Pittsburgh, PA Gambling Problem

Positive Pathways provides individual and group counseling/therapy for gambling addiction in the Pittsburgh, PA area.

Pathological Gambling, what is it?

Moderate gambling, like moderate alcohol use, is an accepted part of our culture and causes no problems. As with alcohol use, however, gambling to excess is a common weakness that may lead to serious security problems. Compulsive gambling, or pathological gambling as most psychiatrists prefer to call it, is an inability to stop gambling even when one recognizes that gambling is causing serious financial, family, work, or other problems.

Symptoms:

Denial of any problems or that they need help
Borrowing money to gamble or pay off debt
Attempt to conceal gambling from family and friends
Using gambling as a way to escape

Positive Pathway's Treatment Services:

12 step program (similar to alcoholics anonymous)
Treatment of any other addiction

20 Questions:

Gamblers Anonymous offers the following questions to anyone who may have a gambling problem. These questions are provided to help the individual decide if he or she is a compulsive gambler and wants to stop gambling

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

Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.

Contact Positive Pathways today at 412-894-8222 for all your Pittsburgh, PA gambling addiction needs.


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