Is pathological gambling similar to chemical dependency?
Yes and no. They are similar in that they both include an inability to
stop the behavior. There is also apt to be denial, depression, and mood
swings. However, the two are different in that pathological gambling is a
hidden disease compared to chemical dependency. Gamblers don’t stagger, put needles in their arms, or smell of cards and
dice.
Are children affected by pathological gambling?
The answer is yes, and in several ways. Children of gamblers may be both
physically and emotionally abandoned by their parents in terms of nurturing.
They are left with others (or alone) while their parents gamble. They may
spend hours each week with babysitters, giving them the sense of being
abandoned. In addition, the dysfunction of a pathological gambler’s
home can have a significant impact on the development of a child.
Are gamblers addicted to money?
Gamblers are not addicted to money but they are addicted to the action.
Being “in the action” for a gambler is like the high the
chemically dependent person gets from the use of cocaine or alcohol.
Can recovery be realized?
Pathological gambling has been recognized as a major
addiction illness similar to chemical dependency. It is characterized by the
sudden high from winning and the extreme depression and frustration of
losing. Recovery can be achieved through treatment and aftercare in the hands
of a competent, effective professional.
