Ludomania is often also known as gambling addiction or gambling addiction. It is suffering from a severe mental disorder and a pathological tendency to gamble, which can lead to very unpleasant consequences.
Gambling fans often talk about this addiction. Since not everyone has a full understanding of the problem, it should be noted that addiction to slot machines and slots is the main cause of more than 80% of ludomania cases. With the disorder, the craving for gambling becomes uncontrollable and often the core values of life such as work, family, and relationships with others are jeopardized.
The consequences of gambling addiction
Ludomania, like any other addiction, has a number of unfavorable consequences for the patient. With the help of timely and properly conducted treatment, the nature and complexity of these consequences can be changed.
- The consequences of gambling addiction, the most common of which are:
- Family problems include disruption of normal relationships between family members;
- Financial problems: debts, problems with debt collectors and others
Serious consequences of ludomania include irreversible and permanent destruction of a person’s psyche, suicide attempts (in 40% of patients), and violations of the law that can lead to incarceration.
Psychologists advise the following to prevent the development of gambling addiction:
- control of expenses. Specialists advise not to give more than 5% of your income to the casino. In addition, entertainment expenses such as going to the movies should be included.
- Don’t gamble in desperation. People, when they are full of emotions, tend to do stupid and rash things. For example, gambling on debt or spending large sums of money on casino games. The last of the signs of ludomania.
- Pause. When playing casino games online, it is important to take breaks. They help you switch and look at the world in a new way.
- Do not consider the casino as a means of making money. Betting in online casinos is a vacation. Regular wins are impossible.
It is extremely difficult to get rid of ludomania on your own. Psychotherapists deal with the problems of gamblers because they often do not know they are addicted. Treatment of ludomania begins without the use of medication. In rare cases, gambling addiction is combined with other conditions such as depression or neurosis, and then treatment may be required. In addition, some practicing psychotherapists provide group sessions for people with gambling addiction.