GoodTherapy.org recently hosted a successful and insightful Twitter discussion on the topic of gambling addiction and recovery. We were joined by many organizations and individuals who chimed in using the hashtag #ProblemGambling to share their thoughts, expertise, and resources with other participants. The March 4 chat honored Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and GoodTherapy.org wanted to help spread the word about the problems associated with gambling addiction and ways to help those affected by it.
There are many aspects of problematic gambling—the warning signs, the psychological symptoms, and the various platforms for addiction. Even your cell phone might be contributing to a gambling problem these days, which is one reason harmful gaming and gambling behaviors are happening in teens and adolescents. The people who attended our #ProblemGambling chat touched on all these issues and more.
Our discussion was so thorough and thoughtful that we have memorialized it with quotes and snippets from the hour. People joined us from all over the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, and Finland for this chat. Organizations and passionate people all over the world are spreading awareness of problem gambling, and in doing so, they are helping reduce stigma about this and other mental health issues. It was an honor to be joined by so many devoted individuals who are working to make help more available for those who need it and educate others about gambling addiction. The following questions are in the order GoodTherapy.org posed them during the chat, but responses are not necessarily in the order they were sent.Q1: What Are the Signs of Problem Gambling?
GoodTherapy.org kicked off the discussion by asking about the signs and symptoms of problem gambling. These may be visible to others, but often a gambling problem is very internal. Co-occurring mental health issues may include anxiety, depression, or addiction to other activities or substances.
@Good_Therapy Big signs of #ProblemGambling include lying about your gambling and spending more than you intend, and borrowing from friends. — Evergreen CPG (@EvergreenCPG) March 4, 2015
@Good_Therapy Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts can all be mental health difficulties caused by #ProblemGambling — NYCPG (@NYProbGambling) March 4, 2015
@Good_Therapy Symptoms of #ProblemGambling include tolerance, lack of control, preoccupation, chasing & loss of significant life opportunity — Evergreen CPG (@EvergreenCPG) March 4, 2015
@Good_Therapy My #ProblemGambling had a lot of rage and anger, resulting in me becoming a hate-filled individual — Jason Applebaum (@JasonApplebaum) March 4, 2015
Q2: How Is Problem Gambling Like or Unlike Other Addictions?
Like other addictions, problem gambling may increase the risk of suicidal ideation. But one issue is specific to gambling addiction: family and friends may not be able to identify the signals at all. As the New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG) pointed out, gambling is sometimes known as the “hidden addiction”—unlike the signs of some substance abuse problems, gambling can’t be smelled on someone’s breath, and there are no urine tests for betting or gaming issues.
@Good_Therapy Also risk of #suicide and suicide attempts is much higher with #ProblemGambling we need awareness around those risks #PGAM
— Evergreen CPG (@EvergreenCPG) March 4, 2015
@Good_Therapy one major difference b/t #problemgambling and other #addictions is that gambling is often seen as the #hiddenaddiction — NYCPG (@NYProbGambling) March 4, 2015
Q3: How Can Therapy Help with Problem Gambling?
People who have a gambling addiction may respond to many different types of treatments, including GamAnon and other support groups, cognitive behavioral therapy, and holistic methods. ECPG also mentioned motivational interviewing, which is an empathetic therapeutic approach that analyzes behavior and feedback in therapy sessions. NYCPG chimed in to say that, “MI is very effective in treating a number of addictions,” including problem gambling. Twitter user @mlgreeley pointed out that, while all these methods are helpful and effective, the first step for people raising awareness about gambling addiction and therapy is to reduce stigma around the issue. Only then will family and friends be more supportive of a loved one experiencing problem gambling, and only then will those individuals be more likely to seek help.
@EvergreenCPG @Good_Therapy great evidence based practices. We need to recognize the great traditional cultural healing practices too. — Maureen Greeley (@mlgreeley) March 4, 2015
Q4: What Are Some Habits of Responsible Gamblers?
Next, we discussed how gamblers can ensure that their habits don’t become compulsive or problematic. Experts shared practical advice and tips, but also talked about the importance of recognizing one’s motive for gambling. Is it to win? Is it to have fun? Is it to escape from difficult feelings or issues in life? Developing an awareness of the origins behind bad habits can go a long way in reducing them. More tips from our chat participants:
- Set limits for yourself—both on your money and your time.
- Don’t gamble alone. Get friends and family to join you if you’re at risk of overspending.
- Learn about the gambler’s fallacy phenomenon, and don’t get caught in a trap of expecting positive outcomes.
- Understand the game(s) you’re playing. Know how it works and study your odds of winning so you have a realistic view of your chances.
@KatriK Great point! Gambling should be a form of recreation, not a way to cope. #problemgambling
— NYCPG (@NYProbGambling) March 4, 2015
Q5: How Can We Reduce Gambling Addiction Stigma?
One of GoodTherapy.org’s main missions as an organization is to eradicate stigma related to mental health issues and psychotherapy. We’re thrilled to find many like-minded people and organizations through the work we do, and our #ProblemGambling Twitter chat was no exception. All participants were equally dedicated to reducing stigma about gambling problems, and all had wonderful, productive ideas about how to share this vision of a stigma-free society. NYCPG hoped people would be reminded that gambling addiction is a serious issue worthy of our attention, just like any medical condition or other type of addiction. Problem gambling, they said, “doesn’t discriminate, and recovery is possible.” Twitter user @KatriK said, “We need to show that those who have problems with gambling are not stupid or irresponsible.” The Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling agreed, adding that we can help reduce stigma “by starting the conversation around #ProblemGambling as a public & mental health issue not a weakness or moral failing.”
@Good_Therapy Awareness raising helps break down stigma and the barriers to help seeking #ProblemGambling — Problem Gambling Fnd (@PGFNZ) March 4, 2015
@Good_Therapy A5. Expand the #ProblemGambling knowledge base to include more study of #videogames & issues effecting gamers. #EndTheStigma
— Peter (@PeerWorker) March 4, 2015
Q6: How Can Loved Ones Help Someone with Gambling Addiction?
With our final question we hoped to gather not only resources, but also hope for anyone who is helping a loved one cope with or heal from gambling addiction. The responses from our participants were inspiring and informative. The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand had an especially insightful point that loved ones, as caregivers, should not hesitate to seek help and take care of themselves while attending to someone with a gambling problem.
@Good_Therapy Let them know that they are there to support and help them through their struggle with #ProblemGambling — NYCPG (@NYProbGambling) March 4, 2015
.@Good_Therapy Listen and try to understand. “Just stop gambling” is not a way to help. #ProblemGambling
— Katri Kytöpuu (@KatriK) March 4, 2015
@Good_Therapy A6. Listen, learn and keep loving. Ending the stigma means opening one’s heart. #ProblemGambling — Peter (@PeerWorker) March 4, 2015
@Good_Therapy It’s just as important for those who are supporting someone with #problemgambling to know they can seek help.
— Problem Gambling Fnd (@PGFNZ) March 4, 2015
@Good_Therapy Hopefully as people understand more about #ProblemGambling they will view it with compassion. #Addiction can affect anyone! — Evergreen CPG (@EvergreenCPG) March 4, 2015
Thank you to all the individuals and organizations who joined us on March 4 for this hour-long discussion. Stay tuned to The Good Therapy Blog or follow us on Twitter @Good_Therapy for more upcoming chat opportunities with GoodTherapy.org. Feel free to leave a reply below with your suggestions for future chat topics!
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