The psychologist says that there are still many misconceptions about gambling. These are repeated not only by society but also by people who gamble problematically themselves.
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“I most often hear statements like these or similar: ‘You just need one big win and everything will be fine,’ ‘I control the situation and can stop whenever I want,’ ‘I don’t gamble for pleasure, only to recover lost money,’ ‘Only weak people become addicted,’ or ‘If I don’t gamble today, it means I’m recovering.’ These myths actually serve the addiction – they help a person stay in it and delay the decision to seek help,” explains G. Glušauskaitė.
According to her, false beliefs are not just incorrect opinions. They become part of the addiction itself and allow a person to believe that the situation is not yet serious enough to require help.
Why do people believe that a win will solve everything?
From the outside, it often seems illogical why a person who has lost large sums still believes that one more bet will save the situation.
Over time, a person starts gambling not to win, but to reduce internal tension.
The psychologist says that this way of thinking has its own internal logic: “For many, it seems natural: if problems started because of lost money, then a win should solve them. But the paradox of gambling addiction is that over time a person starts gambling not to win and stop gambling, but to reduce internal tension.”
In practice, the specialist says she constantly encounters similar stories. Those who come to consultations often say they started gambling hoping to recover losses. But even when they managed to win an amount that covered at least part or even all of their debts, they still remained in gambling.
According to her, the hope to recover losses is very strong because it allows believing that the gambling process is still controlled and that one will not have to face the consequences that have already appeared, feelings of guilt, or the need to seek help.
“Sometimes a person waits for a win like a miracle that will remove all problems. But in reality, the attempt to recover losses only deepens both financial and emotional difficulties,” emphasizes the psychologist.
“But I can stop anytime”
Another common statement made by gamblers is “I can stop anytime.” According to G. Glušauskaitė, admitting that control has already been lost is one of the hardest steps for many people.
“In practice, I notice that clients take time to admit that they are really facing an addiction. Admitting loss of control often means admitting that the problem is much bigger than they would like. This can cause shame, guilt, disappointment in oneself, sadness about having to change one’s lifestyle, anxiety about the future, or fear of being misunderstood and judged,” she says.
The psychologist reminds that gambling usually becomes not only a matter of money but also of emotions: “Gambling is often about the desire to escape from overwhelming problems or an unsatisfying everyday life. And if a person has long been used to gambling as soon as they feel bad, it is very difficult for them to learn to cope with unpleasant emotions differently. It becomes normal to gamble when feeling uncomfortable rather than to solve problems.”
According to her, that is why the first steps toward acknowledgment are so important. They become the beginning of recovery and create a foundation for accepting reality, solving problems, and developing emotional regulation skills.
Addiction is not a lack of willpower
Many people still think that a gambler could stop if they just tried harder. According to the psychologist, this attitude is one of the most harmful.
“People still think that it would be enough to ‘get it together,’ ‘focus,’ or simply have more willpower. Because of this attitude, gamblers often feel strong shame and guilt, hide their difficulties, and try to solve the problem on their own for a long time,” she says.
However, gambling addiction is not a matter of lack of willpower: “It is a complex problem involving biological, psychological, and social factors. Therefore, as with other mental health difficulties, recovery requires not more willpower but psychological help, support from loved ones, and community, such as Gamblers Anonymous groups.”
Relatives also make mistakes
The psychologist notes that false beliefs are characteristic not only of gamblers. One of the most common is that a problem gambler must gamble every day and lose huge sums.
“Practice shows that the problem first manifests not in the frequency of gambling or the amount of money. The most important thing is whether gambling starts to cause psychological, financial, social, and other difficulties for the person and their surroundings,” explains G. Glušauskaitė.
Another widespread myth is that children and teenagers are too young to face gambling problems.
According to the specialist, research shows that signs of problem gambling can appear already in adolescence: “Although children usually do not have the same financial means as adults, they gamble in video games that use gambling-like mechanisms, such as ‘loot boxes,’ bet with friends, or participate in other gambling activities. Some clients report gambling in childhood using their parents’ accounts or asking older friends to place bets for them.”
Research data shows that depending on the country, 1–5% of adolescents already experience loss of control, lie about gambling, neglect other activities, or try to recover losses after losing.
Why relatives should not rush to pay off debts?
Another myth that G. Glušauskaitė encounters very often is that the most important thing is to pay off the gambler’s debts as quickly as possible. The psychologist says that such a decision often seems natural but can do more harm than good in the recovery process.
“On the path to recovery, it is very important to learn to be responsible and take responsibility for one’s behavior consequences. Only after experiencing them can a person fully realize the harm of gambling and consciously choose whether to continue gambling or live differently,” she explains.
Therefore, according to the interlocutor, relatives who constantly rescue financially and pay off debts, even if well-intentioned, take away the gambler’s opportunity to learn from their experience.
“When relatives pay off debts for a gambling person, they increase the likelihood of relapse. So helping is important, but help should not mean taking over all the consequences. True help is encouraging the person to seek specialists, accompanying them on the recovery path if needed, and providing emotional support,” emphasizes G. Glušauskaitė.
Funded by the State Public Health Promotion Fund (state budget) funds.
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