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Gambling Addiction
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Whatever the definition, gambling problems have the power to leave a sufferer's life, as well as the lives of those around him, in total ruins. The late psychiatrist Dr. Robert L. Custer was a pioneer in the treatment of problem gambling. In his work he identified three distinct phases within the progression of a gambling addiction:

• The Winning Phase
  
• The Losing Phase
  
• The Desperation Phase
  

The Winning Phase

The gambler enjoys intoxicating success in the winning phase. It may only be one big win, or a series of wins; either way, the wins mislead him into believing that he can't lose. He
mistakenly associates the thrill of winning with the act of betting, and begins to raise his bets.

The Losing Phase

The losing phase should be a return to reality, to the real-life expectations of gambling. In the wake of a series of losses, he brags about past wins, seemingly in an attempt not only to relive the excitement, but to draw away any attention from recent losses. Irritable and restless, he begins lying to family and friends. He becomes preoccupied with how, legally or otherwise, he might obtain more money. His debts rises and his home life deteriorates as he sneaks out to gamble alone, "chasing" each big loss with an even bigger one, each time believing the sooner he gambles again, the sooner he can make his money back.

The Desperation Phase

The desperation phase sees the gambler spending more time gambling than ever before, as feelings of remorse and despair, as well as thoughts of suicide, begin to plague him. His precarious emotional state puts him at risk for alcohol or drug abuse. Eventually, the gambler might risk arrest by crossing legal lines to obtain more money.

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