Gambling Problems
Q: How can you tell if someone in your family is having a problem with gambling?
A: The fact that you have enough concern to ask the question may be the best clue.
Gambler's Anonymous offers the following list of indicators. Answering yes to seven or more may mean that one has a problem with compulsive gambling:
- Do you lose time from work or school to gamble?
- Has gambling made your home life unhappy?
- Has gambling affected your reputation?
- Do you feel remorse after gambling?
- Do you gamble to pay debts or resolve financial problems?
- Does gambling result in a decrease of ambition or efficiency?
- After losing, do you need to return as soon as possible to recoup your losses?
- After winning, do you have a strong urge to return and win more?
- Do you gamble until your last dollar is gone?
- Do you borrow to finance your gambling?
- Are you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
- Does gambling make you careless for the welfare of your family?
- Do you gamble longer than you planned?
- Do you gamble to escape worry or trouble?
- Have you considered or committed an illegal act to finance your gambling?
- Do you have difficulty sleeping because of gambling?
- Do you experience arguments, disappointment and frustrations from you urge to gamble?
- Do you have the urge to celebrate your good fortune with gambling?
- Do you ever consider self-destructive acts as a result of your gambling?
Article Created: 1999-04-01
Article Updated: 1999-04-05
"Your Health" provides easy-to-understand information about common health conditions.
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