What is a gambling addiction?

Gambling is a socially accepted hobby that can quickly develop into an obsession, often resulting in financial problems.

People who gamble get a kick out of the excitement that comes with it. Will I win or not? Every time, your body produces the hormone dopamine. This substance activates your reward system and makes you feel satisfied. 

Someone who gambles keeps this hidden from the people around them for a long time. It is therefore usually a total surprise for those closest to them when it becomes clear that there is a problem, e.g. through mounting debts–. 

Gambling comes in many forms: the lottery, slot machines, poker, blackjack, betting, card games, roulette, and so on. Financial products such as shares and bitcoins are also sometimes the subject of heavy gambling. 

In recent years, we have seen more and more people venturing into online gambling. The threshold is low because of the ease and anonymity of participation.

Often clients tell us that they have been labelled with a dual diagnosis. At intake and admission, we always do our own clinical screening. This is because it is difficult to distinguish between the symptoms of the addiction itself and other causes. Many symptoms specific to and resulting from addiction and/or trauma are ‘controlled’ with medication, but this isn’t always necessary, and the medication can be tapered off where appropriate.

The first and most important step is admitting you have a problem. The moment you cross that difficult threshold, a multidisciplinary and experienced team is ready to guide you.

Together we will find the most appropriate solution for you. You can be helped on an outpatient basis or opt to be admitted to our home environment.