By Samantha Williams
If you gamble regularly and find the urge to stop hard to resist; you may be a gambling addict. However, how do you know that you are addicted to gambling? Here are some signs and symptoms that you may be suffering which could mean that you have gambling problems:
* Has gambling ever caused you to be late for school, work or any other appointment? If you lost time or keeps on losing time for your life’s priorities and you have gambling to blame for it, you could be in trouble.
* Has gambling caused you financial difficulties that you have incurred debts or lost more money and property because of it? This is a flashing signal that you should not ignore. So many homes and families have been broken because a gambler in the family placed a bet more than what he can afford to lose. If you bet down to your last dollar, or sold/pawned any property you have to finance your gambling; you are in trouble!
* If your gambling has made you unhappy, or if has dented your reputation as a citizen of good standing in your community, this is another signal light that you must pay attention to. Gambling can be enjoyed as a fun entertainment but if you wreck your family or feel remorse after gambling, it could not be considered as fun anymore.
* Have you tried to think of gambling as an escape from reality? If you gamble when you cannot sleep, depressed, frustrated, disappointed or when you are worried, this could be a sign of gambling problem. Other individuals even resort to gambling when arguments inside the home occur. Making gambling as a scapegoat from life’s realities is a sure symptom that you may be suffering from gambling problem. It may be odd but in truth, some people even use gambling as a means of celebrating for any events they are victorious with.
* Have you been bitten by the gambling greed? Gambling is a game where you either win or lose. When luck is on your side and you win, the gambling greed will urge you to keep on betting for higher stakes and win more, but if your luck turns, you may lose everything you have. A gambling problem is usually characterized by your desire to return and win back your losses in any game you lose.
* Did gambling cause a deterioration of your self esteem or did it cause your ambitions to decrease? Red lights are flashing and you should not close your eyes if this is the case because chances are some gamblers may even commit or consider inflecting harm to them as a result of gambling loses.
You could gamble but always keep in mind it is just for entertainment, not to drag yourself down into the pit of despair or wreck the future and the welfare of your family. You should make a budget for your gambling and stick to it. Gambling longer than you had originally planned for could trigger huge problems so be aware of flashing lights, the signs and symptoms of gambling problem. If you believe you have a gambling problem, you should seek help from Gamblers Anonymous.
