Gambling

[MilkandHoney]

Hi, I have a husband who has a gambling problem, Can anyone shed any light as to what makes people do this?
If I could understand a bit better I know I could help my husband. He is enrolled in a gambling class but has missed a few sessions which is not good. Please pray that God gives me wisdom on how to help my husband in all areas. I feel he is being beaten down by satan and can barely stand up. Thank you to all who respond. Many blessings.

 

[Frangible]

This is probably way more than you wanted, but...

(link to source)

Pathological gambling.

• Hollander E,
• Buchalter AJ,
• DeCaria CM.

Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.


With increasing access to gambling facilities through casinos, the Internet, and other venues, PG is a rapidly emerging mental health concern. This impulse-control disorder tends to be comorbid with a wide range of other disorders and is reportedly associated with a high rate of suicide. For most gamblers, gambling is a form of entertainment, but for many individuals, the activity leads to far-reaching disruption of family and work. The personal and societal financial ramifications are severe, and many individuals with PG end up in the criminal justice system. An understanding of the neurobiology of PG is beginning to surface. 5-HT is linked to behavioral initiation and disinhibition, which are important in the onset of the gambling cycle and the difficulty in ceasing the behavior. Norepinephrine is associated with the arousal and risk taking in patients with PG. Dopamine is linked to positive and negative reward, the addictive component of this disorder. Effective treatment strategies for pathological gamblers are emerging. Potentially useful pharmacologic agents include SRIs (clomipramine and fluvoxamine), mood stabilizers for pathological gamblers with comorbid bipolar disorders (lithium), and naltrexone. Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies offer promising results in the treatment of patients with this disorder...

(link to source)

Pathological gambling: a comprehensive review of biobehavioral findings.

• Goudriaan AE,
• Oosterlaan J,
• de Beurs E,
• Van den Brink W.

Academic Medical Center University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Addicition Research, The Netherlands.

In this review, findings of biobehavioral research into pathological gambling (PG) are discussed, focusing on neuropsychological, psychophysiological, neuroimaging, neurochemical and genetic studies. Neuropsychological studies indicate deficiencies in certain executive functions. Psychophysiological studies indicate that arousal in PG is of importance when reward is present. Neuroimaging studies point to abnormalities in brain functioning. Recent research into the neurochemistry of PG indicates that abnormalities exist in different neurotransmitter systems. Finally, genetic studies indicate the existence of abnormal dopamine receptor genes in PG. Methodological and theoretical factors that may explain discrepancies between studies include differences in screening and assessment, heterogeneity of gambling problems and different underlying cognitive or motivational mechanisms. Results from the PG studies fit in with recent theoretical models of addiction and PG, which stress the involvement of brain reward pathways, neurotransmitter abnormalities, the frontal cortex and the psychophysiological stress system...

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

Moved from Depression to General Struggles.​

 

[tapero]

Dear Milk and Honey,

Here is a resource for both the family and the one who gambles. I thought the resource for you might be helpful.

Here's the link:

http://www.dmhas.state.ct.us/gambling/family.htm

• Did you know?​
• Progression of family involvement​
• Do's and Dont's for partners of problem gamblers​
• Adult children of problem gamblers​
• What to say if someone’s gambling concerns You​
• How therapy can help the families and friends of problem gamblers​

 

[Barnabas71]

Hi there Mike and Honey,
Very sorry to hear about your husbands gambling problems; You said he was undertaking a course - I wonder if it is a Christian based or should that be Bible based course? Anyway I thoroughly recommend Settingcaptivesfree.com This is a free christian resorce specialising in a wide variaty of addictive sins and habits and each course runs for a duration of 60 days, they deal with alcohol, smoking - and yes gambling too. He may even be on this very course , but just thought I would mention it in case.
I will pray for you at this difficult time.

 

[Barnabas71]

Sorry - I have just read your profile and realised I should have addressed it to milkandhoney NOT Mike and Honey - I thought it was a combined husband and wife profile, I am dyslexic and I'm not joking.
God Bless