FYI: This was brought up at another forum (perhaps as a joke), and I am sure this has come up here before as well, but here goes anyway for those interested..... Also good to know regarding how the mental health profession is grading gambling activities....
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Are you an addictive/pathologic gambler? Ask yourself these questions:
1 Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2 Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3 Did gambling affect your reputation?
4 Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5 Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6 Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7 After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8 After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9 Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10 Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11 Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12 Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
13 Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14 Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15 Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16 Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17 Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18 Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19 Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20 Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
According to Gamblers Anonymous, if you answer ‘yes’ to seven of more of these questions, you most likely have a compulsive gambling problem.
Source:
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Here is another way of deciding and - more important - how a doctor would determine if you qualify as a pathologic gambler (I say qualify because there are exceptions to any and all medical diagnosis.)
Cautionary statement:
A persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
WAGER OFTEN: A mnemonic for diagnosing pathologic gambling disorder*
W ithdrawal. Feels restless or irritable when attempting to reduce or stop gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 4)
A ffects relationships. Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 9)
G oal is to get even by chasing losses. Gambles again to break even after losing money gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 6)
E scape. Gambles as a way to escape problems or relieve dysphoric mood, helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression (DSM-IV-TR criterion 5)
R escue. Relies on others to be rescued financially (DSM-IV-TR criterion 10)
O utside the law. Has committed illegal acts, such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement, to finance gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 8)
F ailure to control. Has made repeated unsuccessful efforts to reduce, control, or stop gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 3)
T olerance. Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money or risks to achieve the desired excitement (DSM-IV-TR criterion 2)
E vades telling the truth. Lies to family members, healthcare providers, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 7)
N eeds to think about next gambling venture. Is preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble (DSM-IV-TR criterion 1)
*Cannot be better accounted for by a manic episode.
DSM-IV-TR, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition revised.
312.31 Pathological Gambling
Information from the American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed, rev. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
Sources (please read only if really, really interested):
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Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday.
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Are you an addictive/pathologic gambler? Ask yourself these questions:
1 Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2 Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3 Did gambling affect your reputation?
4 Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5 Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6 Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7 After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8 After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9 Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10 Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11 Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12 Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
13 Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14 Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15 Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16 Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17 Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18 Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19 Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20 Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
According to Gamblers Anonymous, if you answer ‘yes’ to seven of more of these questions, you most likely have a compulsive gambling problem.
Source:
---------------------------------
Here is another way of deciding and - more important - how a doctor would determine if you qualify as a pathologic gambler (I say qualify because there are exceptions to any and all medical diagnosis.)
Cautionary statement:
A persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
WAGER OFTEN: A mnemonic for diagnosing pathologic gambling disorder*
W ithdrawal. Feels restless or irritable when attempting to reduce or stop gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 4)
A ffects relationships. Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 9)
G oal is to get even by chasing losses. Gambles again to break even after losing money gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 6)
E scape. Gambles as a way to escape problems or relieve dysphoric mood, helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression (DSM-IV-TR criterion 5)
R escue. Relies on others to be rescued financially (DSM-IV-TR criterion 10)
O utside the law. Has committed illegal acts, such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement, to finance gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 8)
F ailure to control. Has made repeated unsuccessful efforts to reduce, control, or stop gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 3)
T olerance. Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money or risks to achieve the desired excitement (DSM-IV-TR criterion 2)
E vades telling the truth. Lies to family members, healthcare providers, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 7)
N eeds to think about next gambling venture. Is preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble (DSM-IV-TR criterion 1)
*Cannot be better accounted for by a manic episode.
DSM-IV-TR, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition revised.
312.31 Pathological Gambling
Information from the American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed, rev. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
Sources (please read only if really, really interested):
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Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday.
