Compulsive Gambling and Your Mental Health
Any addiction can be detrimental for your mental health, but compulsive gambling is unique in its lack of physical consumption. That doesn’t mean it can’t impact your health. Recent studies have uncovered exactly how habitual gambling affects the brain, relationships and other factors our mental wellbeing depends on.
The first step is realizing there’s a problem. The signs of compulsive gambling include:
-Feeling worried or anxious about gambling
-Lying about your gambling
-Stealing money to fund your gambling or repay losses
-Going into debt gambling or spending more than you can afford
-Gambling when you should be doing other things
-Using gambling to overcome stress and negative emotions
If you’re not sure, take this quick survey: Gambling Self-Assessment
How does it affect you mentally?
When you gamble, your body releases dopamine–the happy chemical. It similarly lights up from pleasurable experiences like eating a tasty snack or, alternatively, using drugs or alcohol. This dopamine release is addictive and alters your brain chemistry to seek more of it.
Your mind tells you a win is just around the corner even though the odds are not in your favor. This leads to overspending and financial stress, which compounds anxiety and low self-esteem. Once it snowballs, it’s destructive to careers, relationships and overall life stability.
This isn’t an empowering experience, but you do have the power to stop it.
Whether you’re suffering from financial difficulties, legal trouble, relationship woes or co-occurring addictions, there is local help available. Call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-522-4700 to be connected with assistance and support.
Sources:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/gambling-and-mental-health
