Is gambling addiction also a result of trauma?

[kryptqnick]

I've been watching Crash Course Psychology recently and came by an episode on trauma and addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=343ORgL3kIc&index=32&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOPRKzVLY0jJY-uHOH9KVU6. This video argues that addiction results from various sorts of psychological traumas related to different events (rape, physical or emotional abuse, war memories etc.). That is, when a person has a trauma, this person tries to get rid of fixating on it with the help of an alcohol (what's often the case with PTSD) or drugs (a good example is the case of sexual abuse of Edward St Aubyn (Patrick Melrose's prototype) and his subsequent heroin addiction). My question is whether you feel like gambling addiction is also a result of desperate attempts of avoiding focusing on other traumatic issues.
Note that I am talking specifically about gambling addiction here, not about people gambling in general.

[alisafidel58]

Trauma victims open do find ways to get rid of their bad experience alcohol, drugs etc. But for a trauma victim to do gambling I can't find a way to link those two. Gambling addiction often comes from a lack of self-control. Trauma victims cant do gambling as it will only worsen they are experiencing already.

You cant point out that gambling addiction is also a result of trauma.

[ryzaadit]

From my experience in gambling only :
1. I cant sleeps.
2. Really addicted to playing more.
3. Can't control my emotion.
I`m a Typical person can't control my psychology. Just like trade, I try to ask the advice of my friend about in this case, they just give me some of their opinions about try to educate your self by some psychology method.

[leonair]

Any kind of addiction is related psychologically and In my perspective it's because it activates the same brain pathways.

Gambling triggers the brain's reward system so if someone continues to gamble the chances are they will get addicted as the pleasure to win again and again will become worse.

[Bitinity]

My question is whether you feel like gambling addiction is also a result of desperate attempts of avoiding focusing on other traumatic issues.

It can be, I have a friend who had very bad family condition or I can call him as a broken home. He received violence from his dad when he was kid long time ago and the trauma keeps haunting him till now. He comes from very rich family, he have so much money to spend but he get less affection from his family. He is now addicted to alcohol, goes to night club almost every single night, spend the money with some girls, and yes he is addicted to online gambling as well. I do believe he do it because he want to forget his trauma when he was a kid. So it can be an example that gambling addiction is also a result of someone who want to forget his/her trauma. Although I believe he will forget it when he is doing what he like only, and he will remember it again once he is not doing nothing.
Overall, gambling addiction may come from from traumatic issues but it is very rare condition imho. Most of addicted gamblers come from their own incapability in controlling themselves.

[Patatas]

I've been watching Crash Course Psychology recently and came by an episode on trauma and addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=343ORgL3kIc&index=32&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOPRKzVLY0jJY-uHOH9KVU6. This video argues that addiction results from various sorts of psychological traumas related to different events (rape, physical or emotional abuse, war memories etc.). That is, when a person has a trauma, this person tries to get rid of fixating on it with the help of an alcohol (what's often the case with PTSD) or drugs (a good example is the case of sexual abuse of Edward St Aubyn (Patrick Melrose's prototype) and his subsequent heroin addiction). My question is whether you feel like gambling addiction is also a result of desperate attempts of avoiding focusing on other traumatic issues.
Note that I am talking specifically about gambling addiction here, not about people gambling in general.

I don't know what psychology says that but speaking generally, how can trauma result in someone getting addicted to gambling? There is absolutely no co-relation between them. One can't be a result of other and vica-versa. The study must have been conducted on drugs just like the alien theories.

[kryptqnick]

I've been watching Crash Course Psychology recently and came by an episode on trauma and addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=343ORgL3kIc&index=32&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOPRKzVLY0jJY-uHOH9KVU6. This video argues that addiction results from various sorts of psychological traumas related to different events (rape, physical or emotional abuse, war memories etc.). That is, when a person has a trauma, this person tries to get rid of fixating on it with the help of an alcohol (what's often the case with PTSD) or drugs (a good example is the case of sexual abuse of Edward St Aubyn (Patrick Melrose's prototype) and his subsequent heroin addiction). My question is whether you feel like gambling addiction is also a result of desperate attempts of avoiding focusing on other traumatic issues.
Note that I am talking specifically about gambling addiction here, not about people gambling in general.

I don't know what psychology says that but speaking generally, how can trauma result in someone getting addicted to gambling? There is absolutely no co-relation between them. One can't be a result of other and vica-versa. The study must have been conducted on drugs just like the alien theories.

Well, the educational video was not about gambling addiction. People who had traumatic experience often re-live them in dreams or memories. They are basically trying to find something that will distract them from harsh reality. While alcohol and drugs physically distract because of altering the ways of perceiving the world, one could argue that gambling addiction could develop based on traumatic experience, since when you're gambling, you're probably not thinking about anything else. Gambling can distract from reality, even though in a different way from what alcohol or drugs do. And since distraction is the main point here, why can't gambling addiction result from traumatic experience?

[greeklogos]

I guess there is a probability to it would be the truth. Gambling may be the way to hide from problems and reality to an individual. What kind of problems have place to be we can't know, but it may be some serious trauma as well.

[hahay]

Gambling does have a different effect and everything you mention is those who can no longer control their emotions and end up with negative actions or activities after getting severe losses in gambling. In the beginning such an bad effect was indeed more prevalent in gambling addicts, but as far as I know, gradually when they can play more professionally and still be able to think with common sense, they tend to be better able to control emotions and better themselves able to avoid such bad actions or activities. So, I chose the vote for Sometimes it is, other times it is not.

