As a part of our acute inpatient dual diagnosis adult program, we provide an addiction track with an emphasis of problem or compulsive gambling.  Although many individuals struggle with substance use as an addiction, we understand that addictions come in many forms. Gambling is one such behavior that often becomes a problem and results in significant stress to individuals and their families.

At Gulfport Behavioral Health System, we have an addiction specialist who provides therapy specifically related to addiction and assisting patients in understanding their problem or compulsive gambling.  This therapy aims to help the patient explore the underpinnings of their behavior and how it relates to their emotional and personality issues. The addiction therapy services are led by an addiction professional with certification in treatment of problem and compulsive gambling.  Treatment focuses on facilitating an understanding of how addictive behavior and compulsive gambling relate to each other, how to stop gambling behavior and prevent relapse.  Individuals have the opportunity to explore their problem gambling behavior, how it developed or became compulsive, and ways to break the cycle and repair their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Some of the behaviors and traits that most individuals with a gambling addiction follow include:

• Preoccupied by thoughts about gambling, reliving past gambling experiences, or devising ways to get money to gamble.
• Compelled to keep gambling until you’ve spent your last dollar.
• You spend money you don’t have on gambling.
• Lost money gambling one day and returned another day to get even.
• Lie to family members, friends, or others about how much you gamble
• Lie about how much money you lost on gambling, on at least three occasions.
• Written a bad check or taken money that didn’t belong to you to pay for your gambling.
• Gambling has caused serious or repeated problems in your relationships with any of your family members or friends.
• Gambling has caused you problems at work or your studies.
• Have asked others or a lending institution to loan you money or bail you out of a situation that related to gambling.
• Needing to gamble using increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired rush and excitement.
• Feeling restless or irritable when trying to reduce or stop gambling.
• Inability to control, reduce, or quit gambling despite numerous repeated attempts.
• Gambling when experiencing feelings of distress, helplessness, guilt, anxiety, and depression.

If you or someone you know has experienced any of these traits or behaviors or other mental health issue call 800-831-1700 to find out more or to schedule a NO-COST mental health assessment.