Gambling and gambling addiction is a serious problem taken lightly by many.
The great technology development has made our lives easier, but also showed its downside. Thanks to the internet, mobile phones, and computers, many vices have become available to everyone. One of them is gambling and gambling addiction. Just one click is enough to risk your money for short-term gain. Because, believe me, the game outcome usually comes down to fortuity. A new bet can often make you end up with less money than you had at the beginning. It is not uncommon to be left with nothing.
That problem gambling is a disorder, just like cocaine and heroin addiction, is confirmed by the fact that it is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. By definition, it is “an urge to gamble continuously despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop.”
Unfortunately, this fact did not scare people off. From year to year, gambling and gambling addiction count an increasing number of registered cases, especially among the younger population. It is estimated that one in four people between the ages of 18 and 26 has a gambling problem.
Gambling and gambling addiction have been known since ancient times
The effects of alcoholism and gambling addiction are as old as humanity itself. Back in Mesopotamia, 3000 BC, people spent their free time playing special dice games.
Gambling faced a real boom in China in the first millennium BC when animal betting was introduced, only to see lottery games, cards and dominoes become popular very quickly.
Poker, which is still the most popular card game among gamblers worldwide, appeared in America in the 17th century. The first casino opened in 1638 in Venice. With its opening, gambling and gambling addiction were raised to a higher level, paving the way for new games of chance and, therefore, forming a different type of gambling personality.
Namely, today gambling is viewed through the social, professional and pathological aspects. Social gambling is a form of entertainment and recreation people occasionally practice. It can grow into a chronic addiction as there is a thin line between these.
Professional gambling is, in fact, an occupation. It is practiced by people who have not only knowledge and skills but also discipline. Frequent, compulsive gambling that affects the quality of life is an addictive disorder.
Why does gambling addiction develop?
The exact cause of addiction development has not been defined. It is considered to be a combination of biological, psychological and social factors.
In most cases, curiosity, the need for fun, the way to overcome boredom and to be accepted in company are the main factors leading to the problem. Also, the family environment has a big impact. That is, gambling develops more often in young people who grow up with a gambler or alcoholic parent.
Sometimes gambling addiction is an escape from the harsh reality, but also a more serious mental state. Feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, loneliness, depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, and even passive aggression can be its triggers.
One group of experts, however, points out that developing this addiction is inherited in some people as they have a more pronounced emotional reward system in the genes stimulated by gambling winnings.
Gambling and gambling addiction impair physical and mental health
Gambling affects not only social, professional and family aspects, but also health. Over time, the pressure to get enough money for a new bet mounts up, so people are constantly stressed. This results in frequent headaches, digestive problems, insomnia, loss of appetite, but also cardiovascular and skin diseases.
Apart from physical symptoms, there are also psychological problems. They are first manifested by lower concentration, mood swings, loss of motivation, only to grow into depressive and suicidal thoughts at a later stage.
Timely treatment of gambling addiction is necessary to prevent serious consequences. With the individual approach of eminent physicians and psychiatrists and the use of painless and modern addiction treatment methods at VIP Vorobiev clinic, you can get rid of the gambling problem without any negative consequences, including the risk of relapse.
This luxury rehab clinic stands out from the rest also by accommodation at a 5-star hotel level. In spacious, nicely furnished rooms, you will have complete privacy at all times, and there is the possibility of accommodating your loved ones as well. There is a gym, swimming pool, hot tub, as well as a lounge at your disposal if you wish to socialize with other patients.