Recognizing Gambling Disorders, Symptoms of Severe Gambling Addiction

[DU18]

This morning I read a scientific article that discusses the symptoms of a gambling disorder or behavior that is classified as severe gambling addiction.
And according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5, there are several symptoms that indicate the behavior of someone who is addicted, including:

• The individual with the disorder feels the desire to gamble and uses more and more money to get the pleasure he craves.

• Finds himself agitated and annoyed when he tries to gamble less or halt altogether.

• He has tried time and again to curb, lessen or halt gambling, but has not been able to.

• Many times, he obsesses about gambling, such as thinking about his past gambling involvement; preparing for another gambling session; and devising how to get the money he needs for gambling.

• When he feels unhappy, distraught, remorseful and hopeless, he gambles

• When he is defeated during gambling, he tries to make up for the loss of money by going back to gamble again, trying to win back what he lost.

• He is dishonest about his gambling, trying to cover up how much he participates in it.

• His gambling has caused an important relationship, academics, current career or future chance of a job to be in serious peril.

• He depends on other people to give him the money he needs to resolve serious problems he is having (paying the mortgage, utilities, loans, car payments).

• The gambling is not because of a manic episode.

• Stealing or cheating for money to gamble

Source : https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gambling-disorder/what-is-gambling-disorder


In the last few hours I personally do self-introspection and analyze these symptoms may be in myself, family or friends. and as a result there are some of my friends who do seem to have these symptoms ;
1. Should I shut up and watch him continue gambling.
2. Or risk the friendship to fall apart by suggesting him to go to a psychiatrist, because because in my place people who go to a psychiatrist are identical to people who have mental disorders.


Note : This is my first topic in the gambling thread, and it may still have many shortcomings, but my intention is just to share a little information with everyone here and hopefully it will be useful. thank you...!

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[mu_enrico]

It's a complicated issue when you want to give advice for his own good, but he won't listen, and sometimes there will be aggression towards you. Well, for me, if he isn't asking for help, I won't talk about it too deeply. If he wants to ruin his life, I'm afraid there is nothing you can do about it. Why should we care so much about our friend? It's his privacy after all. But in case you really want to help, tell his family about his problem and ask them to keep silent. Only his wife, son, parents, can talk to him.

[DU18]

It's a complicated issue when you want to give advice for his own good, but he won't listen, and sometimes there will be aggression towards you. Well, for me, if he isn't asking for help, I won't talk about it too deeply. If he wants to ruin his life, I'm afraid there is nothing you can do about it. Why should we care so much about our friend? It's his privacy after all. But in case you really want to help, tell his family about his problem and ask them to keep silent. Only his wife, son, parents, can talk to him.

Maybe I won't care what other people do, but not with my best friend whom I have considered a brother. But what I'm thinking right now is how to convey it without destroying the friendship that has existed since childhood, and honestly its emotional nature makes me have to think twice about conveying it without causing other problems.

[dothebeats]

Intervention would always be the best choice, however do it in a way that your friend will not be offended and will understand that your intentions are good. It’s in the way of delivering the bad news in a manner that the receiver will understand, and will not be triggered by the sudden rush of emotions that will result from the bad news that you uttered.

Just a few small talks and some beers may help you explain things in an unoffensive and personal manner. Better to have a small, temporary rift between you and your friend than to let him/her fall apart due to gambling.

[DU18]

Intervention would always be the best choice, however do it in a way that your friend will not be offended and will understand that your intentions are good. It’s in the way of delivering the bad news in a manner that the receiver will understand, and will not be triggered by the sudden rush of emotions that will result from the bad news that you uttered.

Just a few small talks and some beers may help you explain things in an unoffensive and personal manner. Better to have a small, temporary rift between you and your friend than to let him/her fall apart due to gambling.

thanks for the advice and maybe I will wait for the right time to talk about it, and maybe there should be a little humor in conveying it later , I really should take her for coffee in her favorite cafe, but if I have to invite  her to drink beer, maybe I should also see a psychiatrist  , because to be honest beer is a drink that is forbidden in my religion and family.

[Oshosondy]

thanks for the advice and maybe I will wait for the right time to talk about it, and maybe there should be a little humor in conveying it later , I really should take her for coffee in her favorite cafe, but if I have to invite  her to drink beer, maybe I should also see a psychiatrist  , because to be honest beer is a drink that is forbidden in my religion and family.

I do not think there is any problem to say the truth, it is only just a matter of telling him politely in a way he will not be offended. I think if your friend is a gambling addict, he will know that something is wrong about himself, but the stop is the issue, but you that have read about it will be able to tell him about the dangers there and about the reason he should stop, not that you are commanding him to stop but just you wish him to stop because quiting it for time being will help him. Just be polite about this and that you do not want what is not good for him is the reason you are advising him. As simple as that, it is not about bear or not imo.

