So how can you tell if you have a gambling addiction? Here is a few questions from the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA for you to ask yourself. If you answer yes to at least seven of these questions you may be a compulsive gambler and need to seek help for your gambling addiction.
- Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
- Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
- Did gambling affect your reputation?
- Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
- Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
- After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
- After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
- Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
- Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
- Have you ever sold anything to finance your gambling?
- Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
- Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
- Did you ever gamble longer that you had planned?
- Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
- Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
- Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
- Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
- Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
- Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
If you have answered yes to seven or more of the questions in the self-test or are concerned that you may have a gambling addiction and would like to get help there are many ways to do that. For those that seek help roughly 65% show significant improvement, problem gambling can be overcome, there are counselors available to help you. Here is the Gambling Helpline: 1-877-565-2112, for meetings contact Gambling Anonymous 1-412-281-7484, and there are counselors in the area for a listing go to: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/addiction/pa/washington?sid=1519329424.9251_23043&spec=254 .
