What Type of Gambler Are You? Part II
We’ve classified the three Okay Gamblers in Part I. If you don’t find your wagering habits described there, then perhaps you belong in those that we’ll list below. If you do, it’s time to do some serious re-evaluation of your priorities before you’ll ruin your life and those of your family. For one particular type, you can consider asking for psychiatric help.
Not-Okay-At-All Gamblers
Problem Gamblers
For those who belong to this category, gambling has resulted in at least one negative consequence in their life, be this in their finances or with their relationships. Problem gamblers will borrow from friends or from their credit cards to finance their wagers. They will even used money allocated for food, bills and rent to finance their wagers. It is common for families to get broken because of this. Needless to say, they spend excessive time gambling. The problem gambler hates to lose and chases after it to get even. Mood swings after a loss is also common. Moreover, work performance is diminished and those who belong to this category even view gambling as another job. They turn to gambling to fund the needs for daily living. Of course, they get into all sorts of financial troubles in doing so. They are regulars at casinos and other gambling establishments, and the perks they receive encourage them to gamble more. They may quit temporarily to prove that they aren’t problem gamblers or after a particularly heavy loss, but will still almost always go back to the habit once they find money for it. While they’re not mental cases, it’s always a good idea for problem gamblers to find ways out of this problem, asking for help when necessary. Oh, and if you don’t acknowledge you have a problem but fits our description above, chances are, you really are a problem gambler.
Pathological Gamblers
Pathological or compulsive gambling is a form of mental disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association. Aside from the characteristics exhibited by the problem gamblers, compulsive gamblers also view gambling as a solution to their financial problems (originally caused by the gambling itself) and not as the problem itself. The compulsive gambler has been bailed out at least once by a family member or friend or has maxed out credit cards to get them out of a bind. Any wins they make are always reinvested into gambling and it is not uncommon for them to have burned out relationships due to excessive borrowing. Fighting with a partner is also common. They have urges to gamble and may even go as far as to view the gambling house their home. It’s usual for them to view casino staff as friends even if they have no other connection with them. Being a mental disorder, it is recommended that pathological gamblers seek the help of a psychiatrist for proper evaluation and further treatment.