I am aware that gambling addiction has become widespread in modern society, and that this is in large part due to the fact that young people are well-versed in using technology, which only facilitates it for them to access a variety of online gambling games. Additionally, based on the practical experience I acquired throughout my internship rotation, I found that young people turn to gambling when they are struggling with everyday challenges because it allows them to temporarily escape from real life. I have found that friends and society in general frequently contribute to the development of gambling addictions.
I studied the phenomenon of gambling addiction using a case study for my master's thesis on the topic of research into the lives of those who are addicted to gambling. The case study was delivered in a narrative style because I wanted the interviewee to go into as much detail and draw from personal experience as possible while describing his gambling experience. I asked an additional question if I needed additional information on a specific event that the interviewee did not provide. I was interested in the progression of the interviewee's addiction, the early warning signals of a more serious problem, the people he turned to for support, and last but not least, how he controlled his gambling addiction.
Based on the case study analysis, I observed that gambling addiction develops gradually with time or over years. Since most people just gamble occasionally and for enjoyment, there are initially no obvious symptoms of a future gambling addiction. For those who go on to develop a gambling addiction, the crucial moment usually comes when they earn money while gambling and simultaneously feel euphoric and adrenaline-filled. I discovered, among other issues, that gambling addiction gradually develops and is very difficult to detect because addicts typically do not display it. Contrary to alcohol addiction, we do not observe any visible indicators of gambling addiction in those who are addicted to gambling. Based on my research, I have discovered that a variety of factors, including those related to family and friends, gambling exposure as a child, the absence of one or both parents, and others, have an impact on the phenomenon of gambling addiction.
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