How to recognize the first signs of addiction
1. Obsessive thoughts about the game
If you are constantly thinking about betting, thinking over strategies in your spare time and planning your next "session," even when busy with other things, this is the first alarming symptom.
2. Increasing rates and frequency of sessions
Rate growth: the desire to make ever larger bets in order to get the same emotions.
Increased playing time: The previous 30-minute "relaxation" develops into many hours of marathons.
3. Inability to stop
Ignoring limits: you cancel your own restrictions or ignore locks to continue the game.
Repeated attempts to recoup: despite the accumulated losses, you return to betting immediately after the session.
4. Financial difficulties
Budget overruns: play with money allocated for everyday expenses.
Loans and credits: start borrowing from friends or in the bank to continue the game.
5. Emotional instability
Anxiety and irritation: feeling anxious when moving away from the device or when trying to shorten the game.
Mood swings: Euphoria after winning gives way to deep depression when losing.
6. Social isolation
Separation from loved ones: preference for excitement instead of communicating with family and friends.
Abandoning hobbies and responsibilities: missed meetings, work or study fades into the background.
7. Attempts to hide the problem
Lies about expenses: non-reservations about the amounts of replenishment and losses.
Hidden game log: Avoid recording or analyzing sessions to avoid acknowledging scale.
8. Physical symptoms
Fatigue and insomnia: night games disrupt sleep patterns.
Impaired appetite and concentration: neglect of rest and nutrition.
9. What to do at the first symptoms
1. Introduce strict limits on deposit and time in your personal account.
2. Take pauses: activate time-out or self-exclusion for 24-72 hours.
3. Keep records of games and emotions, analyze once a week.
4. Seek support: agree with a loved one about external control or contact a psychologist.
Early recognition of signs of addiction gives a chance to intervene in time and prevent serious financial and mental consequences. Set up technical barriers, activate pauses and seek help at first alarms.
If you are constantly thinking about betting, thinking over strategies in your spare time and planning your next "session," even when busy with other things, this is the first alarming symptom.
2. Increasing rates and frequency of sessions
Rate growth: the desire to make ever larger bets in order to get the same emotions.
Increased playing time: The previous 30-minute "relaxation" develops into many hours of marathons.
3. Inability to stop
Ignoring limits: you cancel your own restrictions or ignore locks to continue the game.
Repeated attempts to recoup: despite the accumulated losses, you return to betting immediately after the session.
4. Financial difficulties
Budget overruns: play with money allocated for everyday expenses.
Loans and credits: start borrowing from friends or in the bank to continue the game.
5. Emotional instability
Anxiety and irritation: feeling anxious when moving away from the device or when trying to shorten the game.
Mood swings: Euphoria after winning gives way to deep depression when losing.
6. Social isolation
Separation from loved ones: preference for excitement instead of communicating with family and friends.
Abandoning hobbies and responsibilities: missed meetings, work or study fades into the background.
7. Attempts to hide the problem
Lies about expenses: non-reservations about the amounts of replenishment and losses.
Hidden game log: Avoid recording or analyzing sessions to avoid acknowledging scale.
8. Physical symptoms
Fatigue and insomnia: night games disrupt sleep patterns.
Impaired appetite and concentration: neglect of rest and nutrition.
9. What to do at the first symptoms
1. Introduce strict limits on deposit and time in your personal account.
2. Take pauses: activate time-out or self-exclusion for 24-72 hours.
3. Keep records of games and emotions, analyze once a week.
4. Seek support: agree with a loved one about external control or contact a psychologist.
Early recognition of signs of addiction gives a chance to intervene in time and prevent serious financial and mental consequences. Set up technical barriers, activate pauses and seek help at first alarms.
