Gambling addiction is a hidden illness with no obvious physical signs. A professional intervention helps families confront it with compassion.
Gambling addictions are known as hidden illnesses, because there are traditionally no obvious physical signs or signals of the addiction. This fact makes gambling addiction harder to spot than addictions tied to alcohol or substance abuse. Gambling addiction, however, does often come along with other addictions and compulsive behaviors.
Here's a good example: a gambling addict progressing further along in their illness may show signs of increased drinking, tobacco usage, neurotic or erratic behavior, weird sleeping habits, increased use of their computer or phone, and changes in their temper or mood swings.
Gambling addicts can be very successful people, and their financial success in their career can often mask the financial impact of a gambling addiction. Please understand that when someone has a gambling addiction, they cannot control the overwhelming urge to gamble and will go to great lengths to satisfy their need to take risks.
If you have a loved one struggling with a gambling addiction or other compulsive behavior, call our experienced team at (850) 563-9776 for compassionate help. We provide free consultations and advice to every caller.
We approach a gambling addiction intervention the same way we approach an intervention for alcoholism, drug addiction or another mental health issue. The first thing we do is to help the family create a team within the family that is going to participate in the intervention. Once the family team has been defined, there is a series of conference calls (and Zooms or videoconferences) and planning sessions with the participants. The actual intervention occurs at a neutral location with all members of the family team present.
The intervention meeting itself is conducted by a member of our professional interventionist team. Their role is to lead the meeting, follow an agenda and process, and help the family in compassionately addressing the compulsive gambler's problem and the availability of treatment and support from the family. The agenda also includes ultimatums and explanations of the consequences of continuing in the behavior.
Compulsive disorders like gambling addiction often are part of a series of other issues that are occurring. Gambling addiction can go hand-in-hand with Internet addiction due to the availability of online sportsbooks and casinos. It has never been easier for an adult with a concealed credit card or cryptocurrency account to gamble on an almost 24-7 basis: there are legal online outlets to get their gambling fix available on their phones, tablets and computers.
Another related disorder that combines Internet addiction and gambling addiction is the token-based and coin-based rewards systems built into video games, mobile games, tablet games, internet games and other applications. These apps instill a heavy positive rewards system tied to scores, tokens and coins that converts easily to a type of quasi-gambling addiction. The costs are high, especially when video game addicts start to plug in their credit card to enhance the game experience with paid token and coin packages.
Gambling addiction is when the social activity of gambling progresses into a pathological and compulsive problem. Compulsive gamblers gamble even if they're broke and the odds are against them, so it's important to get them help as soon as possible to prevent accruing more debt. They may deny or minimize their attraction to the behavior despite the negative social, financial, and psychological consequences because they feed off of the thrill. You know it's time to get them help when they cannot stop.
Compulsive gambling frequently travels with anxiety, depression, and substance use, which is why our team also assists with mental health interventions and other compulsive disorders. National organizations like SAMHSA also offer education and support resources for families facing behavioral addictions.
Ready to talk it through? Reach us anytime via our contact page, by phone at (850) 563-9776, or by email at brad@clearpathintervention.com.
One confidential conversation with a professional interventionist. No pressure, no obligation. We'll help you find the right next step for your family.
