Gambling is addictive. People who gamble are so addicted and their whole life revolves around it. Their only interest is gambling and how they can win. This can lead not only to economic disaster but also to personal deterioration. It’s not easy for them to realize that they are addicted to gambling and that they need special help.
It is important to mention that addicts to gambling are addicted in general. These people have addictive relationships in their lives. They are hooked and feel deteriorated when they are abandoned. This happens either by losing the game or by losing their loved ones. Furthermore the emotional needs of these people were not fulfilled by their family and as a result they try to fill the gap by gambling. In the beginning they start gambling just for fun and then they focus on a continuous effort to win. This is something that attracts them. Of course, winning isn’t always feasible. However they keep on trying in order to feel satisfied and maintain their adrenaline in high levels.
What happens when they are one step away from economic disaster, when their personal relationships come to an end? Their closed ones should set limits such as not lending them money in order to gamble. They should also not allow them to manage their bank accounts. Moreover they should try to talk with them about their thoughts and feelings so that they can understand their needs and deprive them of valuable things in order to face the consequences of their actions. They can also ask for help as a family because all the members should face the problem. These people need proper,special care in order to get away from gambling.
There are services that could help them such as:
Groups of Addicted to gambling- Twelve Steps Anonymous Groups (Address: 12 Moskof, every Tuesday and Friday 18:00-20:00) and Counselling and Therapeutic Station for individuals addicted to alcohol, drugs, gambling. Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki (Address: 21 Ptolemaion, tel 2310 542 141).