Signs and Symptoms of Gambling Dependency

Often known as a hidden addiction, gambling dependency often thrives on secrecy and isolation. However, while gambling dependent individuals seek to hide their addictions, there are common symptoms that often manifest themselves as loved ones become dependent.

Ten Signs and Symptoms of Gambling Dependency

Here are ten telltale signs of gambling dependency. While no single sign proves conclusively that a person suffers from gambling dependency, the presence of several symptoms may indicate that an individual has become dependent on gambling.

1. Secretive Behavior
   Compulsive gamblers often become secretive during dependency, hiding gambling behaviors or lying about their frequency, out of embarrassment or fear.

2. Gambling After Losses
   Many gambling dependent individuals experience difficulty walking away from a loss. Often they will continue gambling in an attempt to recoup their money, known as “chasing losses,” leading to increased bets even as finances worsen.
3. Unwise Financial Decisions
   In order to finance compulsive gambling, many gambling dependent individuals will overlook necessary bills. Credit card debt tends to pile up and cash advances are taken out, while savings accounts or college funds often end up drained. As dependency worsens, valuables may be pawned, loans taken out, or property sold.
4. Denial
   Many compulsive gamblers minimize the effects of gambling in their life–even to themselves. They often become convinced they have unrealistic abilities to win and “beat the system.” Additionally, gambling dependent individuals often report wins but omit information on losses, painting a rosy scenario, or avoid answering questions about gambling behavior entirely.
5. Relationship Problems
   Gambling dependency can destroy personal relationships, as dependent individuals become combative, defensive, and blaming. Time is focused on gambling related activities, as relationships take a back seat. Trust erodes easily as promises are broken and secrecy sets in.
6. Isolation
   Gambling dependent individuals often become isolated, alienating friends and family and spending more time at gaming facilities or with other gambling-dependent friends.
7. Gambling Focused Life
   Often, hobbies, exercise and activities that used to be enjoyable become neglected as gambling dependency worsens.
8. Job Loss
   Due to exhaustion, stress, and preoccupation with gambling bets, gambling dependent individuals generally put forth a lowered job performance level, leading to eventual job loss.
9. Mood Swings
   Because emotions become so closely tied to gambling outcomes, mood swings can set in. Gambling dependent individuals often move quickly through intense stages of anger, sadness, guilt and anxiety.
10. Chemical Dependency
    Alcohol and drug dependency can also become a problem for gambling dependent individuals. Compulsive gambling often takes place in venues that promote alcohol use, and substances are often used to alleviate stress or heighten focus during gambling experiences.

Related posts:

1. Common Myths About Gambling Dependency
2. Risk Factors for Gambling Dependency
3. Personal Consequences of Compulsive Gambling
4. Physical Symptoms of Cocaine Dependency
5. Signs of Emotional Dependency
6. Suicidal Tendencies in Compulsive Gamblers
7. Physical Signs of Alcohol Dependency
8. Dependency Triggered Early Onset of Mental Disorders
9. Effects of Dependency on Marriage and Relationships
10. Emotional Dependency vs Healthy Intimacy
11. Signs of Denial in Chemical Dependency
12. Signs of Amphetamine Withdrawal
13. Depression and Alcohol Dependency
14. Paranoid Behavior and Drug Dependency
15. Recognizing the Symptoms of Meth Mouth
16. Drug Dependency in Parenthood
17. The Dependency – Anxiety Cycle
18. Hazards of Emotionally Dependent Behavior
19. Grief as an Emotional Root Cause to Dependency
20. Low Self Esteem as a Root Cause for Dependency