[Fortify]

Source : https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gambling-disorder/what-is-gambling-disorder

In the last few hours I personally do self-introspection and analyze these symptoms may be in myself, family or friends. and as a result there are some of my friends who do seem to have these symptoms ;
1. Should I shut up and watch him continue gambling.
2. Or risk the friendship to fall apart by suggesting him to go to a psychiatrist, because because in my place people who go to a psychiatrist are identical to people who have mental disorders.

Unfortunately you can give advice but you cannot change somebody who does not want to change. Often it takes a certain self realization that what they are doing is futile and wasteful, a conclusion that they have to establish themselves in order to start on the road to recovery. Pretty much everything you specified applies to other addictions like alcohol and drugs. You can always try to explain in logical ways - like the fact that Las Vegas wasn't paid for by winners, but some people simply do not understand the mathematics behind it or will constantly chase the dream that they deserve to be the lucky one. People who do things like chase losses will often concoct some bizarre sequence that they will soon win, when in actual fact every bet is totally independent from previous bets and the odds are almost always against them. The best you can do is try to help when they want to break free but definitely do not give them cash or anything that could be used to further fund an uncontrolled habit.

[AmoreJaz]

Source : https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gambling-disorder/what-is-gambling-disorder

In the last few hours I personally do self-introspection and analyze these symptoms may be in myself, family or friends. and as a result there are some of my friends who do seem to have these symptoms ;
1. Should I shut up and watch him continue gambling.
2. Or risk the friendship to fall apart by suggesting him to go to a psychiatrist, because because in my place people who go to a psychiatrist are identical to people who have mental disorders.

Unfortunately you can give advice but you cannot change somebody who does not want to change. Often it takes a certain self realization that what they are doing is futile and wasteful, a conclusion that they have to establish themselves in order to start on the road to recovery. Pretty much everything you specified applies to other addictions like alcohol and drugs. You can always try to explain in logical ways - like the fact that Las Vegas wasn't paid for by winners, but some people simply do not understand the mathematics behind it or will constantly chase the dream that they deserve to be the lucky one. People who do things like chase losses will often concoct some bizarre sequence that they will soon win, when in actual fact every bet is totally independent from previous bets and the odds are almost always against them. The best you can do is try to help when they want to break free but definitely do not give them cash or anything that could be used to further fund an uncontrolled habit.

also, the best way to give him a piece of advice is if he brings the topic first. usually, if you will raise the topic and tell him about his situation and how to address his, may end up him not talking to you. some people get offended even if you want to help their situation. let him realise first his situation and if he asks for your assistance, then you can very well offer any help for his situation. people know what situation they are in, and yes, they need to realise it on their own because the real change will only come from themselves and not from anyone around them.

[$crypto$]

It's a complicated issue when you want to give advice for his own good, but he won't listen, and sometimes there will be aggression towards you. Well, for me, if he isn't asking for help, I won't talk about it too deeply. If he wants to ruin his life, I'm afraid there is nothing you can do about it. Why should we care so much about our friend? It's his privacy after all. But in case you really want to help, tell his family about his problem and ask them to keep silent. Only his wife, son, parents, can talk to him.

Maybe I won't care what other people do, but not with my best friend whom I have considered a brother. But what I'm thinking right now is how to convey it without destroying the friendship that has existed since childhood, and honestly its emotional nature makes me have to think twice about conveying it without causing other problems.

It's better if I don't say anything to my relatives, let alone give advice about gambling, however this will be more sensitive to say, even if we talk to family, we will still become enemies because we have spoken about this openly even though the relative wants to remain private about gambling.
I have a friend since childhood and until now it is still the same, but he has been a gambling lover for a long time so I let him do whatever even though I have seen a lot of damage done, but I thought as long as you never borrow money from me just to gamble then I wouldn't give it any less.

[just_Alice]

It's a complicated issue when you want to give advice for his own good, but he won't listen, and sometimes there will be aggression towards you. Well, for me, if he isn't asking for help, I won't talk about it too deeply. If he wants to ruin his life, I'm afraid there is nothing you can do about it. Why should we care so much about our friend? It's his privacy after all. But in case you really want to help, tell his family about his problem and ask them to keep silent. Only his wife, son, parents, can talk to him.

Maybe I won't care what other people do, but not with my best friend whom I have considered a brother. But what I'm thinking right now is how to convey it without destroying the friendship that has existed since childhood, and honestly its emotional nature makes me have to think twice about conveying it without causing other problems.

You're in a very difficult position here, and the right thing to do would be to try and convince your friend to visit a psychiatrist. However, I don't know how bad things are with his addiction, but if it's severe there is a risk that he will be very mad, break the friendship, and won't even listen to your advice.
In such a case you need to come very carefully, don't make any straight approaches. I can share my experience of what I did when my friend was an addict (only not gambling, but alcohol), but the psychology is the same here.

