Is it possible to be addicted to gambling but not action?

[AnyTwoCanLose]

Of all the things in the world to be addicted to... poker's not a bad choice.

As long as you are a winning player... who cares?

show me anything that

1) is fun

and

2) you can actually make money at

and I'll show you an addict.

Seriously... if it isn't screwing up part of your life, what's the problem?

I'm super curious... why do you think you are an addict? What brought all this up?

[ihardlyknowher]

My therapist thinks I should take a complete break, playing, studying, thinking about because he saw my mood affected by how my cards were running (my thoughts are that anyone's mood is affected by a bad day at the office). Ironically, he did so the day before I was going to Vegas for the WSOP, so the break has not happened.

Knowing that I am not addicted (or denying it ), I have told my therapist that I may or may not do all he suggests. I have been discussing with my wife what she thinks is appropriate.

Anyway, I don't think that taking a break from playing is such a bad idea, as long as I can hit the books and 2+2 (my game will thank me for it later I am sure).

[Alex/Mugaaz]

How does one prove they are not addicted to XXXXXX if they do XXXXXX regularly?

[Hellmouth]

Addiction usually implies: I have no control over x (drinking gambling etc) and it is having a moderate to severe negative impact on aspects of my life.

There is such a thing as a functional alchoholic. They drink heavily every night but make it to work on time and their day is relatively unaffected.

If you really enjoy poker and it is not having a negative impact worse than just having a bad day when your cards run bad, I think you seem normal.

Possibility 1: your psychiatrist is predisposed to thinking that people who gamble have a problem. Many who gamble do.

Possibility 2: you have said something to your psychiatrist that indicates that you have a gambling problem and are downplaying it here.

Just review your relationships and make sure that you are being objective. If poker is not hurting your life, then you dont have a problem.

Greg