Jay, J. (1991 Nov/dec). Terrible Knowledge. The Family Therapy Networker, Pp. 19-29.
addiction
Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling
Are you or a loved ane dealing with a gambling trouble? Explore the warning signs and symptoms and learn how to terminate.
What is gambling addiction and trouble gambling?
Gambling problems can happen to anyone from any walk of life. Your gambling goes from a fun, harmless diversion to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. Whether you bet on sports, scratch cards, roulette, poker, or slots—in a casino, at the track, or online—a gambling problem can strain your relationships, interfere with work, and lead to fiscal disaster. You may even exercise things you never idea you lot would, similar running upwardly huge debts or even stealing money to gamble.
Gambling habit—besides known aspathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is an impulse-control disorder. If you're a compulsive gambler, yous tin can't control the impulse to chance, fifty-fifty when it has negative consequences for you lot or your loved ones. Y'all'll gamble whether yous're up or down, broke or affluent, and yous'll keep gambling regardless of the consequences—even when you know that the odds are against you or you lot can't afford to lose.
Of form, yous tin also accept a gambling trouble without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling beliefs that disrupts your life. If you're preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you have a gambling problem.
A gambling habit or problem is often associated with other beliefs or mood disorders. Many problem gamblers as well endure with substance abuse issues, unmanaged ADHD, stress, low, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. To overcome your gambling problems, y'all'll also need to accost these and any other underlying causes besides.
Although it may feel like you're powerless to finish gambling, at that place are enough of things you tin can do to overcome the problem, repair your relationships and finances, and finally regain command of your life.
The first pace is to split the myths from the facts about gambling problems:
| Myths and Facts almost Gambling Problems |
| Myth: You lot have to gamble every day to be a problem gambler. Fact: A trouble gambler may take chances frequently or infrequently. Gambling is a problem if information technology causes bug. |
| Myth: Problem gambling is not really a trouble if the gambler tin can afford information technology. Fact: Problems acquired by excessive gambling are non just financial. Too much time spent on gambling tin can besides lead to human relationship and legal problems, chore loss, mental health problems including depression and feet, and even suicide. |
| Myth: Having a gambling trouble is just a instance of being weak-willed, irresponsible, or unintelligent. Fact: Gambling problems affect people of all levels of intelligence and all backgrounds. Previously responsible and strong-willed people are but as likely to develop a gambling problem every bit anyone else. |
| Myth: Partners of problem gamblers ofttimes drive their loved ones to gamble. Fact: Problem gamblers often try to rationalize their behavior. Blaming others is ane way to avert taking responsibility for their deportment, including what is needed to overcome the problem. |
| Myth: If a problem gambler builds up a debt, you should help them take care of it. Fact: Quick set solutions may appear to exist the right thing to do. However, bailing the gambler out of debt may actually make matters worse by enabling their gambling bug to proceed. |
Gambling addiction signs and symptoms
Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to every bit a "subconscious disease" because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers also typically deny or minimize the problem—even to themselves. However, you may accept a gambling problem if yous:
Feel the need to be secretive almost your gambling. You might chance in secret or prevarication well-nigh how much you gamble, feeling others won't understand or that yous will surprise them with a large win.
Take trouble decision-making your gambling. Once you start gambling, tin can yous walk away? Or are you compelled to run a risk until you've spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost coin back?
Adventure even when y'all don't take the money. You may gamble until you lot've spent your last dollar, and then move on to money you don't have—money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You may feel pushed to borrow, sell, or even steal things for gambling money.
Take family and friends worried about you. Denial keeps problem gambling going. If friends and family are worried, mind to them carefully. It's not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Many older gamblers are reluctant to accomplish out to their adult children if they've gambled away their inheritance, but it's never too late to make changes for the better.
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Self-help for gambling problems
The biggest step to overcoming a gambling addiction is realizing that y'all take a problem. It takes tremendous strength and courage to own upwardly to this, specially if you have lost a lot of money and strained or broken relationships along the way. Don't despair, and don't try to go it lonely. Many others have been in your shoes and have been able to intermission the habit and rebuild their lives. You lot can, besides.
