Psychological Or Emotionally Vulnerable Problem Gambler

• Probably had a dysfunctional and traumatic childhood and family history, which could include physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

• Tends to have poor coping and/or problem-solving skills.

• May also suffer from moderate levels of clinical depression and anxiety, and may be more at risk for adopting other addictive behaviors.

• Their problem gambling behavior is further complicated by a lot of negative emotions and an inability to manage stress (both negative and positive.)

• For these individuals, the excitement of gambling allows them to distract or dissociate themselves from their negative feelings, and helps them to defer feelings of depression.

• A treatment goal for this type of gambler is to develop better stress management and problem-solving skills.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective for these types of problem gamblers as it helps them to identify high-risk situations, and allows them to develop appropriate coping strategies to deal with gambling urges and temptations.

• In contrast to the "normal" problem gambler, the emotionally vulnerable gambler may have more difficulty in managing the feelings of depression and anxiety after they have stopped gambling.  In some cases, they may benefit from medication and psychotherapy to treat symptoms of clinical depression and anxiety.

• The emotionally vulnerable problem gambler can be more challenging to deal with, and may spend a longer time in treatment than the normal problem gambler.

• Complete abstinence is a better choice for this type of gambler, because they are more like to deal with stress, anxiety and crisis with a return to sharp and rapid increases in their gambling.

Biologically- Based, Or Impulsive Problem Gamblers

• A small number of gamblers fall into the impulsive problem gambler category.  The inability of these individuals to stop gambling is greater than that of the normal or emotionally vulnerable problem gambler.

• This type of gambler's reasoning is subject to a lot of "cognitive distortion."  For a complete description on "Cognitive Distortion" please see the "How To" section - "Cognitive Distortion In Addiction And Recovery."  Essentially what cognitive distortion means is that filters or gateways are set up in the mind that misrepresent or distort reality.

• People in this group are also under misconceptions about the real odds in gambling and their emotional vulnerability exasperates the problem.

• More than any other factor, the biologically based problem gambler is affected primarily by an early history of neurological or neurochemical dysfunction related to impulsivity and aspects of attention deficit disorder.  They often experienced difficulty learning, concentrating, or paying attention in school.  They tend to become easily bored and find it difficult to see projects through to their proper end.  They require a great deal of stimulation to stay in focus.

• This group also tends to gamble in binges, and begin their gambling at a very early age (teens or early twenties). They experience severe financial difficulties, and their binge-like behavior and loss of money can bring the onset of serious depression, increasing the risk of self-harm, substance abuse, or criminal behavior.

• This category of problem gambler is definitely the most challenging to work with and does not respond well to treatment.  Cognitive behavioral therapy is useful but this group can also benefit from the use of psychotropic medications (primarily anti-depressants) to deal with their impulse disorder.

Concurrent Disorders:

As we mentioned a bit earlier, a percentage of compulsive gamblers suffer from "concurrent disorders."  (two or more disorders at the same time.)  The problem with treating this type of individual is trying to determine what came first, "the chicken or the egg?"  Does someone gamble because it relieves their depression, or are they depressed because they're caught up in compulsive gambling?  So the key for treatment options is to figure out which category the compulsive gambler fits in to, because the treatment approach for each varies significantly.

Deeper Inside The Compulsive Gambler

Once they’re in some form of treatment, most compulsive gamblers will admit that they had a poor self-image, felt they were morally weak, and just not very good people.  In the recovery community, we call this type of self-image “feeling less than” other people.  Compulsive gamblers generally seem to be unwilling or incapable of accepting reality.  So since they don’t like reality, or can’t handle it, they prefer to slip in to the fantasy world of gambling where they have a better understanding of the rules, and a better feeling of self-esteem when they assume their role in that world.  (Kind of sounds like people addicted to online games doesn’t it?)

The Comfort Zone

Like the crack addict with their pipe, the alcoholic with their bottle, or the compulsive gamer in front of their computer screen, the compulsive gambler is most comfortable psychologically and emotionally when there’s “action.”  That’s where they feel the security they so desperately seek and that they can’t seem to find in the reality of the normal world.  When a compulsive gambler say’s it isn’t about the money, it’s about the action, that’s not so different than the alcoholic saying it’s not about the taste of alcohol, it’s knowing that the taste is closely followed by the feelings, sensations and mind-set the alcohol creates.

Immaturity

Like most other compulsive or addictive types, compulsive gamblers tend to have low levels of maturity.  Some call this a low “emotional I.Q.”  (Intelligence Quotient)  This doesn’t mean they’re stupid, in fact, quite the opposite is true.  It usually means that they’re incredibly sensitive, combined with a difficulty in resolving what life throws at them in a mature, adult way.  In recovery circles, this is sometimes referred to as an inability, or unwillingness to “accept life on life’s terms.”

Egomaniacs With Inferiority Complexes 

The compulsive gambler, like most people with an addiction or compulsion, also has a tendency to act in a grandiose manner, or like a real “shooter.”  They will wear a false front of being superior to everyone else, yet inside they feel insecure.  And they will do anything in order to maintain that front.

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