Although there are many similarities between addictions, gambling addiction is different in many ways. One which stands out the most is money. While walking away from gambling may be difficult, avoiding money and other situations that may cause feelings of disease or the desire to use may be nearly impossible. People need money almost every day for necessities like food, rent, and to pay off their debts – which can be a constant reminder of their addiction and create feelings which could lead to a reemergence of symptoms. This means they need to be constantly mindful of their thoughts and feelings when using money.
Gambling offers a powerful sense of reward and achievement which may motivate people to keep gambling. Research on gambling addiction suggests that gambling can release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is also linked to chemical addictions. This release of dopamine can make a gambler feel elated, and even “high.”
The desire to gamble can be heightened by external or internal events, or both, like stress. Many people who experience a problem with gambling use gambling to escape or manage stress. This can create a vicious cycle of gambling to manage stress, but the gambling creates more stress, leading to progressively more gambling.
Gambling often occurs alongside other addictions, especially alcoholism. The relationship between two or more addictions can make recovery more challenging.
Many people in recovery who struggled with gambling choose not to be around gambling to avoid a return of symptoms. This can be very difficult. Because gambling is a popular, legal activity that is available almost everywhere from church fundraisers to sports events, avoiding temptation can feel like a full-time job.