Learn to relieve unpleasant feelings in healthier means. Do you gamble when you're lonely or bored? Or later on a stressful twenty-four hour period at work or post-obit an argument with your spouse? Gambling may be a way to cocky-soothe unpleasant emotions, unwind, or socialize. Only there are healthier and more constructive ways of managing your moods and relieving boredom, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don't gamble, taking up new hobbies, or practicing relaxation techniques.
Strengthen your back up network. Information technology's tough to battle any addiction without support, so reach out to friends and family. If your support network is limited, there are means to brand new friends without relying on visiting casinos or gambling online. Try reaching out to colleagues at piece of work, joining a sports team or book lodge, enrolling in an education class, or volunteering for a good cause.
Join a peer support grouping. Gamblers Anonymous, for example, is a 12-step recovery program patterned subsequently Alcoholics Bearding. A central function of the program is finding a sponsor, a former gambler who has experience remaining complimentary from addiction and can provide you invaluable guidance and back up.
[Read: Support Groups: Types, Benefits, and What to Wait]
Seek help for underlying mood disorders. Depression, stress, substance abuse, or feet can both trigger gambling problems and be made worse by compulsive gambling. Even when gambling is no longer a part of your life, these problems volition still remain, so it's important to address them.
How to stop gambling for good
For many problem gamblers, it's not quitting gambling that's the biggest challenge, but rather staying in recovery—making a permanent commitment to stay away from gambling. The Internet has made gambling far more accessible and, therefore, harder for recovering addicts to avoid relapse. Online casinos and bookmakers are open all mean solar day, every solar day for anyone with a smartphone or admission to a estimator. But maintaining recovery from gambling habit or problem gambling is yet possible if you surround yourself with people to whom you're accountable, avoid tempting environments and websites, surrender command of your finances (at least at first), and find healthier activities to supervene upon gambling in your life.
Making healthier choices
One way to stop gambling is to remove the elements necessary for gambling to occur in your life and replace them with healthier choices. The iv elements needed for gambling to go on are:
A decision: For gambling to happen, you need to make the decision to take a chance. If you have an urge: stop what you are doing and call someone, call back about the consequences to your deportment, tell yourself to cease thinking about gambling, and find something else to practice immediately.
Money: Gambling cannot occur without money. Get rid of your credit cards, let someone else be in charge of your money, have the banking concern make automatic payments for y'all, close online betting accounts, and keep simply a limited amount of greenbacks on you.
Time: Even online gambling cannot occur if y'all don't have the time. Schedule enjoyable recreational fourth dimension for yourself that has aught to do with gambling. If you're gambling on your smartphone, find other ways to fill the repose moments during your twenty-four hours.
A game: Without a game or action to bet on in that location is no opportunity to gamble. Don't put yourself in tempting environments. Tell gambling establishments you frequent that y'all have a gambling problem and ask them to restrict you from inbound. Remove gambling apps and block gambling sites on your smartphone and computer.
Finding alternatives to gambling
Maintaining recovery from gambling addiction depends a lot on finding alternative behaviors yous can substitute for gambling. Some examples include:
| Reason for gambling | Sample substitute behaviors |
| To provide excitement, become a rush of adrenaline | Sport or a challenging hobby, such every bit mountain biking, rock climbing, or Go Kart racing |
| To be more social, overcome shyness or isolation | Counseling, enroll in a public speaking class, join a social group, connect with family and friends, volunteer, find new friends |
| To numb unpleasant feelings, not think about bug | Attempt therapy or employ HelpGuide'due south gratuitous Emotional Intelligence toolkit |
| Boredom or loneliness | Detect something you lot're passionate about such as art, music, sports, or books so find others with the same interests |
| To relax after a stressful day | As piffling as 15 minutes of daily exercise tin relieve stress. Or deep breathing, meditation, or massage |
| To solve money problems | The odds are always stacked against y'all so information technology's far better to seek help with debts from a credit counselor |
Dealing with gambling cravings
Feeling the urge to gamble is normal, just as you build healthier choices and a strong back up network, resisting cravings will become easier. When a gambling craving strikes:
Avert isolation. Call a trusted family unit fellow member, meet a friend for coffee, or go to a Gamblers Bearding coming together.
