October is home to National Mental Health Awareness Week. While these seven days are designated to educate people about mental health issues, it’s important that the other 358 follow suit. This movement’s goal is to let everybody know that mental illness is not equated to personal weakness. According to Neva Pryor, Executive Director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, The National Alliance on Mental Illness’ website encourages everybody to see the person for who they are and not for their illness.

1. Gambling Addiction And Mental Health
2. Gaming Mental Health
3. Gambling Mental Health
4. Gambling Refund Mental Health

Gambling and health. Gambling doesn’t just affect your finances, it, can also affect your health. There is a strong link between gambling and mental health, as well as a connection between gamblers smoking or drinking alcohol. You may be interested in the following topics: Gambling and depression; Gambling and anxiety; Gambling and alcohol. At the same time, there might be other factors that can trigger gambling addiction. It might be mental health problems like bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and ADHD. Personality traits may also be the cause of addiction. For example, some people are in constant search for excitement and thrill.

Did You Know? 1 in 5 Americans lives with a mental health condition. You or somebody you know likely deals with mental illness every day, and needs compassion, empathy and understanding. What they don’t need is judgment, criticism or a stigma.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey are taking the pledge to be #StigmaFree, and you can, too.

• Together wecan promote acceptance.
• Together wecan actively challenge negative social stereotypes.
• Together wecan shift the social and systemic barriers for those living with mental health conditions.
• Together wecan encourage understanding through powerful words and meaningful actions.

Share your #StigmaFree images, posts, and support on every platform. Inspire others through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat.

How does mental health relate to gambling?

• In one of our previous blog posts, “How Gambling Affects Your Health,” we discuss how gambling can cause mental stress ranging from anxiety to depression and suicidal thoughts. Combining preexisting mental health disorders can multiply these side effects and lead to gambling spiraling out of control.
• The correlation between problem gambling and mental health issues is complicated. Sometimes gambling can lead to mental health problems, and sometimes the sequence occurs in reverse order.

Picture This: You’ve been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for five years. You’ve found a great regimen of treatment that has been working. Your best childhood friend is getting married, and you are invited to the bachelor(ette) party in Atlantic City. Everything is going fine until the group decides to post up at the roulette table.

You think to yourself, “I should probably sit this round out. I am living paycheck to paycheck and a financial loss would really set me back.” You maintain your composure. You sit back and watch your friends gamble for hours on end while you take advantage of the complimentary cocktails. “Am I the only one no having fun? One or two bets can’t hurt,” you think to yourself.

(Blog Image Source – Roulette Table)

You decide to join the crowd and play a few spins. You exchange your hard-earned $100 bill for some plastic chips and after a few wagers (some winning and some losing) you up the stakes. “This is easy. I am having fun, and I only lost $50,” you say to the stranger to your left.

Fast forward one hour, two drinks and three ATM withdrawals. The fun has stopped, and so has the winning streak. Your group heads back to the hotel rooms, and you are having second thoughts. “Was that $1,000 worth the rush? Was that the cost of fitting in?” You may even justify the decision to yourself and conjure a plan to win back your losses in a different type of game (i.e. sports gambling in East Rutherford, NJ, or in Atlantic City).

Everybody is going to sleep, but your mind is uneasy. You realize that you have to tell your roommates about losing next month’s rent and the stress snowballs into intense anxiety. You can’t sleep. You can barely breathe. “Oh no. Please. No. Not here. I can’t have a panic attack here.” Unfortunately, it’s too late. Your fate has been decided for you, and your mental health issue is rearing its ugly head…

In conclusion:

• Don’t let the bright lights and peer pressure trigger your recurring mental health issues. Whether you have a health issue or gambling addiction, help is available.
• Situations like the one above do not have to affect you or your loved ones ever again. There is hope. For more information on our services and the relationship between mental health and gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Our support team is available 24 hours a day, and we are here for you, your friends, or anybody who needs help handling problematic gambling and sports betting around East Rutherford, NJ.

When you think of gambling, you may think of a good time. While that’s true for many, gambling can become a problem for some. Gambling disorder, also known as gambling addiction, can be devastating financially and emotionally. As with other addictions, many of those experiencing gambling disorder have underlying mental health conditions. For treatment to be effective, both the addiction and the underlying condition need to be addressed. Read on to learn more about gambling disorder, mental health, and how to find help and hope.

Understanding Gambling Disorder

Gambling disorder can be easier to hide than some other addictions. It might not be obvious to family and friends who aren’t tied to you financially. That said, it can have serious repercussions for your financial life, making it challenging to keep up with bills and leading to excessive debt. This can lead to feelings of guilt and shame.

It can also have health consequences, according to The Biopsychosocial Consequences of Pathological Gambling by Timothy W. Fong, which appeared in Psychiatry MMC (gambling disorder was referred to as pathological gambling in the past). Gambling disorder causes enormous stress, and stress has a serious impact on our health. Potential health consequences include hypertension, cardiovascular disease, difficulty sleeping, and ulcers.

What makes gambling disorder more complicated is that it is often tied to other mental health conditions. The gambling disorder may provide some relief from the mental health condition, or the mental health issue may be a result of the gambling disorder.

Gambling Disorder and Mental Health

What mental health conditions commonly occur with gambling disorder? According to Fong, they include:

• Depression. A review of studies published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found a high prevalence of depression in those with gambling disorder. Some studies found that 50% or more of those with gambling disorder also experienced depression. If depression existed before the gambling disorder, gambling might be a way to self-medicate. For others, depression may be a result of the feelings associated with excessive gambling.
• Anxiety. A survey cited by a Harvard Mental Health Letter on anxiety and gambling found that more than 11% of those with gambling disorder also had generalized anxiety disorder. For some, anxiety is temporarily relieved by gambling, which serves as an escape from life’s stresses and responsibilities. For others, anxiety is a result of gambling. After losses, some may feel an urgent need to gamble more to try and recover their money.
• Bipolar disorder. This disorder causes unexpected shifts in mood and energy levels, which impact concentration and being able to carry out daily activities. There are three types of bipolar disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. People with bipolar disorder have a higher rate of gambling disorder than the general population, according to a study in the Journal of Affective Disorders. For those who experience both bipolar disorder and gambling disorder, bipolar disorder usually comes first, according to The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Gambling may be used to self-medicate during depressive episodes or it may be part of the impulsiveness associated with manic episodes.
• Substance use disorder. One study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that over 70% of those with gambling disorder also had alcohol use disorder and over 38% had a drug use disorder. Substance use disorder can lead to health issues and can be fatal if there’s an overdose.

On its own, gambling disorder might not seem like a big deal, but it can be just as devastating as any other addiction. According to a survey in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 12% of those being treated for gambling disorder had at least one gambling-related suicide attempt, and 48% had a history of gambling-related suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide).

Gambling Addiction And Mental Health

Treatment and Recovery

Gaming Mental Health

Whether you have a gambling disorder, another mental health condition, or a combination of the two, recovery is possible. It all starts by finding an understanding, experienced mental health provider. The first step is an evaluation, which is when you talk with a clinician about your symptoms and experiences. From there, your clinician will make treatment recommendations that make sense for you and your situation.

Gambling Mental Health

At Associated Behavioral Health, we’ve been helping patients since 1995. We’re one of the largest outpatient treatment providers in the Greater Seattle area, and we’ve helped many people experiencing gambling addiction to find recovery. We also offer TMS therapy, which is a ground-breaking treatment for depression, as well as treatment for substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. We’re offering in-patient and online telehealth options.

Gambling Refund Mental Health

Ready to learn more? Contact us today.