Symptoms of gambling addiction:
- Gaining a thrill from taking big gambling risks
- Taking increasingly bigger gambling risks
- Preoccupation with gambling
- Reliving past gambling experiences
- Gambling as a way to escape problems or feelings of helplessness, guilt or depression
- Taking time from work or family life to gamble
- Concealing or lying about gambling
- Feeling guilt or remorse after gambling
- Borrowing money or stealing to gamble
- Failed efforts to cut back on gambling
Gambling is out of control if:
- It's affecting your relationships, finances, or work or school life
- You're devoting more and more time and energy to gambling
- You've unsuccessfully tried to stop or cut back on your gambling
- You try to conceal your gambling from family or others
- You resort to theft or fraud to get gambling money
- You ask others to bail you out of financial woes because you've gambled money away
Long lasting consequences of compulsive betting:
- Relationship problems
- Financial problems, including bankruptcy
- Legal problems or imprisonment
- Job loss or professional stigma
- Associated alcohol or drug abuse
- Poor general health
- Mental health disorders, such as depression
- Suicide
- Mayo Clinic
If you can relate to any of these then there's a good chance that you may have a problem. Go to your doctor and seek help immediately, they will put you in contact with a good psychiatrist and your treatment for a better life will begin. It is nothing to be ashamed of in fact it takes great courage to admit to having a problem and I commend you if you do. This is all coming from a guy who has battled with gambling addiction for many years so I very much empathize with folks who have the same problem as I did. Make the right decision guys, it is never too late.