Gambling addiction, also known as gambling disorder or compulsive gambling is when a person has the uncontrollable desire to gamble despite the negative consequences.

When someone gambles, it implies that they are ready to risk something valuable with the expectation that they will get something with a higher value.

Just like alcohol and drugs, gambling can disrupt the normal functioning of the brain’s reward system, which causes addiction in the long run.

Signs of gambling addiction

These signs of gambling addiction will let you know if someone has a gambling disorder or not.

Preoccupation with gambling

One of the ways to know when someone is addicted to gambling is when they are always preoccupied with it. This means they will constantly be scheming on how to get more resources to fund their gambling.

Lying to their loved ones

Another sign of gambling addiction is when the individual keeps lying to their family and friends so that they won’t find out about their gambling problem.

Withdrawal symptoms

When the person tries to stop gambling for a while, they are likely to experience some withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, restlessness, etc.

Poor productivity at work

People with gambling addiction tend not to be productive because their minds are always fixated on gambling. Therefore, they may be unable to meet up with work-related tasks or milestones because they spend most of their time gambling.

Risk factors

Not everyone who gambles ends up developing a gambling disorder. However, certain risk factors could increase someone’s chances of becoming a compulsive gambler.

For instance, if someone starts gambling in childhood or during their teenage years, they are more likely to develop compulsive gambling. Additionally, if your family or friend has a gambling problem, you are likely to develop one too.

Some personality traits might also increase the chances of developing compulsive gambling. For instance, if you are a very competitive person, or you’re highly stressed at work, you may drift towards compulsive gambling.

Treatment

Gambling addiction can be managed with the right treatment and professional by your side. Some of the programs available for gambling addiction include outpatient rehabilitation programs, inpatient rehabilitation programs, twelve-step programs, psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, etc.

When it comes to internet use, there are two sides to it. You can use the internet for beneficial purposes that will improve the quality of your life in different aspects.  

While you might spend much time online and get to the point where it can negatively affect you. One of the ways through which the internet harms some people is when they become addicted to it.

Some people struggle with internet addiction, as they might use it as a means to escape from their problems in reality. If you want to avoid being addicted to the internet, here are some cautious steps that you can take.

Set goals for your life

One of the ways to prevent internet addiction is to be more deliberate about your life. You can set some actionable and clear goals for your life, and follow them with much passion. When you spend some time on the internet, you will remember that you have some goals to meet, and it can help you caution your internet use.

Turn off or keep your devices during social activities

When you’re engaging in social activities, it is best to keep your devices away or turn them off. Some people are addicted to the Internet, and they find it hard to socialize with people in reality.

Hence, to avoid damaging your social skills, learn to stay around people without using your phone or other digital devices.

Delete social media apps on your phone

If you need to focus on work or other productive tasks, you might have to remove the social media apps on your phone. You may consider using your personal computer each time you want to use the internet so that you can limit your internet use.

Find healthier activities

Another way to prevent internet addiction from happening is to find other healthier interests. You can consider joining a book club, a music group, an art club, or any other thing that improves your quality of life.

When you spend time with these activities or interests, you may not have time to waste on the internet.