How Gambling Effects Your Life
Gambling is when you wager money or other valuable items to try to predict the outcome of a game involving chance. Whether successful or unsuccessful, gambling can have a lasting effect on your life.
Gambling’s negative consequences can extend beyond your health and relationships; they could even lead to legal troubles and leave you in debt. It is therefore important to stay away from gambling if possible.
Increased risk of suicide
Gambling can increase the risk of suicide by contributing to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.
Gambling problems can also lead to financial issues or a sense of hopelessness. Some individuals struggling with gambling issues may even consider suicide, believing there is no other way out due to the overwhelming sense of helplessness.
Research reveals that both men and women are at an increased risk of suicide if they have gambling addictions. This finding is alarming, and should serve to increase public awareness of this pressing issue.
Increased risk of depression
Though gambling may appear to help lift your mood, it can actually exacerbate depression. Depressed individuals tend to lose interest in everything and feel sad all of the time, regardless of what activity they partake in.
Depressed feelings can manifest in various ways, including relationships, work and health issues. In severe cases, you may even consider taking your life.
It’s essential to seek help for depression if you are experiencing these symptoms. GamCare offers plenty of resources and support, including an assessment of whether gambling has become an issue for you and provides guidance on how to get help.
Increased risk of addiction
Gambling has long been seen as an escape from emotional pain, particularly for those dealing with mental health issues. Gambling activates the brain’s reward system which releases dopamine to give people a feeling of confidence and contentment.
An addiction can develop, leading to increased stress and depression. Controlling this issue can be challenging; it may interfere with work, family obligations and finances.
Increased risk of mental health problems
Gambling can have a profound effect on mental health. It may lead to depression and anxiety, as well as impulsivity and addiction.
If you or someone close to you has a gambling issue, it is essential that they receive assistance and support. Early treatment can prevent the problem from becoming more serious and have lasting effects.
People with a history of mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety, are more susceptible to developing gambling addictions. It’s also possible for someone to have other addictions like alcohol or drugs alongside their gambling disorder.
Increased risk of financial problems
Losing money as a gambler can have devastating effects on both their personal finances and those of the family. This could include theft of heirlooms or other expensive items, credit card debt, mortgage arrears and an impaired credit rating.
Gambling not only increases the possibility of financial issues, but it is also associated with stress and anxiety. This has an adverse effect on relationships as well as physical health.
Increased risk of crime
One of the most alarming consequences of gambling is its potential for crime. People with problems gambling tend to commit more offenses such as theft, embezzlement and fraud than their non-gambling peers.
This poses a problem, as these crimes not only cost society a substantial amount of money but also cause significant emotional trauma to those closest to the gambler.
Recently, researchers examined the differences in criminal activity among problem gamblers and non-problem gamblers. To ensure that these differences weren’t due to differences in background characteristics, they utilized an inverse probability weighting technique.
