When you take a look at the number of online casinos out there, you will certainly agree that they cannot exist without people wanting to gamble at these. When you translate this into numbers, we are talking about millions of gamblers from all over the globe. If you want to access one of these websites, then be sure to pay a visit to https://www.bestusaonlinecasinos.com/.
However, there is another side of gambling, which emerges to the surface when we players are not careful about how much we play. One of the things triggered by gambling is the adrenaline rush, which can become quite addictive if not managed properly. Also, it triggers the production of dopamine, the same chemical compound as some drugs.
So, you can see that there are some connections between these two concepts, illicit substances, and gambling. Today, we want to shine a light on the connection between these two in greater detail. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most important points regarding these two.
Overlapping Symptoms
First, we want to discuss the overlapping symptoms of consuming illicit substances and gambling. Of course, there are a couple of them that come to mind immediately, yet again, it is more than clear some of them will surprise some. We want to talk about these symptoms in greater detail.
The first one is tolerance. As you probably know, the more illicit drugs a certain person consumes, the more tolerant they will be of its effects. As a result, the needed dose to feel any effects will need to be increased significantly. Well, you might be surprised that the same can be said about gambling.
The next one is the loss of control. It happens when the illicit drug consumer doesn’t have any control over his actions. So, consumption becomes significantly increased and it causes a variety of other symptoms. The same can be said about gambling, especially after the adrenaline rush emerges.
Withdrawal is one of the commonest symptoms associated with drugs, however, we can all agree that many are not aware of the fact that it can be quite common in the case of gambling. An individual suddenly becomes much jumpier and irritable, and you cannot overcome it until the needs are satisfied.
How are They Different?
The next thing we want to talk about is how different these two are. You shouldn’t be surprised that there are many differences between these two since they are completely different forms of addiction. While illicit substances physically manifest themselves, gambling is much more psychological.
Gambling itself is much more cognitively based, and it can cause massive changes when it comes to an individual’s behavior. Some of the most experienced experts in this field say that this activity causes much more cognitive distortions in their core belief system, especially if they are not successful with their efforts.
Of course, treatments of these two are completely different. Of course, we all know that there are numerous treatments to choose from, but we would like to point out that they share one important element. Both approaches consist of avoiding the activity and consuming completely, which is not an easy task.
Mental Disorders
In a variety of medical books, you will find both of these addictions to be some sort of mental disorder. The reason is quite simple, both of these can cause things such as depression, mood disorders, and ultimately personality disorders. Furthermore, we want to point out that there is a connection when it comes to these two mental disorders.
Just think about how many times you have seen players at the table consuming alcohol. While some would say that alcohol is not a drug, it certainly is an illicit substance, which can alter someone’s behavior. In certain moments this can result in problems such as criminal acts.
So, you can see that this is not a behavior characteristic for an individual who hasn’t experienced the consumption of these two. Besides drugs and alcohol, people who struggle with gambling addiction usually combine that addiction with tobacco consumption and various other stimulants.
The Effects of These on Family Units
Those who have experienced having a compulsive gambler or the user of illicit substances in their family know that this is not a situation when only that person is affected by this. Instead, we can see that the whole family unit will experience struggles as well as that person. Truth be said, not in the same way.
If you take a look at the number of registered gamblers throughout the world, you will see that it measures in millions. Therefore, nobody should be surprised that the number of people who suffer indirectly from their actions can be multiplied by three or four, depending on the number of average family members.
Emotional Effects
Naturally, the commonest problem caused by gambling is the fact that the families will feel the emotional consequences of the actions of their loved ones who suffer from one of these two addictions. The first one that comes to mind is that addicts tend to lie to their families about their actions.
Furthermore, it is quite common to see these individuals stealing valuables from their households, and selling them to finance their addiction. It is not a pleasant thing to experience with family members, but when you see just how common it is among addicts, it is clear that this is not something to treat lightly.
In relationships and marriages, it is more than clear that addiction can cause a lot of problems between couples, and indirectly harm children’s emotional health. There are numerous cases where children who have such experiences will develop similar additions later in life, and avoiding them is preferred.
Summary
As you can see, the connection between gambling and addictive, illicit substances are quite strong. Sometimes, they can be so close that the lines are blurred. Here, we’ve talked about them in greater detail, and we are certain you will find this insight to be quite valuable for you in the future.