Are you a pathological Gambler???

[dr. freeze]

DSM criteria:

A) Persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior as indicated by 5 or more of the following:

1) Is preoccupied with gambling (e.g. preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning next venture, or thinking of ways to get $$ to gamble

2) Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of $$ in order to achieve the desired excitement

3) Has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling

4) Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling

5) Gambles as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g. feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)

6) After losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even (chases)

7) Lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling

8) has committed illegal acts such as forgery fraud, theft, or embezzlement, to finance gambling

9) has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational career opportunity because of gambling

10) relies on others to provide $$ to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling

b) The gambling behavior is not better accounted for by a manic episode

 

[dr. freeze]

i am not gambling now....due to promise so i could avoid #9

but in the past definitely have qualified.....

hit #1,3,4,5,6,7 though at one point so definitely would have qualified for this.....and can honestly say my life was miserable then....

this is something we all should be aware of and on the alert for cuz it can happen to any of us

 

[dr. freeze]

Epidemiology:

1-3% of USA adult population
More common in men
Fathers of men and mothers of women with the Disorder are more likely to have disorder
Women are more likely to be married to alcoholic men
Alcohol dependence is generally more common

Etiology (Cause):
Several factors may predispose:
Loss of parent before age 15
Innappropriate parenteral discipline
Exposure to and availability of gambling activities for adolescents
Family emphasis on material and financial symbols
Lack of family emphasis on saving, planning, and budgeting
There is association between pathological gambling and other psych disorders such as mood disorders, panic disorders, agoraphobia (fear of everything), obsessive/complusive disorder
Childhood attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder may predispose
Other biochemical imbalances

 

[dr. freeze]

Clinical Features

Overconfident, abrasive, energetic, free spending
They may have signs of depression and anxiety
$$ is the cause and solution to all their problems
Hiding extent of gambling
Lie to obtain $$
When they dont have $$, engage in antisocial behavior
May alienate family and friends
May associate with illegal groups
Suicidal attempts
Arrests for nonviolent crimes

 

[BillyS]

I am kind of in a jam and need to get out of it do loan sharks exist

 

[Nick Douglas]

Freeze,

We have had our problems in the past but I just want to congratulate you for overcoming your problem. I am taking a sabbatical from gambling as well and I can tell you it is hard as heck for me to keep the discipline to avoid betting entirely. I still love handicapping but I was playing too many plays and I was spending too much time on handicapping, and therefore I felt it was time for a break. All the best to you.

 

[TORONTO-VIGILANTE]

i'd like to add that i will be off capping NBA and NFL for GOOD.
.....trying to slowly ween myself off a plethora of sports capping.

no more of those sports for me.....

cutting it down to college sports and MLB.

get rid of my belgian soccer capping???? hell no!!!

remember kids, the magic number for those totals is 3.

money to be made there.

check the off the wall forum.

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

get rid of my belgian soccer capping???? hell no!!!

remember kids, the magic number for those totals is 3.

money to be made there.

 

[bjfinste]

an added question onto that list should be: "Drinks heavy amounts of alcohol to forget about gambling losses"


Because that sure as hell fits me after tonight's NCAA game. Not a good day in South Dakota, let's just say that.