Warning Signs of Gambling Addiction

June 2, 2023

Harmony Place Team

Signs and Symptoms of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is a serious condition that can impact every aspect of a person’s life, from their relationships to their financial stability. Recognizing the warning signs of gambling addiction is key to taking the first step toward addressing this issue. Common signs include an inability to control gambling habits, preoccupation with betting, and lying to loved ones about gambling activities. Emotional symptoms such as irritability, restlessness, and anxiety when unable to gamble, as well as financial issues like mounting debt, also often accompany this addiction. Understanding these gambling addiction signs and symptoms can help identify the problem early, reducing the long-term harm it may cause.

At Harmony Place, we offer comprehensive support for individuals struggling with a gambling addiction. Our team of experienced professionals specializes in addressing both the behavioral and emotional aspects of this condition, providing a pathway to recovery. By identifying the signs of gambling addiction and offering evidence-based therapeutic interventions, we help clients regain control over their lives. If you or a loved one is experiencing any symptoms of problem gambling, from financial warning signs to emotional distress, we’re here to help. Contact Harmony Place today to learn more about how we can support your recovery.

A gambling addiction can wreak havoc on a person’s well-being, just like someone addicted to a substance. Impulse control is the root of gambling addiction, while compared to drug addiction’s substance triggered.

Gambling addiction is widespread, and the numbers surprise most people. However, gamblers may be unaware they are suffering from other unknown disorders. This form of addiction is a recognized disorder in the medical books but does not carry the stigma typically assigned to mental health and substance use disorders.

An Overview of Gambling Addiction

Recreational gambling can be safe and enjoyable when placing responsible wagers, and there is always a sense of control. The problem is those seeking an insatiable urge to bet money irresponsibly are not in control of their gambling, which becomes a habit. A gambling addiction combines the lack of willpower with a constant need to gamble, feelings of anxiety when unable, and losing all perspective on how much money they are losing.

Finally, indications of gambling addiction are a concern when gambling becomes secretive, lying to family and friends begins, and some use illegal means to procure money for gambling. The National Council on Problem Gambling states that 2 million adults in the United States possess a severe problem with gambling.

Unfortunately, another 4 to 6 million adults have mild to moderate gambling problems. Another proven factor is that gambling addiction can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, or socioeconomic factors. Gambling addiction resources are available to those experiencing gambling issues.

Who is Most Prone to Developing a Gambling Addiction?

Researchers study the gambling habits of people and collect data concerning gambling addiction. For example, those with an alcohol use disorder are 23 times more likely to develop a gambling addiction.

With over 80% of Americans gambling yearly, 3 to 5 people out of every 100 have a gambling problem. Even more alarming, as many as 750,000 people ages fourteen to twenty-one have a gambling addiction.

The following risk factors could increase the probability of someone becoming addicted to gambling:

Those diagnosed with ADHD, or borderline or impulsive personality disorders
Males with ages between 30 and 50
A history of gambling addiction within the family
Financial difficulties
Feeling a link between your level of self-esteem and the number of winnings
Childhood trauma or abuse
Those diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and feeling lost in life

Gambling Addiction Effects on Finances

Not only do those with a gambling addiction lose perspective on their finances to the urge to gamble, but they also use credit cards for cash advances. In addition to high credit card debt, high-interest rates make it challenging to keep up with the payments.

Financial consequences multiply when they cause a loss of high credit scores, denials when applying for loans, and even bankruptcy. Financial ruin can negatively affect important relationships and cause termination from employment. Sports gambling entices those with gambling addiction by offering free bets through easily accessible online apps.

However, roughly 23 million Americans are in debt from a gambling problem. On average, people lose up to $55,000 during their addiction. As a result, lottery betting presents another source of financial loss for 3 quarters of lottery players with incomes of $25,000 a year or less.

The Types of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is the first non-substance addiction to be recognized by mental health professionals. Four types of gambling are social, problem, pathological, and professional present different problematic behaviors. However, most people are social gamblers having fun once or twice a year.

Professional gamblers rely on gambling to make a living and frequently reside in or visit Las Vegas. Finally, problem gamblers compulsively gamble and are preoccupied with gambling in the early stages of addiction. Pathological gamblers have a gambling addiction.

In addition, those with a gambling addiction have distorted thought patterns that could include superstitions, delusions, and actual denial. Pathological gamblers believe gambling will produce money to solve all their problems and improve their world. Subsequently, gambling addicts feel physically affected when entering a casino or gambling opportunity.

Warning Signs Gambling Addiction

Unlike casual or social gamblers, those with a gambling addiction have a compulsion to continue gambling to win back the money they lost. Unfortunately, the urge to continue gambling, although they do not have enough funds to keep going, makes people steal or commit fraud to get more money. It is not unusual for pathological gamblers to blame others for their problem, deny the addiction and spend their rent money on gambling.

