they have a support group. This can come from loved ones as well but there are many groups out there that are focused on helping recovering addicts.

Usually there’s more to gambling addiction than is seen. Maybe it’s associated with drinking problems as well or maybe depression. These need to be treated alongside the gambling addiction as well. So, there should be recognition of other underlying illnesses.

Find other hobbies that may give you the same “rush” when gambling. Sports is the favorite one. Just make sure to not involve any money.

When I want to return to the casino to playing gambling more often that usual, that will be the sign that telling me that I starts to becomes addicted to gambling. At that moment, I can not hold myself from not thinking about gambling and makes me visit on the online casino to playing gambling. I experienced that before but I soon realize that I must change myself before that ruins me.

It needs awareness to check what is change on ourselves so we can realize and start to change and back to the right track. We can not let ourselves getting deeper in gambling because that can gives us more problem than we though. So that is why we must have a strong control over ourselves so we don't have to get any problem after we playing gambling.

Gambling addiction or its signs will be seen when they have gambled, I remember a video that tells the story of someone who is successful with a stable financial life, a good relationship with his partner, and also with his furniture business which is growing very well. Occasionally he gathers with his friends who like to gamble and he says that it is just a stupid game, and when his friend managed to win it made him interested in trying it which resulted in him trying it himself with the beginning he was given a win, even though the win was the beginning of a disaster for himself.
With him who has the mindset of easily getting profit in gambling makes him continue to gamble, in fact it is clear that addiction is already visible in him which is so bad he even closed several of his furniture stores because the profits and capital that were previously used for his business he used to gamble but there were no results other than losses, besides that his relationship with his partner became a mess after his partner found out that her man was addicted to gambling. At the end of the video, the perpetrator of this addiction wants to kill the person who owes him because of the debt that has not been paid while the desire to gamble continues to accompany him.
I think the main problem that is seen with addiction is the problems it causes with finances.

That's the severe and worst part of gambling addiction and such addicts almost forget about all moral values that they have learned throughout their life. They even sell belongings of their parents, siblings, and sometimes their wives.

Such level of addiction can destroy many lives and such addicts should get rehabilitation as soon as possible. Because if they don't get rehabilitation on time they'll continue to destroy their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Additionally, I believe procrastinating other activities and unconsciously or conscious going to gamble is a serious sign that you're way too into gambling addiction. I have seen lots of people miss opportunities because they shifted almost everything to create more time to gamble. perhaps op you have said it above but I still have to point to it because I have an experience on that.

Secondly very sad that we have to keep running around discussions like this meanwhile we all know what is the truth.

This topic has already been treated and mistreated on this board... a very set context iat OP but more of the same.

Pay for a consultation (doctor, specialist)  it's that simple, consequently you don't leave it to chance if you clinically suffer from addiction, it's that simple.(bis)

I think that of course financial problems are the main sign of addiction. Everything else is secondary. And speaking in a more understandable language, all dependent people have large debts. It is also the dynamics of these debts that matters. If debts have a persistent tendency to increase and a person cannot do anything to stop the process of increasing debt or does not want to do so, then of course he is a dependent person.
   However, it is worth saying that some successful betting players were previously addicted people and struggled with debts. These are very rare cases, but they are still curious. This suggests that even addicted people need to be treated differently.

As addiction deepens, gamblers may start to increase the amount of money or time they spend gambling, believing they need to take bigger risks in order to experience the same rush. They’re betting higher amounts than before, or feel an urge to chase losses.

Gambling addiction often leads to poor decision-making. Making decisions that don't make sense financially or personally, gambling addiction may be at the core of it.

Neglecting everyday responsibilities whether it's work, relationships, or self-care because gambling takes precedence. If you’re missing work, skipping family events, or not keeping up with other commitments due to gambling, this is a major red flag.

Symptoms vary between users depending on how much they've lost in gambling. A person who has lost little will be in an urge to recover what he has lost and will be thinking of gambling and the different ways possible for the same. A person who has missed his life spending everything will be looking for an opportunity to make money so that he can spend it once again and recover back what he had lost earlier. In simple terms, once lost, the person's thinking will be surrounding the gambling activities and never come out of it. This is the start of real addiction. If one is able to realise it, then sharing the hard incident with a closer person and needing to focus on something else. This will help them come out of addiction. Maybe the person whom we share about the loss might scold, but that gives some relaxation, and some might give consoling words that would help us recover and understand the real gambling problems.

Just to mention that there are mild to extreme symptoms of gambling addiction. One can have mood swings when they experience a loss but it eventually goes away within a short duration. Which is normal. However the longer the duration that is how to measure if the symptoms is mild , moderate, or extreme. I think any mood swings resulting from gambling loss that goes beyond 24hours is an extreme sign.

Usually, there is no cause for alarm when the symptoms are mild because they can almost go away by themselves without any intervention but when it enters moderate to extreme symptoms, external help will be needed to fix it.

We always talk about gambling addiction here in forum but it all seems vague. What are actually signs or symptoms of gambling addiction that you can try and detect from yourself or other people?

#1 Mood swings: It’s normal to feel excitement or disappointment when gambling but extreme emotions due to gambling results that you are unable to shake off is not normal. Additionally, if one is irritable when they can’t gamble, that is probably a sign of gambling addiction already.

#2 Preoccupation/Isolation: If you constantly find yourself obsessing over your past gambling experiences and planning on what or how to do it next, you might have an addiction already. Similarly, if you can’t socialize anymore since you are just thinking about gambling then that is also not normal and should not be happening. One may even purposely avoid their friends and family to gamble or think about gambling.

#3: Denial/Concealment: Most addicts are in denial. They would never admit to having a problem. However they probably subconsciously feel that something is wrong or at least there is something they should not be doing. If you are hiding your gambling habits from friends or families, you might already know deep down that there is an addiction already.

#4 Inability to stop: I can gamble and still stop when I’ve had enough. Gambling addicts might not be able to do that. They will continue gambling and maybe even make up excuses for it such as “I will just take back what I lost” and many more.

#5 Financial issues: Once you start going out of your way to gamble even if you no longer have money, you have some serious addiction going now. Some will sell their belongings and even borrow money if it meant they could gamble.

Beware of these signs and detect gambling addictions early on so that you don’t fall in too deep. What other signs do you think we should be wary of?