Problem Gambling – Why Do People Lie?

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Problem gamblers will often blame other people for their actions, whether it’s lying to their spouse or blaming the government. In order to escape their problems, problem gamblers will often blame others, such as their government or spouse, for their bad behavior. Here are some ways to help them better understand the consequences of their actions. Let us look at some of the most common excuses and how they can be avoided. Read on to find out more about some of the most common reasons why problem gamblers lie.

Problem gamblers blame others for their actions

Some problem gamblers blame others for their actions. If someone is unable to stop gambling, they may not want to admit their problem or seek help. Moreover, they may feel ashamed or embarrassed to discuss the matter with anyone, including family members and friends. In such cases, it may be difficult to convince them to seek help, because they feel that they are to blame for their behavior, which is entirely avoidable. Nevertheless, the best thing to do is to express your concern for their wellbeing and offer to support them.

The risk of developing a gambling problem is high, especially for people with a history of responsible behavior. Consequently, problem gamblers are at increased risk of developing other potentially health-threatening behaviors. Although problem gamblers may appear irresponsible, they are usually not. Rather, they enter a compromised state of mind and start blaming others for their actions. They may even take risks and harm themselves if they have to rely on others for financial support.

They lie to their spouse

When your spouse is addicted to gambling, you need to watch for signs of deception. The first sign is withdrawals you didn’t know about, credit denial letters arriving in the mail, items starting to disappear around the house, and cell phone bills skyrocketing. In addition, your spouse will be secretive about his or her finances and always seem short on cash. These signs are not always indicative of an addiction, but they should alert you to the possibility that your spouse is hiding money from you.

Pathological gamblers often lie to themselves about their problem. The process of lying to oneself is called cognitive dissonance. When your behavior conflicts with your beliefs and values, you feel psychological discomfort. A logical solution would be to stop doing what makes you unhappy. However, addiction is not a logical process and problem gamblers rationalize their behavior. This process is an attempt to reduce psychological discomfort and is a natural response to the symptoms of addiction.

They blame their government

People often blame their government for the problems caused by gambling. However, these costs are not easy to quantify. The gambling industry contributes substantial amounts to the Liberal Party. In the 2017 Tasmanian election, for example, the Tatts group gave the Liberal Party millions of dollars to fight Labor’s plans to remove electronic gaming machines (EGMs).