Gambling addiction - Cause, outcome and a way out
by Dr. med. Thorsten Heedt
9. Where can I find help?
On this website there are detailed descriptions of problem gambling which might help you with your problem. There are lots of other websites listed in the references which might also be of interest. Furthermore you could call the following hotline to get some professional advice:
1-800-522-4700You'll be anonymous. Relatives can also call this number.
Next article:
#1
mouse89, 10 Nov 08 16:15
ok#2
jp2570, 09 Jan 09 11:30
Good article, I'm pritty sure i'm not addicted but it highlighted some concepts that are restricting my poker development#3
SPeedFANat1c, 13 Jan 09 17:57
I didnt like few questions:Do you have a hard time focusing on other things except gambling?
Yes, I do have a hard time, but I do other things if I need to do them. So do I need to answer YES?
Does your normal life seem boring compared to the gambling? My asnswer is - a little borring, but if I could not play poker, maybe I would play other computer games or watch movies. Playing poker is the best entertainment at the moment, so I play it.
Has the gambling caused fights or disputes in your family? There wasn't fights, but there was some disputes. I can't do anything about it, just not gamble. I remember when I liked playing tennis, there were disputes, when I liked playing computer games, there were disputes, now when I like playing poker there is also disputes. So what should I do to make this answer NO :) ?
Also I didn't like questions with EVER, because if I ever have done that thing(lend money e.g.), the answer is YES for all my life.
And I agree with #2 comment.
#4
Fishbowl, 23 Feb 09 11:16
scary story#5
vitchque, 24 Feb 09 18:41
The guy who asked the questions have never probably played poker that's why i think some of the questions shouldn't be there :) but in general a good article :)#6
SadStory, 11 Mar 09 10:41
Very good article#7
cyzo, 30 Jun 09 03:35
Hm. I answered yes to 9 of the questions but am quite bored with poker, would never play even 1 hand/roll/whatever of an against-the-house (-EV) game, play few hours out of the day on average, earn all my money from this game, and maintain high grades in college at the same time. This makes me question how applicable this article is to poker in comparison to -EV (idiot) gambling.#8
theboydave, 22 Jul 09 16:15
good read highlighting the potential dangers.#9
jethrothefox, 29 Aug 09 13:17
Refering to #7 cyzo..i answered yes/no to 2 questions but, i agree with you that these questions are more aimed at gambling in general and most likely adapted from drug addiction questions i think. Although 9 Yes' is kinda worrying. Enless you're a pro, i would worry about your social life and put some more restrictions on your poker play.
#10
thepowerplay, 03 Nov 09 00:52
I answered yes to 4 questions, but I don't worry at all about my own well being in regards to compulsive gambling. I limit myself to about an hour a day on work days, and 1-4 hours on weekends. Probably 2-3 days of the week, I don't play at all.Having said that, any addiction is a real and significant threat to vulnerable personalities. I've had a few relatives go through the ringer with drug addiction. Nasty stuff. The psychology of gambling addiction is probably strikingly similar. Unfortunately, the people most likely to be affected are the least likely to be aware of it until they are knee deep in shit!
#11
KevinC42, 13 Nov 09 00:57
I answered yes to all of those except #19, I have not committed suicide hence me posting this message.#12
SPTHARRY, 13 Jan 10 11:36
I answered yes to suprisingly more questions than i would have liked ,however my main gauge for keeping tabs on how much of a problem my poker is, is my family and the relationship between them and me in respect of poker#13
Sikac, 10 Mar 10 10:24
Well,I answered 9 questions with yes,but all of them are linked to my,hmmm....,"high" past.I am on college and I started to live without parents and my poker hours increased from 1 hour till about at least 12 hours a day.I played poker 24 hours without stopping once just,my roommate 46or 47 I dont remember exactly.But my opinion is that you can become a gambler if you are mental weak person or you re life is too boring(you dont have any other interest in your life,e.g.watching any sport match) or you were on drugs to much(e.g.marijuana).#14
ilovem0ney22, 19 May 10 17:03
i agree with Sikac, poker has helped me stop smoking alot of weed =)I answer yes to most of the appropriate ones, but my defending question is addiction and passion is just borderline, if you don't have passion how can you succed in poker ?
#15
IvanColakovac, 19 Oct 10 15:52
i had problems in my past, when i think about that time a few years ago my answers would be all yes, only 1 no - n that is that i never lost interest for social life - i like to party n womens :D nowdays yes would be my answer for maybe 5 questions... don't take adict things easily thats my advice, n search for help if u need help - thats no shame!!! shame is to steel or hurt or do other things like that!!!#16
jimmyjames57, 23 Dec 10 20:05
I answered yes to 16 of the questions. I started playing play-money poker on my XBOX and won a couple matches. Well I figured I was ready to play real-money. I went to the casino one day after I got paid and lost $250 playing 1/2 NLHE. But that was the spark. I continued to frequent the cardroom, one weekend winning $280, but my losses exceeded far more than that. Within 2 months I was down $2000 (an entire paycheque for me)and the feelings of shame and guilt were so heavy that I considered stealing. I signed-up for online poker after that because they offered micro-stakes. I got my brother to lend me $50 on his VISA to play and figured I was ready. I lost a couple dollars one night and then tilted off the rest chasing my money. I then started to take more money off his VISA without asking, and almost always losing it all by chasing again, and again. I feel like I have to play because I feel great when I play, but in the end I'm just not disciplined enough to be ready to turn a profit. If this is you just do what I did and delete the software completely. After a week of no play you'll feel better and won't think of poker and gambling so much as you did. Its tough, but so is losing your money and feeling ashamed of yourself.#17
Swinxas, 14 Apr 11 06:42
I am not addicted, i got 6 yes from test :D but its glad to have a guide lines, that i would in what spot i am. Great post.#18
jozata, 18 Apr 11 14:05
I answered yes to 16 of the questions but I dont need a test to know that I am addicted to gambling.When I am waiting for the bus with friends we usually flip coins for all our money just for the sake of it.However,I am also addicted to many other things such as drugs,alchohol,sex,jacking off and football.Problem?6000 marki/Audi A6#19
Adam667001, 20 Jul 11 00:10
yea for sure this was me for the first 6 months i started playing. I was drinking alot so the loses seemed almost fictional and you win a few tournaments and you get an ego that wont let you drop your buy in, so you end up losing your winnings and then going in the red.The way i deal with it now is give someone else my account password, so i can login and play, but i cant change the buy-in restrictions we set when i gave her the password so giving into the temptation to bring your full stack is impossible
#20
PinkFairy, 24 Jul 11 04:20
well this is for sure something that made me see some mistakes in my poker play, hope i can change somethings and play my A#21
spacedraptor, 29 Jul 11 22:06
Seems to me if your losing money @ gambling you have a problem. If your winning they give you a gold braclet.to be good at anything like a footballer or a singer, dancer, or musician. You need that complusive nothing else matters personality. But hey they call that Drive & Determination, Celebrated! but in gambling slamed as addiction.
#22
Pouserly2, 12 Aug 11 09:02
I answered yes to 16#23
Gunn56, 14 Aug 11 12:51
very scary ...