When we think of addictions, we usually think of alcohol, drugs or tobacco, but there are many others, perhaps less well known but no less important. Some of them, such as Carthomania, are so-called "behavioural" addictions.
An important topic is Carthomania addiction, a psychologist's office will explain what addiction is, what makes the Tarot so addictive and what factors can contribute to its development.
Psychologist Melania Pérez comments that tarot addiction is behavioral, that is, without any intermediate substance, such as gambling, sex or Internet addiction. It has all the characteristics of addiction: the addict cannot stop using, the absence of this stimulus makes him/her feel lonely, and giving up causes withdrawal symptoms. In addition, it also results in excessive use of time or money and loss of social relationships and daily activities.
This dependence generally occurs in people between the ages of 30 and 60 and is more common in women than in men. The problem is that awareness of the disease comes later, sometimes up to 10 years after onset, and treatment is often sought many years later. It is wrong to think that this is a "legal" addiction, that psychological counselling is not prohibited and that the bombardment of offers in the media and on the Internet is constant. In some circles, it is normal to make fortune tellers or "card sharks". Everything is incredibly accessible, just pick up the phone and make a call. We don't have to leave the house to take our fix or carry money with us, we don't realize the real expense we're making until the bill arrives at the end of the month. But when we finally become aware of our addiction, we feel a sense of shame at the thought of acknowledging it, which increases every day and further delays the public's recognition of the problem.
Finally, the doctor says that any activity carried out within healthy or reasonable margins does not constitute a danger to anyone.
Let us now talk about online gambling addiction, which has been on the rise in recent times. Sports betting and games of chance (mainly roulette and poker) are increasingly accessible through mobile phones and computers, which can be accessed 24 hours a day by placing bets at low cost, leading teenagers and young adults to believe that the risk is minimal.
Gambling addiction, pathological gambling or pathological gambling is a disease or disorder recognized by theWorld Health Organization in which "persistent and recurrent problem gambling" behaviour occurs, resulting in clinically significant impairment or discomfort.
Although pathological gambling is an addiction without a substance, people with pathological gambling have the same characteristics as an addict:
Repetition of a behaviour or action that is pleasurable and increasing its frequency to achieve the desired effects. Various chemicals, such as dopamine and endorphins, act as stimulants and reinforce pathological behaviours.
Loss of control of the person due to the failure of the brain's behavioural inhibition mechanisms.
Appearance of withdrawal if habit is interrupted.
Psychologist Susanna Petri asserts that the majority profile is older, with men between 18 and 30 years of age. However, they also detect cases of minors: "Underage users are not the majority, but there are, and above all, what represents the real danger, there are not enough measures to contain the access of minors to the creation of an online poker account," she warns.
Gabriel Pozuelo agrees that "they are generally young people between 18 and 35 years old, who see gambling as a way to make money. Nevertheless, he assures that in his centre they have seen "young people up to 15 years old". They sell online accounts already established with ID".
Online time addiction and types of gambling are determined by the form of gambling:
- Slot machines
- Games of chance
- Role-playing games
The psychological services in Valencia inform that psychological treatment can be carried out, in which the positive behaviours are reinforced and the negative behaviours of the patient are suppressed. An external control with family support can be established, since there is no internal control, as well as a limitation of the amounts spent. In addition, gambling replaces deficiencies, so in therapy certain factors need to be reinforced, such as social skills or self-esteem, to give the patient the pillar that he or she is missing and that he or she finds, in some way, in gambling.
