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Phases An Action Gambler Goes Through

When you identify a gambler who manifests problematic gambling behavior, you can usually assert that he could be an action gambler and is most likely to pass through phases that are typical for this type of gambler.

The first phase that action gamblers go through is the winning phase. This is the phase where the gambler experience exhilarating feeling of being the big winner. They usually emerge as winners with bigger monetary values and pride themselves as professional gamblers. They have the misconception of being able to manipulate the game to emerge as the winner. They strongly believe they have the power to control over the game. They feel extremely superior over other gamblers. Because of their confidence as frequent winners, they would bet more frequently, bet with large amounts and eventually will begin experiencing loses.

With the losing phase, the gambler begins to experience more loses. Instead of backing down, they would bet more than ever believing they are just losing streak and will bet bigger amounts to chase their loses. Frequent loses will result to getting short of their own financial resources. This will encourage the gambler to borrow money from other resources to obligate his gambling addiction. They would show to fellow gamblers they are doing well and free of financial burden which is contrary to their present situation. They conceive borrowing money will bail them out in a frustrating situation until their financial status becomes unmanageable. Their life turns to a deteriorating end.

This is when the desperation phase comes in. As their life becomes unmanageable, they lose control over their own life sacrificing things dear to them. Wife and children begins to get affected. Some would experience verbal or physical abuse from the gambler. Depression spreads over the entire family members because of financial trouble. The family members begin to suffer the consequences of their gambling activities. Their gambling addiction takes over their life and most likely their future. Being confronted with a despairing situation, they gamble more as a form of escape. This is the phase where gambling problems were made known to family members that compel them to act and seek professional help to treat the gambling behavior. Once the gambler submits them selves to treatment and counseling, they would exert effort to show their family that everything is back to normal. But sadly, many gamblers often exhibit a periodic recovery and periodic compulsive gambling behavior that lead them back to their problematic gambling behavior.

When everything has been exhausted as an effort to save gamblers from their gambling addiction and failed, the gambler enters the hopeless phase. They entirely feel that there is no hope for their condition for recovery. The suicidal tendency for the gambler is high on this phase.

The four phases an action gambler goes through is definitely frustrating and miserably difficult. Early help and assistance should be extended to them to avoid reaching the hopeless phase where everything else fails to save the gambler from self-destruction.