I Want to Break Myself, When I'm Already Broken

Experiences of Gambling in Relation to a "Rock Bottom" Hypothesis

Bibliographic Data

ID4641595
AuthorsEllen Gerle (0009-0000-9245-4293, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University Faculty of Medicine, Lund, Sweden, corresponding author), Tove Lundberg (0000-0001-7490-3921, Lund University), Björn Hofvander (0000-0001-5706-6594, Lund University), Anders Håkansson (0000-0002-5800-8975, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University Faculty of Medicine, Lund, Sweden)
Year2025
Pages10497323251357212-10497323251357212
Publication date2025-07-19
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/10497323251357212
PMID40682516
OpenAlexW4412521983
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited38

This study explores narratives about gambling problems and experiences of "rock bottom" through interviews with ten participants. The analysis generated three main themes. In A bumpy road-Plunging toward "rock bottom," participants described hitting "rock bottom" as something to avoid or being dragged there by self-hatred or dedication. In A split existence-Being at the "rock bottom," the experience of the bottom was seen as either the worst suffering or a relief. In Different ways of "getting out"-The way up from "rock bottom," getting out involved diverse processes like suicidal behavior, imprisonment, or seeking help. The results suggest that understanding "rock bottom" narratives can help identify risk factors and processes related to gambling, enabling practitioners in supporting individuals on their journey

Psychoanalysis · Top-down and bottom-up design · Engineering · Gambling Behavior and Treatments · Psychology · Social Psychology

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