To the general public, the statement “I lost money gambling and feel bad” is chalked up to something that goes without saying. In fact, who doesn’t feel bad when losing money under any circumstance? What is it that makes hundreds of Americans go online every month to enter this exact statement into their Google search bar? Because they, yourself included, are ultimately searching for an answer to a question that comes up more often than you’re comfortable with. It seems of late that casino and/or sports betting losses are occurring more frequently, and you are no longer able to brush off these losses as easily as you used to. Below is a look at why this pattern of behavior and corresponding feeling of misery/guilt persists in your life, and what can be done to correct it today. Please keep reading.
Overview of Why Recent Gambling Losses May be Taking a Toll on Your Mental and Emotional Wellness
Understanding Gambler’s Guilt
As alluded to above, the words “feel bad” may reference a feeling of despair, but for a number of habitual and compulsive gamblers it also denotes a feeling of guilt. Gambler’s guilt is a common sign of problematic gambling.
The guilt you may be feeling boils down to select instances. For one, you may feel ashamed that you were not able to exhibit self-control, knowing that you should have walked away when the chips were down. Secondly, you may feel guilt over getting into debt when you are currently not in a financial position to take any risks with money. Lastly, and often most harmful to one’s state of mind, is the shame in knowing losses may have a damaging impact on loved ones. View more on Gambler’s Guilt and How to Get Over It.
Understanding Feelings of Sadness and Despair
Logically, there is a base level reason for feeling bad after losing money gambling because after all, you lost money gambling. However, this feeling has grown to become more than a fleeting mindset. You find that your emotions come crashing down after experiencing the high of gambling (which can persist even when losing) and stay down for quite some time. For a problem gambler, these extended periods of misery are generally about more than losing disposable income or even the month’s rent.
Wide bodies of research have confirmed that mild, moderate, and severe depression cooccur with problematic gambling behavior. As it turns out, there may be much more than going on than a simple cause-and-effect relationship between losing money and feeling bad. More concerning, is that research finds that people with co-occurring disorders (i.e. problem gambling and depression) are at higher risk for other problems such as additional financial loss, symptomatic relapse, social isolation, family problems, sexual dysfunction, criminality, suicidality, and more. The connection between depression and problem gambling is so wrought with dangerous consequence that to persist is to put yourself at tremendous risk. Even if the negative feelings you’re experiencing are mild to moderate, you require intervention from a specialist who can help you discover what’s really going on. This leads us to your call to action.
What You Can Do About It Today
The approach to greater overall wellness is twofold. For one, you can tackle the financial loss part if it has reached the point that you have accumulated excessive debt. Kindbridge has prepared a FREE guide for how to get back on financial track which you can access with the click of the button below:
Next, it’s important to find out how serious your gambling problem may or may not be.
Yes, there is a cost associated with getting professional support for a gambling problem, but this cost pales in comparison to what is gained financially and mentally (even physically) once the grip gambling has on your life has been loosened. This is especially true when you choose a proven method of treatment. You’ll also be pleased to know that a very significant portion of problem gambling therapy may be covered by insurance. Learn more about the investment in gambling therapy and availability of insurance coverage via the links below.
Let’s Talk About Your Relationship with Gambling
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