Postpone gambling. Tell yourself that yous'll wait five minutes, fifteen minutes, or an hour. As you look, the urge to take a chance may pass or become weak enough to resist.
Visualize what will happen if y'all give in to the urge to run a risk. Think near how yous'll experience later all your money is gone and you've disappointed yourself and your family again.
Distract yourself with another activity, such as going to the gym, watching a movie, or practicing a relaxation exercise for gambling cravings.
Coping with lapses
If you aren't able to resist the gambling craving, don't be too difficult on yourself or use it as an excuse to give upwardly. Overcoming a gambling addiction is a tough process. You may skid from time to time; the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and continue working towards recovery.
Gambling addiction treatment
Overcoming a gambling problem is never easy and seeking professional person treatment doesn't mean that you lot're weak in some way or tin't handle your problems. Merely it'due south important to remember that every gambler is unique so you need a recovery program tailored specifically to your needs and situation. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional about different treatment options, including:
Inpatient or residential treatment and rehab programs. These are aimed at those with astringent gambling addiction who are unable to avert gambling without round-the-clock support.
Handling for underlying conditions contributing to your compulsive gambling, including substance abuse or mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD. This could include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Problem gambling tin sometimes exist a symptom of bipolar disorder, so your doc or therapist may need to rule this out before making a diagnosis.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy. CBT for gambling addiction focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and imitation beliefs. It can too teach you lot how to fight gambling urges and solve fiscal, work, and relationship problems caused by trouble gambling. Therapy tin provide yous with the tools for coping with your addiction that will last a lifetime.
Family therapy and marriage, career, and credit counseling. These can aid you lot piece of work through the specific issues that have been created by your problem gambling and lay the foundation for repairing your relationships and finances.
How to aid someone end gambling
If your loved one has a gambling problem, y'all likely accept many conflicting emotions. You may have spent a lot of time and energy trying to continue your loved one from gambling or having to cover for them. At the same time, you might be furious at your loved one for gambling over again and tired of trying to continue upward the deception. Your loved i may have borrowed or even stolen coin with no manner to pay it back. They may have sold family possessions or run upwards huge debts on joint credit cards.
While compulsive and problem gamblers demand the support of their family and friends to help them in their struggle to stop gambling, the decision to quit has to be theirs. As much as you lot may want to, and as hard as it is seeing the effects, you lot cannot make someone stop gambling. Withal, you can encourage them to seek help, support them in their efforts, protect yourself, and take any talk of suicide seriously.
Preventing suicide in problem gamblers
When faced with the consequences of their actions, trouble gamblers tin endure a crushing drib in self-esteem. This is one reason why there is a loftier rate of suicide among compulsive gamblers. If y'all suspect your loved i is feeling suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. at one-800-273-8255 or visit Befrienders Worldwide to find a suicide helpline in your country.
Iv tips for family members:
- Start by helping yourself. You lot have a correct to protect yourself emotionally and financially. Don't blame yourself for the gambler's issues or let his or her addiction boss your life. Ignoring your own needs can be a recipe for exhaustion.
- Don't become it alone. Information technology tin can feel and then overwhelming coping with a loved one'due south gambling habit that information technology may seem easier to rationalize their requests "this one last fourth dimension." Or you might feel aback, feeling like yous are the just 1 who has problems like this. Reaching out for support volition make you realize that many families have struggled with this trouble.
- Set boundaries in managing money. To ensure the gambler stays accountable and to foreclose relapse, consider taking over the family finances. However, this does not mean you are responsible for micromanaging the problem gambler's impulses to gamble. Your first responsibilities are to ensure that your own finances and credit are non at risk.
- Consider how you volition handle requests for money. Problem gamblers often become very good at asking for money, either directly or indirectly. They may utilize pleading, manipulation, or even threats to get information technology. It takes practice to ensure you lot are not enabling your loved one'south gambling addiction.
| Exercise's and Don'ts for Partners of Problem Gamblers |
| Do… |
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| Don't… |
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Source: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/gambling-addiction-and-problem-gambling.htm
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