Warning Signs and symptoms of compulsive gambling (gambling addiction) can include any of the following:

Preoccupation with gambling and finding more money to gamble with
Feeling the urge to increase betting amounts to achieve the same thrills
An inability to control or stop gambling practices
Restlessness and irritability when trying not to gamble or cut down on gambling ventures
Finding gambling helps escape problems and complicated feelings
Lying to friends and family to hide gambling addiction and get more money to gamble with
Losing perspective on finances, relationships, and loss of lifestyle because gambling is more important than anything

Treatment for Gambling Addiction

Compulsive gamblers need to decide to seek help just like those with a substance use disorder. In addition, many with a gambling addiction also have a co-occurring mental health disorder. For this reason, it is imperative to have an examination and evaluation from a healthcare provider to determine any additional diagnosis. Dual diagnosis treatment plans include cognitive-behavioral therapy to address gambling and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Gambling addiction requires an intense treatment plan that could include medication to treat co-occurring depression or anxiety. The treatment team must address all symptoms and disorders for a successful recovery. However, cognitive-behavioral therapy resolves behavioral problems by developing healthy and positive coping mechanisms. Those with a gambling addiction must learn to identify the negative thought patterns or triggers that cause the urge to gamble.

Find Help for Gambling Addiction or Dual Diagnosis in California

Explore the opportunities Harmony Place offers to those experiencing a gambling addiction or dual diagnosis in Los Angeles, California. Our expert treatment professionals can explain the treatment process for a gambling addiction and understand how stressful this is for the family. In addition, read testimonials from those with successful recovery experiences at our facility.

We offer evidence-based therapies for behavioral change. Visit our site to read more information and contact us today.

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Chris P

I've been to 12 rehabs over the last 20 years and NO other place has touch like Harmony Place! From the owner right down to the cleaning lady, everyone here is kinda and warm. God has blessed this place and I feel privileged to have come through here. I recommend anyone who is going through their struggle with mental health or substance abuse to pick up the phone and come! You won't regret it!

Joseph S

This place is incredible, kind, loving, patient, rigorous, educative, caring and the best place for recovery. Ill be part of the alumni crew

Monica G

I had very good experience at Harmony Place From first day I came, staff was very kind and make me feel welcome and safe. Everyone was friendly and always try to help me. The therapists are very good and caring. They listen to me and help me understand my problems better. I learn many things from them and feel stronger because of their support. The nurses also very nice and professional. They always check on me and make sure I am okay. Food was good and facilities were clean and comfortable. It help me feel more relaxed and focus on my recovery. Management also doing very good job. Everything was organized and you can see they really care about patients. I am very thankful for this place and all the people who work here. I recommend this center to anyone who needs help.

Denton

Awesome place great people u want to check this place out most definitely 😜

Tyler

A treatment center where the owners truly care about your recovery and after care.. cannot recommend enough

Jodana S

If you want to detox painlessly this is the place! The staff is A1. They truly care about us. The groups are awesome . Residential is crazy awesome! You live in a mansion. With a private chef who makes the best food. Community meeting that gets results fast, they care about your opinions. Pool and Jacuzzi are beautiful. If your struggling with addiction this is the house you should come to. I LOVE HARMONY PLACE!!!!! Thank you to all the staff they go above and beyond to make this experience comfortable therapeutic. Don't spend another day in your addiction come to Harmony Place right now!

Cass

I’ve been to 4 treatment centers before Harmony Place, and I can tell you without a single doubt that this is the absolute best by FAR. The past ones were luxury Residential Treatment centers that just treated every single client the same not tailoring to each individual, and were basically just in it for the money, dropping the ball each time. I can also tell you that I’ve never met the CEOs, but here, David comes to the facility almost every single day, and makes sure he get to know every individual here. He is incredibly kind, and was even willing to transfer me to another facility with a higher level of trauma therapy due to me having a lifetime of trauma and PTSD that just is going to take a long time to tackle. He truly cares about all of the clients having all of the tools that we need before getting released to the real world. No more of other CEO would ever be willing to miss an opportunity at making more money and even paired with my IMPECCABLE case manager to find a different facility that was more trauma based. My case manager, Sam, goes absolutely above and beyond in every single aspect. She makes sure you have a smooth transition into aftercare, provides out of this world advice when it comes to sobriety, and takes the time out of her day to make sure that FMLA and short-term disability are completely taken care of during your stay. I’ve never met a case manager that could ever compare to Sam. Ever. I feel lucky to have met her, genuinely. Marissa, my therapist, is SO SWEET, actually listens to you, and provides advice and therapy tailored to each individual’s experience. She’s handled every mood I’ve been in, never judged me, and allowed me to feel safe enough to tell her things I’ve never told any person or therapist in my 29 years of life. I’ve been going to therapy for the past 15 years, and none of those therapists even come close to how amazing she is. I’ve been to 4 other treatment centers in my life and none even come close to Harmony Place. The facility is clean, organized, and high-end. I would recommend Harmony place to my family, friends, and anyone seeking treatment. I feel SO BLESSED to have landed in their hands. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THE CLINICAL STAFF BEYOND WORDS. I love you guys ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. I feel more confident than ever in my Recovery.

