[jon13009]

FYI: This was brought up at another forum (perhaps as a joke), and I am sure this has come up here before as well, but here goes anyway for those interested..... Also good to know regarding how the mental health profession is grading gambling activities....

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Are you an addictive/pathologic gambler? Ask yourself these questions:

1 Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2 Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3 Did gambling affect your reputation?
4 Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5 Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6 Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7 After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8 After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9 Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10 Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11 Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12 Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
13 Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14 Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15 Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16 Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17 Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18 Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19 Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20 Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

According to Gamblers Anonymous, if you answer ‘yes’ to seven of more of these questions, you most likely have a compulsive gambling problem.

Source:
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/20questions.html

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Here is another way of deciding and - more important - how a doctor would determine if you qualify as a pathologic gambler (I say qualify because there are exceptions to any and all medical diagnosis.)

Cautionary statement:
http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/di...cautionary.htm

A persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

WAGER OFTEN: A mnemonic for diagnosing pathologic gambling disorder*

W ithdrawal. Feels restless or irritable when attempting to reduce or stop gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 4)
A ffects relationships. Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 9)
G oal is to get even by chasing losses. Gambles again to break even after losing money gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 6)
E scape. Gambles as a way to escape problems or relieve dysphoric mood, helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression (DSM-IV-TR criterion 5)
R escue. Relies on others to be rescued financially (DSM-IV-TR criterion 10)
O utside the law. Has committed illegal acts, such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement, to finance gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 8)
F ailure to control. Has made repeated unsuccessful efforts to reduce, control, or stop gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 3)
T olerance. Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money or risks to achieve the desired excitement (DSM-IV-TR criterion 2)
E vades telling the truth. Lies to family members, healthcare providers, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling (DSM-IV-TR criterion 7)
N eeds to think about next gambling venture. Is preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble (DSM-IV-TR criterion 1)

*Cannot be better accounted for by a manic episode.

DSM-IV-TR, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition revised.
312.31 Pathological Gambling

Information from the American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed, rev. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000.

Sources (please read only if really, really interested):
http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/20...05/sumitra.htm
http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/di...hgambledis.htm

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Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday.

[SBR Lou]

I answered yes to 17.

No to being careless to family, no to having commit an illegal act to obtain gambling money, and no to having seriously considered suicide.

[Lunds15]

yes, yes, yes, and .....yes. I love making money

[JBC77]

I would answer no to questions 1 -20.

I gamble almost daily on sports but never more than I can afford. I manage my gambling funds like that of a mutual fund. I deposit about once a year if needed.

I know a few problem gamblers, they seem to share a common thread. Seems like they have other problems that lead them to gambling. Low levels of education, substance abuse problems, family issues, credit/money problems, depression, etc. Rarely do you come across a problem gambler whos only problem is gambling.

[BuddyBear]

ummm...if you are posting at a gaming forum you are an addictive gambler

[durito]

No

[JBC77]

ummm...if you are posting at a gaming forum you are an addictive gambler

Not true. For many of us gambling is a hobby. Plenty of people out here aren't foolish enough to bet overly large amounts on outcomes we can't predict. We're not foolish enough to believe we are part of the 1% of the population that can gamble for a living.

Plenty of gainfully employed smart individuals on the forums.

[jon13009]

Table 1. Features that distinguish different types of gambling behaviors

Types of gambling behavior/ Treatment required /Control over bet amount and game selection / Monetary losses / Purpose

1. Professional (minority of gamblers)/ None / Excellent / Carefully predicted/ Livelihood

2. Social (majority of gamblers) / None / Good / Controlled / Fun

3. Problem (akin to substance abuse) / Early intervention / Fair to poor / Unpredictable / Pleasure, escape, thrill

4. Pathologic (akin to substance dependence or addiction) / Rehabilitation / Poor / Unexpected / Pleasure, escape, thrill

source:

http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/20...mitra_tab1.htm

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Note: Only pathologic gambling requires any treatment.
Also these are broad categorizations. Any additional categories you would suggest?

Where would you fit?

[marke4]

For those that answered NO

They say Denial is the First step . .

That post made me laugh hard. Anyway, anyone who didn't answer yes to at least 3/4 of those is a wanker and has no business in this forum anyways. I go back to an old friend of mine who is a compulsive gambler and is in treatment for a few years now. Those lists are complete crap. They have brainwashed him and he is a different person. He takes pills to kill his gambling urges, which also kills all other urges making him a zombie. He is more depressed than ever now. Compulsive gambling is a scam and over rated. Its really not that big of a problem. These people who suffer from it would waste their lives with drugs or some other vice is gambling wasn't available.

[The HG]

I answered yes to #s 1, 4, and 16, but whatever.

#1 - Yes I have gambled at work but whatever, they were fukkin as*holes, they should have given me a raise for gambling at work.

#4 - Sure, but I have remorse after most things I do, including when I feel remorse after things I've done, so what?

#16 - This is a BS fukkin trick question! They make it an illegal act to finance gambling, then ask "have you ever committed an illegal act to finance gambling"??? Tricky tricky folks, these "do you have a problem with X" writers, I'm telling you, they are very crafty when they write these things.

No, I know there are addictive gamblers out there, and I feel bad for them and hope they can right their ships. But in this survey, if you replace "college" with "gambling" I would have to answer yes to 3/4 of them.

[jjgold]

80% here have no business making a bet

Need I say more?

[HedgeHog]

Been gambling for decades; never became addicted.

[HedgeHog]

ha, this one is great. . . just read it back to yourself. . .

[flyingillini]

of course

[joeygats]

i can say yes to everyone 1 accept 13-16 not bad huh? but i really do need help

[buztah]

Answered yes to 15 outta 20. I'm a phucken degenerate too, JJ.

[2Pac]

the books/casinos/poker rooms just want to get you hooked.....

[SBR Lou]

Answered yes to 15 outta 20. I'm a phucken degenerate too, JJ.

Beats 17 out of 20. I really should cool down for a while.

[thebigguy]

Hi Guys

Yes to 17