Published June 10, 2017, 10:00 PM

By Jose Pujalte Jr.

Jose Pujalte Jr.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall

be diminished: but he that

gathereth by labour shall increase.

Proverbs 13:11The Holy Bible,King James Version

This is not for the bored housewife or Lola wasting a few tokens in the casinos slot machines. This is for the real gambler and I think you know who you are. If youre still into denial or to be kind, has absolutely no insight, please read on.

Gambling addiction. According to the American Psychiatric Association, you may be suffering from a gambling addiction if you exhibit five of ten of the following criteria:

Risk factors. Compulsive gambling is associated with substance abuse (drugs, alcohol) and with mood or personality disorders. Age is a risk factor the younger a person starts gambling, the more likely he or she will have a gambling addiction. Finally, family influence is a factor. If parents are gamblers, children may become like them too.

Causes. It may not all be about being weak-willed or being deliberately reckless in ones financial affairs. It has been shown that addictive behaviors (gambling, food, sex, etc), have in common an imbalance in brain chemicals serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine. These neurotransmitters serve as messengers that allow nerve cells to communicate. If there are not enough of these, neurotransmission is affected leading to mental health problems. Serotonin is important in regulating mood and behavior. Norepinephrine or adrenaline plays a role in the stress response (arousal and risk-taking behavior in gamblers). Finally, dopamine is released by brain cells as part of the pleasure response. Addicts will always look for pleasurable stimuli and for the compulsive gambler, its rolling the dice or palming the playing cards.

Time to see the doctor? The doctor to see is the psychiatrist. Gambling may have gone out of control if

Treatment. Psychotherapy is a scientific approach of identifying irrational, negative beliefs (gambling included). This unhealthy mental sludge is then replaced with healthy, positive beliefs. Group therapy brings in the strength of advice and feedback from those recovering or struggling with similar gambling problems. Medications include antidepressants particularly the SSRIs or the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Mood disorders that may lead to pathologic gambling are treated with lithium.

The complications of compulsive gambling are grist for any telenovela writer: Estrangement from loved ones, huge debts, getting fired, legal entanglements. This isnt the drama anyone would want in his own life. And to think that gambling started out as just have a little fun.

Admit your casino addiction and deal with it.

Fact/Factoid. If you have had a stroke, your chance of suffering another one in the next five year is 40%.

Dr Brix Pujalte is an orthopedic surgeon. Contact numbers: 7253820/ 727-0001 local 775/ 7116626/ 7114276 and 9365717. email jsp@pldtdsl.net

Tags: addiction, American Psychiatric Association, Gambling addiction, Jose Pujalte, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

See the article here:

Sick gambling - Manila Bulletin