Gabe H

Where to begin.. Harmony is a place that will forever be a part of my story as the first step in my recovery journey. I’m so grateful for this program. The staff is very friendly, and many of them understand what addiction is like, for they themselves have recovery stories of their own. They have an awesome team of therapists, group facilitators, nurses, RA technicians, medical and health professionals, a wonderful case manager for aftercare that cares deeply for your next steps; making sure you are set up for success. They have a wonderful admissions team (shoutout to Marielle who was so kind and understanding of my messed up situation). Everyone is very relatable and friendly. They invest heavily in the importance of diet and nutrition too - there’s a full time professional chef. I gained all the weight I lost and wanted back in the first two weeks lol. On top of the intensive programming they do throughout the day, they take us out to experience various kinds of outside groups to get a taste of the real world, and also take us on social outings during the weekend. If you’re serious about getting better this place will meet you where you’re at and prepare you to launch with a renewed mind and heart.

Monica P

I can't begin to explain just how amazing Harmony Place is. In fact, when we sit down with the owner, Jeff, and clinical director, David, on Monday mornings to have a house meeting, they ask us what they could be doing better. A bigger blender for smoothies is the ONLY thing we could come up with. Let me begin by addressing some negative reviews. If you notice many of them are from people, or are referring to people who have been asked to leave. It is because of harmony places protection of their clients that provide ideal conditions for healing and progress. There is a screening process that it is implemented where they make sure the clients they admit are ready to start a life of sobriety. Some people slip through the cracks. Some people find out a few days or weeks in that they've changed their minds. Some are inappropriate and break rules. It happens. When Harmony Place ask people to leave, It's because they are protecting the people who are here that want treatment. In effect, they're providing exactly what I needed for a genuine start to recovery. When I began my search for a treatment center, my requirements were that the facility's provide an environment in which its residents all want to be there and that it is ethically ran. I got that and so much more at Harmony Place. As well as a structured routine, they also provide a confidential and nurturing environment where one feels safe and where profound healing can begin. Their program offers a sound foundation where further progress in sober living is almost guaranteed. In group meetings, we enjoy getting to know ourselves again and with deeper understanding about why we are the way we are. We are provided with skills to handle real life. Its here that I've come to understand that its not addiction that has driven me to make a mess of my life. It is the trauma that I endured and not processing it correctly that lead to poor thinking patterns that opened the door to addiction resulting in poor life management. So we start at the bottom. Trauma. They help us understand that trauma has led to our own toxicity, what that trauma looks like and how to get out of our own way. Process groups help us learn how to take accountability and foster healthier relationships. I learned here that changing the way I think is absolutely possible and imperative to the healing process. Harmony Place offered me hope when I previously felt I was unfixable and a support team that truly loves me. Even after I leave here, I have contacts that almost demand I keep in touch and an alumni meeting where I can return to the facility on Thursday nights. I wasn't a 12 stepper when I came here but my first experience with it was not one where I was ready to stop using. I understand now that the steps will work for me. It's certainly is not the only modality that they teach. In one group, we are provided an opportunity to sit with a recently retired medical doctor to just ask questions. Another is with a nutritionist. There are a handful of people IN recovery that come to lead groups that are all accredited highly specialized where I felt understood and not judged. The knowledge I have gained here is life changing. It is also versatile and relatable for all types of people. my favorite group was dialectical behavioral therapy. There are breathing classes and sound bath groups and I started doing yoga in the morning. There's a dharma meeting they take you offsite that focuses on Buddhist values. A fantastic onsight chef provides three meals and you can have special requests. We facilitated our own Movie nights during free time. I cant forget to mention you get your own one on one meetings with your assigned primary therapist and there is comprehensive medical support complete with 24/7 nurses and a doctor that shows up throughout the week. If this is what you need to recover and you have mediCAL, cancel your mediCAL and get insurance Harmony Place accepts if you can. There are people to help you with that as well. Just call. Many, many thanks to the staff. ✔️Another life changed.🙏

Cody B

This is such an amazing place truly changed my life. I would recommend this place to anybody if they’re looking for a strong recovery house that truly cares about your recovery and not about just money So if you’re ready to change your life, don’t miss out on the greatness of harmony because this place is where it’s at