First, you need to take his side, make him see that you're in the same team he is. SO, you'd have to start gambling, share your experience (only be cautious not to become addicted yourself!), gamble together.

Then you'd need to slowly start exposing some problems. E.g. say that you're facing financial troubles because of gambling (even if it's not true), can't stop thinking about it and then very gradually name all the problems that your friend is facing but as if they're yours. But don't make any hints or references that he might be having the same problems, that will ruin everything! He'll need to reflect that on himself and see that he's in trouble himself but through watching you.

So, the main psychology here is that the person often can't see when he is in trouble, but he can see it in others. But don't make it fast, or he'll suspect something, maybe make it weeks. Eventually, he will see the problem, and then and only then (if he doesn't think of that himself at that point) you can start talking about the psychiatrist.

That worked for my friend, and I gave that advice to other people that were in similar situations, it always works if you do it right.
I hope this will help!

[tippytoes]

It's a complicated issue when you want to give advice for his own good, but he won't listen, and sometimes there will be aggression towards you. Well, for me, if he isn't asking for help, I won't talk about it too deeply. If he wants to ruin his life, I'm afraid there is nothing you can do about it. Why should we care so much about our friend? It's his privacy after all. But in case you really want to help, tell his family about his problem and ask them to keep silent. Only his wife, son, parents, can talk to him.

Maybe I won't care what other people do, but not with my best friend whom I have considered a brother. But what I'm thinking right now is how to convey it without destroying the friendship that has existed since childhood, and honestly its emotional nature makes me have to think twice about conveying it without causing other problems.

It's better if I don't say anything to my relatives, let alone give advice about gambling, however this will be more sensitive to say, even if we talk to family, we will still become enemies because we have spoken about this openly even though the relative wants to remain private about gambling.
I have a friend since childhood and until now it is still the same, but he has been a gambling lover for a long time so I let him do whatever even though I have seen a lot of damage done, but I thought as long as you never borrow money from me just to gamble then I wouldn't give it any less.

I understand why the OP is very concerned because that person is like a family to him. Since he knows better that person, he should know when to bring that topic to his best friend without him offending. Some people get upset when someone is pointing out their bad habits even if he is a very close one. So as a best friend, you should know when to inject such discussion without him being upset and that you have good intentions of bringing that up.

[Smartvirus]

• When he feels unhappy, distraught, remorseful and hopeless, he gambles

This point made it seem like, gambling can actually be some form if stress relief, really! Can it? Can gambling really be a way of handling stress? Because what I see there is actually accumulating more stress. The stress that comes with each wrong prediction or anticipation of the game, each money you loose and all that. It actually sets your adrenaline off and other things thinks in.

Gambling addiction is bad and addiction doesn't really ends with gambling alone. Being addicted to anything at all is bad. It might surprise you to hear this but then, your being sucked in completely that you no longer see the need for any other thing or its importance. This isn't the way to go. Anything that is so static breaks. Flexibility is where you should be because, the would itself depends on the variation within it to survive. Don't be an addict!

[Johnyz]

You can see most of these on the casinos, they are playing despite of being broke and usually they fake their smile just to tell people that they are ok but in reality, they are not. We can help them but it’s still up to them if they are going to listen to us or not, the only person that can help them is the professionals, and their family. If you see someone acting all those on the list, be kind to them.

[milewilda]

You can see most of these on the casinos, they are playing despite of being broke and usually they fake their smile just to tell people that they are ok but in reality, they are not. We can help them but it’s still up to them if they are going to listen to us or not, the only person that can help them is the professionals, and their family. If you see someone acting all those on the list, be kind to them.

We can still help them by giving some advices, it may not work but at least you give your best to help them, what's matter the most here is that, they realize that they are doing things wrong and they have to correct it as soon as possible to prevent the worst scenarios on gambling addiction. Gambling addictions is too risky, it can ruin your whole life so if you're into gambling make sure that you know what you are doing, and you know when to control yourself.

You would surely be giving out some advises and piece of words if the one who got addicted is neither your friend, loved ones or something you do know but if you do tend to say or showing off some concern into some random guy then i highly doubt that you wont really be saying a thing or wouldnt really care at all and would just let them on the things that theyve been doing and for sure i wouldnt really care into someone on telling and they might
scold you on and say that mind our own business since its their money to spend on and its up to their full rights on how they would gonna be spending it.

[MarkHodlr11]

I think the reason why they say that gambling can be relaxing is due to that dopamine fix problem gamblers get when they spin a slot or spin the wheel at a roulette table. In this context, "relaxing" might be confused with "soothing" in the sense that the addict is scratching an itch. One thing I'd like to point out is that many of the symptoms from the OP are also common among gamers. The line between gambling and gaming has become incredibly blurred. https://www.nodepositdaily.com/features/differences-between-gambling-and-gaming/ has a cool piece on this phenomenon, but essentially the two are overlapping. It doesn't help that many games have paid loot boxes, which are nothing more than single reel slot machines.

