Everyone has hobbies they enjoy for fun—running, knitting, and drawing, to name a few. Gambling, to some, is considered a kind of stress-reliever, something to take one’s mind off what may bother them. The problem is that this simple hobby is taken to an extreme addiction, and this is statistically an issue for men. In a world where so many men struggle with mental health, a gambling addiction only adds to the stress and pressure they face today. Fairleigh Dickinson University mentions statistics about the young men who are being drawn into these gambling habits, specifically sports betting. “Ten percent of men 18-30 have scores that indicate a problem with gambling, compared to just three percent of the overall population.” It’s much more common to see this kind of gambling among young individuals because there are many sporting teams to follow, and it tends to be a fun thing to do instead of dealing with their problems.
The longer one does it, the more satisfaction they want to gain from it. This is the same with any addiction or hobby. People with compulsivebehaviors tend to dive into their hobbies faster than a normal person. It can become an issue if not recognized, and can pull people away from their families, creating a wedge between them. It’s time-consuming, meaning anyone on the other side of this addiction can be affected. Not only does it impactthe people around, but it also affects oneself. It becomes even more alarming when symptoms like depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts show through the issue one may be having. Additionally, the negative habit can be costly to a detrimental degree. Many Americans spend time digging in their pocket for money to gamble instead of spending it on things that are important in life. There are sports bets, poker, lottery tickets, and bingo. Many of these start as a fun hobby but spiral into something stronger.
Many believe that it’s important to understand the meaning of mental health through gambling and how it can affect the lives of many. It doesn’t help that lawmakers are pushing to add a casino in the downtown Cedar Rapids area. This will only make individuals more dependent on their bad habits, rather than improving them.
With this still ongoing, the Super Bowl is a common sports game that many people watch. This year, there were sixty-six main commercial ads, and six of them talked about gambling. There is no real escaping the addiction, even if one is trying to; it almost seems impossible. When commercials like this show up so often, it allows people to have a sense of normality with it. As a society, it shouldn’t be normalised, especially with people like celebrities.
Steps in recognizing an addiction could include a sense of happiness when gambling, and wanting an increase in money to be able to gamble. Furthermore, wanting to be around the gambling world may be a sign of an addiction. The best way out of addiction is to talk to someone who can help suppress the thought of gambling. Those struggling can call 1-800-BETS OFF if there is a problem. This number is here to help 24/7. Not everyone can understand their habit and realize it’s becoming a problem. It can start as a hobby and then become an addiction within an instant. It can isolate people and make them feel lonely. There are many resources in place to help. Never fear reaching out, talk to a safe person, search for help, and empower others who share similar experiences to continue to work towards ending the addictions. There are always other ways to boost morale, which starts with support.
