Consequences of gambling addiction
Financial
A person addicted to gambling loses control over expenses, constantly hoping for a win that could cover the losses incurred. In advanced cases, this can lead to bankruptcy, loss of assets, or taking loans from illegal sources.
Psychological
The gambler struggles with constant stress and anxiety resulting from continuous thoughts about debt, which often leads to depressive states. Feelings of guilt and shame are also common, which can lead to isolation and deterioration of mental health.
Health-related
Long-term stress associated with gambling can lead to health disorders such as insomnia, hypertension, or cardiovascular disorders. In extreme cases, addiction can lead to abuse of psychoactive substances such as alcohol or drugs to cope with emotions.
Social
Gambling addiction can lead to problems in family and social relationships, as the addicted person neglects responsibilities and contacts with loved ones. Conflicts, relationship breakdowns, and job loss due to neglect of professional matters often occur.
Gambling addiction treatment Bydgoszcz - our offer
1. Initial consultation
The first step in treating gambling addiction is a thorough assessment of the patient's condition. During the initial consultation at Nasz Gabinet Bydgoszcz, an addiction specialist conducts an interview to understand the scale of the problem, the level of addiction, and its impact on the person's personal, financial, and social life. At this stage, we develop an individual treatment plan in collaboration with the patient.
2. Individual and group therapy
Regular therapeutic sessions form the basis of addiction treatment. Individual therapy allows the patient to work on understanding the causes of addiction, dealing with emotions, and developing healthy strategies for the future. Group therapy, in turn, offers support from people with similar experiences, which strengthens the sense of community and provides opportunities for sharing experiences and mutual motivation in fighting addiction.
3. Support programmes and education
Our support programmes, including family therapies, offer ongoing assistance after therapy completion to reduce the risk of relapse. We teach patients and their loved ones how to recognise warning signs of relapse, together develop coping techniques for temptation, and build healthy life habits.
Characteristic behaviours of addicted individuals
People struggling with gambling addiction exhibit a number of characteristic behaviours that can relate to both physical and psychological aspects of their lives. It's worth paying attention to typical signals that may be alarming for the addicted person or their environment:
- Growing financial problems, debts
- Lies and deception to hide the problem
- Mood fluctuations and changes
- Social isolation
- Neglect of responsibilities
- Large amounts of time spent gambling
- Inability to quit gambling independently despite attempts
Gambling addiction - is it just a matter of willpower?
There is a mistaken belief that addictions, including gambling, are a matter of the patient's lack of willpower. In reality, addiction is a complex problem that often consists of many factors. Gambling becomes addictive when a person loses control over their behaviour and cannot stop playing, even when it leads to serious consequences and the person is aware of the problem.
Gambling addiction is a complex behavioural disorder in which biological, psychological, and social mechanisms play a key role. Willpower alone is not enough to deal with this problem - professional help is often needed. If you or a loved one is struggling with gambling addiction, we encourage you to take advantage of professional addiction therapy in Bydgoszcz.
