{"id":669,"date":"2025-03-13T21:11:27","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T18:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.netosdimitris.gr\/2025\/03\/13\/gambling-addiction-a-modern-scourge-and-useful-clarifications\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T12:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:57:14","slug":"gambling-addiction-a-modern-scourge-and-useful-clarifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/gambling-addiction-a-modern-scourge-and-useful-clarifications\/","title":{"rendered":"Gambling Addiction: A Modern Scourge and Useful Clarifications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"1916\" src=\"https:\/\/test.netosdimitris.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ethismos-ston-tzogo1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1916\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Gambling Addiction?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gambling addiction is a serious psychological and social disorder, characterized by an uncontrollable desire and need of the individual to engage in gambling activities, despite the negative consequences these may have on their personal and professional life.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This addiction can affect individuals of all ages and social classes and is a growing problem in modern society, especially in Greece, where in 2023 the total amount wagered reached 36 billion euros.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Constitutes Gambling Addiction and What Does Not?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To gain a better understanding of whether a behavior constitutes an addiction or not, it would be helpful to consider a spectrum, where at one end we have complete abstinence from gambling, and at the other end, addiction.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clinically, addiction is defined as a compulsive relationship where the individual continues to gamble increasingly larger sums of money, unable to stop, even though the enjoyment of this behavior has often ceased.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Returning to the concept of the continuum between these two opposing extremes (abstinence-addiction), various other stages-points intervene, such as social use (the individual gambles only at social events), occasional use (the individual gambles occasionally, for example, 1-2 times a month), problematic use (the individual starts gambling more and more frequently and with increasingly larger amounts), and abuse (where the individual is now one step away from addiction).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is quite common for people to get confused and label all of an individual&#8217;s actions as addiction, even though they may not be in reality. During psychotherapeutic practice, a specialized assessment of each individual&#8217;s behavior is conducted, depending on their social, economic, environmental, interpersonal, and psychological variables.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Causes of Gambling Addiction<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Gambling addiction<\/em> can arise from a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Biological factors include genetic predisposition and brain chemistry, while psychological factors may include the need to escape reality, the search for intensity and adrenaline, as well as environmental and peer influence. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During my therapeutic practice, I usually ask about the meaning of gambling&#8217;s appearance in an individual&#8217;s life. In the majority of cases, gambling comes to fill a void or to promise financial or social benefits that are fundamental to the individual or that they have been deprived of. If you or someone close to you is experiencing a problematic relationship with gambling, the following questions could help you begin your introspection:  <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When did the story of gambling become problematic in your life?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why does gambling enter your life and what does it promise you? What is its meaning or what does it respond to? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does it always deliver on its promises, or not?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How does gambling manage to maintain its presence in your life, even though most of the time it doesn&#8217;t give you what it promises?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/test.netosdimitris.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ethismos-ston-tzogo2-1024x796-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1917\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms and Signs<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An individual addicted to gambling may exhibit various symptoms and signs, such as:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Uncontrollable urge to gamble, even when aware of the negative consequences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increase in time and money spent on gambling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Withdrawal from social and professional obligations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feeling of well-being during gambling and intense discomfort when unable to play.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attempting to hide the gambling habit from others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Consequences of Gambling Addiction<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gambling addiction can have serious consequences on an individual&#8217;s personal, family, and professional life. Some of the main consequences include: <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Financial problems and debts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disruptions in interpersonal relationships and isolation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Job loss and career problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Management and Treatment<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The management and <a href=\"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/i-antimetopisi-tis-exartisis-apo-tin-skopia-tis-afigimatikis-therapeias\/\">treatment<\/a> of gambling addiction require a combined approach that may include:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Counseling and psychotherapy to help the individual understand and change their behaviors through mapping the meaning and ways gambling uses to remain in their life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Participation in support groups for sharing experiences and encouragement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medication to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression (optional).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Education and awareness of the risks of gambling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/test.netosdimitris.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ethismos-ston-tzogo3-1024x683-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1918\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prevention<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prevention of gambling addiction includes educating and raising public awareness about the risks associated with gambling, as well as promoting healthy ways of entertainment and recreation. Parents can also play a significant role in shaping positive behavioral patterns for their children. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In conclusion, <strong>gambling addiction<\/strong> is a serious problem that requires immediate and coordinated effort for its treatment. With the right support and specialized therapy, individuals with addiction problems can regain control of their lives, deconstruct the tactics and allies of gambling in their lives, take a stand on what is happening to them, and live a healthy and balanced life based on their preferred ways. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is Gambling Addiction? Gambling addiction is a serious psychological and social disorder, characterized by an uncontrollable desire and need of the individual to engage in gambling activities, despite the negative consequences these may have on their personal and professional life. This addiction can affect individuals of all ages and social classes and is a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":666,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[25,30,28],"class_list":["post-669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-addiction","tag-gambling","tag-narrative-therapy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=669"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":672,"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669\/revisions\/672"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netosdimitris.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}