I guess my point is that problem gambling symptoms will become extremely common among gamers as well. To me, that's a far larger issue, since the number of people playing video games far exceeds those who are gambling. Figuring out how to help such individuals should be a priority for all gambling regulators.

[cabron]

You don't really have to risk friendship there. You could either just invite him to go to a more productive habit like going fishing, hunting, or biking or sort of like that but don't go over to personal stuff like his addiction. Friends know what other friend like doing besides the problematic stuff.

Unless he is the one who starts the conversation about going to a psychiatrist, people often times when having no money at all are irritable and makes him more irate when if advised going to a psychiatrist.

[Lanatsa]

You don't really have to risk friendship there. You could either just invite him to go to a more productive habit like going fishing, hunting, or biking or sort of like that but don't go over to personal stuff like his addiction. Friends know what other friend like doing besides the problematic stuff.

Unless he is the one who starts the conversation about going to a psychiatrist, people often times when having no money at all are irritable and makes him more irate when if advised going to a psychiatrist.

There's a limit for your everything and as a friend you should know your boundary because not all gambler are open to share their addiction to their friends. We cannot force them to stop that addiction, it's a good idea to ask them to go out with you away from gambling and maybe he can realize things that there's a better life outside gambling and he can feel that you are with him any time he needs you. There's so much bad stories about gambling addiction, I hope we don't end like that because that's too frustrating.

Everything should have a limit and everything on this world would really turn out to be bad if you do it excessively this is why we should really be careful on dealing up with things and should really be in moderation or else you would really be experiencing up problem that you might not have able to experience into your own entire life.

Its true that there are people who aren't really that open enough or being showy in terms of their own personal problems specially that most of gamblers do really deny that they had already been addicted.

You would really be messing up yourself if you do tolerate that addiction that inside of you.You should be careful and be watchful towards your actions.

[Oasisman]

In the last few hours I personally do self-introspection and analyze these symptoms may be in myself, family or friends. and as a result there are some of my friends who do seem to have these symptoms ;
1. Should I shut up and watch him continue gambling.
2. Or risk the friendship to fall apart by suggesting him to go to a psychiatrist, because because in my place people who go to a psychiatrist are identical to people who have mental disorders.

Well, gambling addiction is a mental disorder. So, the psychiatrist is the most relevant person to come to. Nobody seeks for a psychiatric help If they're in a sane mind.
You can't risk your friendship by telling him how worse he have been gambling lately and that he certainly needs to limit himself, but not in a persistent way. Just tell him once or twice, that's it. You can change someone If they aren't interested in changing themselves first. So, If he doesn't want to lessen on your first and second try then the least thing you could do is to watch him gradually becoming broke. That's the only he'll realize how worse he is. Learn the hard way.

[Oceat]

In the last few hours I personally do self-introspection and analyze these symptoms may be in myself, family or friends. and as a result there are some of my friends who do seem to have these symptoms ;
1. Should I shut up and watch him continue gambling.
2. Or risk the friendship to fall apart by suggesting him to go to a psychiatrist, because because in my place people who go to a psychiatrist are identical to people who have mental disorders.

Well, gambling addiction is a mental disorder. So, the psychiatrist is the most relevant person to come to. Nobody seeks for a psychiatric help If they're in a sane mind.
You can't risk your friendship by telling him how worse he have been gambling lately and that he certainly needs to limit himself, but not in a persistent way. Just tell him once or twice, that's it. You can change someone If they aren't interested in changing themselves first. So, If he doesn't want to lessen on your first and second try then the least thing you could do is to watch him gradually becoming broke. That's the only he'll realize how worse he is. Learn the hard way.

Exactly, people with gambling addiction cannot be stop that easily it's like trying to stop smoke addiction. All they need is plenty of time to stop that's why there are people who can help them to stop that and those are the psychiatrists. Let them help themselves first if they really want to stop playing gambling because I believe it always start with ourselves on how to change.

He will realize it sooner if he continues to persists that's the hard way but let's just give them a chance to prove their own if you see them trying. I think we all know what it feels like to have an addiction in some things, right?

[blockman]

When he feels unhappy, distraught, remorseful and hopeless, he gambles

This also applies to other activities that you do. Like if your favorite habit is to eat, when you're under stress, you eat. When you are annoyed and you feel uncomfortable, you'll find a way to eat and crave. That's sort of stress eating and that's the same in gambling. It is a stress reliever for the others and they gamble as much as they want and the release of dopamine in our body triggers it more for us to gamble no matter what the situation is as long as you're feeling pleasured by doing it or you're finding it as a way to solve the current problem that you're dealing with.