[xvids]

Well I think it is true for others we have different opinion and different reason why we gamble.
Some of us gamble just for fun to enjoy our time .
I think there are times back when I was so addictive in gambling I used to play just to avoid being lonely.

[JeromeTash]

I think it's a result of a desperate attempt if one is doing it as a source of investment or profit.

Whether one wins or loses, one feels like they have to gamble again to make more money or make up for the lost money in case they lost before.
So to me it more of a desperate attempt that can sometimes lead to psychological disorders such as depression if things so south really quick.

[Twinkledoe]

Well I think it is true for others we have different opinion and different reason why we gamble.
Some of us gamble just for fun to enjoy our time .
I think there are times back when I was so addictive in gambling I used to play just to avoid being lonely.

But as the OP was asking, is gambling addiction owed to previous trauma? In my opinion, I couldn't relate the two subjects here. Maybe there are people who got addicted in gambling because of their personal traumas. But I believe only few people would be in gambling, most of them are using drugs, or alcohol. Never encounter yet that a person with traumatic experience got hooked in gambling.

[Oceat]

That could be another reason for them to become addicted to certain things like smoking, drinking, drugs, and gambling. Some people tend to smoke or drink a lot if they get too much stress and is almost depressed because of the problem that they were facing at the moment. But with the help of their friends, relatives, and family it could be a lifesaving move if they have to tell it to them.

Having a trauma is a serious illness in our mind that needs a lot of time to help it to overcome, sometimes people get drunk just to forget about their trauma. But it is not a good solution to their problem because it will keep coming to them after they wake up.

[Altero]

That could be another reason for them to become addicted to certain things like smoking, drinking, drugs, and gambling. Some people tend to smoke or drink a lot if they get too much stress and is almost depressed because of the problem that they were facing at the moment. But with the help of their friends, relatives, and family it could be a lifesaving move if they have to tell it to them.

Having a trauma is a serious illness in our mind that needs a lot of time to help it to overcome, sometimes people get drunk just to forget about their trauma. But it is not a good solution to their problem because it will keep coming to them after they wake up.

I may say that, trauma is more than of being in a state of addiction. Yeah, it is a serious illness or a mental disorder coming depression and to much stress which it needs a serious and long medication. If that person have such thing, it really can't make a right decision and even get worst when it commits some criminal activities and lead him into out of control.
And so, we need to control ourself cause addiction would lead into something away from goodness and even committing illegalities and crimes.

[Oceat]

From my experience in gambling only :
1. I cant sleeps.
2. Really addicted to playing more.
3. Can't control my emotion.
I`m a Typical person can't control my psychology. Just like trade, I try to ask the advice of my friend about in this case, they just give me some of their opinions about try to educate your self by some psychology method.

First thing first if you really want to get rid of your addiction to gambling. Control your bankrolls or give it to someone whom you trust the most and your funds will be safe with them and you can only take it if you want to use it for buying something and not by playing in gambling.

[Heisenberg_Hunter]

The fun part is that Gambling addiction itself results in Trauma. People tend to be addicted to gambling not just in a single day or a month. Some start with a little money, win through a series of games and subsequently due to the profits they have seen in the gambling makes them addicted towards these. Prolonged Gambling experience leads a person to experience traumatic issues probably. Alcohol and other drugs are consumed by people in a higher stress sorts of issues but Gambling doesn't get that way.

But, if the person has been in trauma due to the loss of money in his business there are higher chances for him to get involved in gambling to regain the money. So, if he wins through the games he might eventually continue it as an addiction. We also need to note that, recent studies which took place in 2017 also shows that Gambling addiction takes place due to the gamblers facing a pressurized childhood such as with the parents being violent to them, abuse taking place in colleges and schools. That being said, gambling addiction has its roots in the earlier stages of the life or the situations which were hard to forget made them move towards gambling.

[BeGoods]

Any kind of addiction is related psychologically and In my perspective it's because it activates the same brain pathways.

Gambling triggers the brain's reward system so if someone continues to gamble the chances are they will get addicted as the pleasure to win again and again will become worse.

Thats why to stop addiction you have to improve your psychology, even the worst you need the help of a psychiatrist. but for the causes of addiction itself can be various things, not only trauma. people who do not have jobs can also become addicts, people who like to gamble are also prone to becoming addicts, and many reasons..

[LogitechMouse]

There are many ways for the person to redirect himself/herself from trauma like the use of drugs and the use of alcohol.

The person will just be addicted in to gambling if he will use gambling as a way to redirect himself from trauma. We know that continuous gambling can result into getting addicted into it so if he will not gamble while in a trauma, he will not get addicted into it and vice versa.

[omonuyak]

There are many ways for the person to redirect himself/herself from trauma like the use of drugs and the use of alcohol.

The person will just be addicted in to gambling if he will use gambling as a way to redirect himself from trauma. We know that continuous gambling can result into getting addicted into it so if he will not gamble while in a trauma, he will not get addicted into it and vice versa.

That is truth and gambling can result in to trauma and depression and that means one will find it very difficult to control his mind or think well and habit or addictions will step in.  Gambling is too risky and it is very difficult to make consistent profits without losing.

[rizkyhiw]

Addiction is very influential in life and the work system of the brain is very easy to change if it does have the determination to limit because addiction starts from excessive victory and optimism when it gets a defeat so it becomes very high emotion from that point he tries to keep playing to get victory and lots behavior can affect it, it cannot be avoided if you cannot minimize the game.

I don't think trauma can make people addicted because if you think clearly, trauma will never return until the trauma disappears.