Gambling addiction is an impulse-control condition also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling, or gambling disorder. If you’re a compulsive gambler, you can’t stop yourself from gambling, even if it’s causing you or your loved ones harm.
Around 2.6 percent of the population (around 10 million persons in the United States) has gambling issues and has had difficulties as a result of gaming. Consider these seven suggestions if you or a loved one needs help avoiding gambling.
A Quick Look at facts:
- You are not alone; around 10 million people in the United States have a gambling addiction.
- Understanding why you gamble is critical to avoiding gambling temptations and triggers.
- People can quit gambling by joining a support group.
- While gambling desires are strong, try to discover good alternatives to gambling or postpone it.
- Professional assistance is available to help you stop gambling and stay away for good.
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1. Wanting to stop
Making the decision to stop doing something you like can be difficult, and there may be times when it seems impossible, but keep in mind that many individuals have successfully quit gambling, and we can assist you.
Make every effort to avoid gambling; the optimum outcome is that you do not gamble. If you do succumb to gambling, don’t be too hard on yourself. You can always get back on track and learn how to stop better the next time.
2. The urge to gamble
People who stop gambling have gambling desires similar to those who stop smoking. Urges are an unavoidable element of quitting gambling and are a natural component of the recovery process. You develop more and more control each time you fight a desire.
While you can limit your exposure to gambling triggers, you won’t be able to totally avoid them, which is why it’s critical to learn how to control your cravings.
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3. Understand the Problem
It’s impossible to mend what you don’t comprehend. To get rid of gambling from your life, you must first educate yourself on the subject and recognize that you have a gambling addiction.
Gambling is classified by the American Psychiatric Association as a mental health issue comparable to addictions to alcohol and narcotics. If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, you may have a gambling problem:
- The wealthy must gamble with increasing sums of money.
- When you aren’t gaming, you may experience restlessness or anger.
- Attempts to stop gambling were made several times, all of which were failed.
- You’ve become entirely consumed by gambling.
- I saw you use gambling to cope with stress.
- The gamble to “make amends” continues.
- I lied about gambling to my friends, coworkers, and loved ones.
4. Join a Support Group
You can seek help from a support group now that you’ve identified the issue. Support groups are organizations run by people who have shared similar experiences and backgrounds. Support groups are free to try out in person or in internet chat rooms, notwithstanding the lack of expert interventions.
Gamblers Anonymous is a support organization dedicated to the needs of persons who have gambling addictions. The 12-step technique employed by other support organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous is the foundation of the group.
want to join a support group about Gambling?
5. Avoid Temptation
Gaming is enticing, but recognizing it as an addiction is a huge step forward because it allows you to use strategies learned in addiction therapy and relapse prevention to your gambling. Avoiding people, places, and activities associated with gambling can assist someone in recovery preventing relapse. You can prevent the ideas and sensations that encourage gambling by avoiding these triggers.
So, if passing past a casino after work makes you want to gamble, take a different route home. Consider watching anything differently if watching sports makes you want to gamble on it. Cut up your credit cards and hand over the checkbook to your husband.
6. Postpone Gambling
Cravings are a part of addiction. Cravings are intense desires to carry out a specific habit. You may experience desires to call your bookie, go to the casino, collect your paycheck, or engage in other gambling-related activities if you are a gambler.
Cravings are powerful, and they seem to last an eternity while you’re in the throes of one. But it isn’t going to happen. There is a beginning, middle, and end to all appetites. So long as you can postpone your gambling, you’ll be able to keep your recovery going.
7.Find Alternatives to Gambling
Avoiding triggers and diverting yourself during cravings are fantastic methods to deal with gambling, but you’ll need to discover healthy alternatives to gaming if you want to better your status. By substituting positive gambling habits with negative ones, you may change the attention away from the negative and toward the positive.
Alternatives to gambling include:
- Physical activity is important (e.g., going for walks, weightlifting, team sports or yoga).
- Meditation.
- Spending more time with non-gambling friends and relatives.
- Volunteering in a hospital or an animal shelter is a great way to give back to the community.
- Trying out new activities.
- Traveling.
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8. Consider the Consequences.
Anyone in recovery from addiction has intense feelings of shame and guilt. Shame and guilt can be harmful because too much of them can lead to relapse, but certain amounts of shame and guilt might help you stay in recovery.
9. Staying quit
Remember urges do not usually last longer than one hour.
DELAY
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DISTRACT
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STAYING STOPPED
Once you have decided to delay the decision to gamble, shift your attention to what you might like to do. It might be something you used to do before gambling became a problem or something you’ve always wanted to try.
Many people find engaging in sport fulfilling; this could be anything that gets you moving. From a daily walk or run to joining a gym or team sport.
10. Seek Professional Help
If you have a serious gambling problem, you should get professional assistance as soon as possible. Professional help from mental health or addiction professional might be the difference between a life of financial instability and one of financial stability.
Professional treatment approaches can educate you on how to avoid gambling while also improving the abilities you currently have. The only thing holding you back is your apprehension. Professional counselors and therapists are freely accessible. Better yet, you may seek expert assistance while attending a support group.
Affordable therapy delivered digitally – Try online-therapy
Choose from online-therapy’s vast network of therapists for your therapy needs. Take a quiz, get matched, and start getting support via secure phone or video sessions. Sign Up now and get 20% off.
