When you think about addiction, your mind may jump to drug addiction. However, gambling addiction is a type of behavioral addiction that many people struggle with. In fact, research estimates that millions of Americans struggle with compulsive gambling. A gambling addiction can not only hurt your financial health, but it can hurt your relationships and mental health too. In this article, you’ll learn more about gambling and what are gambling addiction withdrawal symptoms below.
At Tikvah Lake, we are a luxury rehab in Florida that provides personalized treatment that best meets each patient’s unique recovery needs. Our alcohol rehab center offers a wide range of mental health and drug addiction treatment options so you can receive the best possible care for your unique recovery needs. Ready to start your recovery journey? Contact us today!
Common Gambling Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms
Some people gamble from time to time; however, if you find that you are consistently gambling and unable to quit gambling, these are common signs you may be struggling with a gambling addiction.
Although gambling addiction does not involve abusing a specific substance like drug addiction, recovering gambling addicts can still expect to experience a series of gambling addiction withdrawal symptoms as they detox. Below are several withdrawal symptoms to look out for.
- Cravings to Gamble
Many recovering gambling addicts may find that they experience an intense urge or craving to gamble. This is because their brain has become adapted and used to gambling to achieve a particular desired effect/high, even though they may consistently be losing money time after time. It’s important to understand these cravings are a natural part of the detoxification process.
- Trouble Concentrating
While you are overcoming your addiction and stopping gambling, you may find that you have trouble concentrating. This is because many recovering gambling addicts may lose focus or concentration on the present moment because they are thinking about gambling, or what it felt like when they used to gamble.
- Anxiety and Depression
Some recovering gambling addicts may also experience short-term anxiety and depression as their brain adapts to no longer gambling. Many gambling addicts become addicted to gambling for the high or euphoric feeling of potentially winning “big”. Therefore, when they stop experiencing those dopamine hits they experience when they gamble, they may experience some feelings of anxiety or depression.
- Irritability
Similar to most addicts who are in recovery, recovering gambling addicts may feel a sense of irritability as they learn to cope and live a life free from gambling. It’s essential you practice healthy coping strategies and hobbies to replace your gambling habits so you can focus more on those healthy activities rather than thinking about gambling.
- Shame of Past Gambling Regrets/Losses
Finally, during the recovery process, some recovering gambling addicts may experience shame from their past gambling losses/ regrets. Because they are no longer consumed with the behavior of gambling, this essentially forces one to come to terms with their addiction, which for a gambling addiction includes the financial toll it likely took on their life and relationships. This is because although gambling addicts are constantly chasing the high of winning, they inevitably experience significant losses along the way that can oftentimes be ignored or overlooked by addicts.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about what gambling addiction is, and what are gambling addiction withdrawal symptoms you can expect. Although detoxing and overcoming gambling addiction can at first make you experience a series of gambling addiction withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to realize these withdrawal symptoms are only temporary and are a necessary part of overcoming the addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction or another form of addiction– help is available!
At Tikvah Lake, we are committed to helping patients safely achieve long-lasting sobriety. Addiction is a debilitating disease; however, you don’t have to face your addiction all on your own. We offer a variety of addiction and mental health treatment options and programs so you can receive the personalized care you need to lead a healthier, happier quality of life. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best help you progress along your recovery journey.
Leave a comment