“The gambling addiction hides, most of the times, emotional problems” – psychologist Cristina Anghel, ROMBET consultant
In our last month article we were announcing that the ROMBET association had begun its collaboration with psychologist Cristina Anghel, who is going to be available for those in need at a dedicated phone number and who is going to guide them for free for their first two therapy sessions.
We continue to present the information received from Mrs. Anghel, extremely precious information for all those interested in the subject of responsible gambling.
Mrs. Anghel, in the many debates and articles on the subject of addiction, of gambling dependency, specialists have outlined the fact that, most of the times, behind the gambling problems there are, in fact, other issues. What can you tell us about this?
Addiction is often caused by an early lack of affection, by “being left” a long time ago, by a void which the object of addiction is meant to fill. To put the game aside, we have to face and deal with the emptiness, the suffering behind it.
Researches talk about the hypothesis of a syndrome of deficiency of the brain rewarding system, as a consequence of genetic modifications, which leads to an imbalance in releasing dopamine (neurotransmitter which intervenes in the rewards and strengthening system of the brain), in the sense of releasing an insufficient quantity. The result of this imbalance is a continuous need for positive emotions, which makes the person look for other sources of pleasure, behavior which, at a biological level, corresponds to the need of regulating the insufficient dopamine quantity, substance known as the pleasure molecule.
Behind the gambling problems there will almost always be emotional issues developed in the early childhood, traumatizing events of the type of: parents’ divorce or separation, a serious physical illness of a family member, death of a family member, the breaking of an affective relation, the lack of discipline in a family, the lack of affection, etc.
Boredom can also be one of the important factors triggering addiction, and here I mean the constant need to break routine. Those in this situation tend to always look for something new, to disconnect from the daily stress or to obtain a state of euphoria, pleasure, by means of (the illusion of) getting an easy winning.
There is a hypothesis according to which the persons with a low level of serotonin are more likely to become addicted to gambling.
The question of educating the game halls personnel arises more and more. Is it important for the employees to learn how to identify and how to discuss with those players manifesting early signs which could announce gambling issues later?
On an international level such trainings for the game halls staff are quite wide-spread, sometimes they even are a pre-requisite stipulated by law, for the organizers to be able to begin to operate.
There are companies in our country as well offering such a training program to their employees, in order to be able to identify and approach those players with gambling problems, to be able to discuss with the members of their families coming in the game halls to ask for help. It is beneficial and necessary for the game halls employees, those who are in direct contact with the players, to be able to make the difference between a player who is within the entertainment area and the player who enters a risk area which could lead to gambling problems.
Mrs. psychologist, are there any simple tests which could help the players realize whether they have a gambling problem or not?
The 20 questions test accredited by “Gamblers Anonymous” can be self-applied by any person willing to know whether they have an addiction problem with gambling:
1. Did you ever lose time from work due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Did gambling affect your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing, did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8. After a win, did you ever have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use gambling money for normal expenditures?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble, boredom or loneliness?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance your gambling?
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disappointments, or frustration create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Did you have an urge to celebrate good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
An affirmative answer to at least 7 questions confirms the pathological character of the game.
We are looking forward to your questions at office@rombet.com !
