Gambling addiction should be taken very seriously and treated accordingly; in extreme cases, it could even lead to suicide.
Gambling addiction can have serious repercussions for those close to its sufferers, including straining relationships or financial strain. People who develop gambling issues usually also struggle with other forms of mental illness.
Symptoms
Persons suffering from compulsive gambling disorder often spend all their time and money on games or betting websites, often staying secretive about it and avoiding spending time with loved ones. Furthermore, they may experience difficulty sleeping and consume unhealthy foods as part of their condition.
Gambling addiction often creates issues in work and personal relationships, leading to divorce or estrangement from family and friends while losing out on valuable employment opportunities and education prospects. Furthermore, it may serve as a cover-up for more severe mental health conditions that exist beneath its surface.
If a family or friend of yours has a gambling problem, try encouraging them to seek assistance. A therapist can offer guidance and education to overcome their addiction; alternatively you could offer to refer them online therapy services such as Talkspace or BetterHelp which provide users with direct access to licensed therapists from computers, tablets or smartphones.
Treatment
Gambling addiction treatment options range from individual therapy and group therapy, as well as self-help groups like Gamblers Anonymous. Furthermore, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)-based professional programs and self-help solutions have proven successful at helping people break free of gambling addictions.
People suffering from gambling addiction may struggle to deal with negative emotions like depression and stress without resorting to gambling as an outlet. Therefore, it is vitally important that we identify and address its source.
Therapists employ various strategies to assist their clients with stopping gambling, such as imaginal desensitization and relapse prevention. Therapists can teach individuals to respond appropriately in high-risk situations that increase the likelihood of gambling relapse – such as environmental settings, intrapersonal discomfort and social pressure – such as environmental settings and intrapersonal discomfort, which increases chances of relapse recurrence. Furthermore, people addicted to gambling should participate in trainings designed specifically to prevent future recurrences as well as recovery resources designed specifically to increase chances of long-term success in recovery from this form of addiction recovery resource provision.
Prevention
Gambling may seem harmless and enjoyable, but for others it can become an addictive pastime that harms their finances and relationships – or worse yet leads them down paths that lead to self-destructive behaviors like lying or stealing money. External stressors such as spending time with those who gamble or being exposed to gambling environments often trigger this urge.
Prevention options may include relapse prevention strategies and family therapy. Therapists may suggest engaging in journaling activities to identify thoughts, feelings and situations that aggravate gambling urges. Medication such as mood stabilizers used for treating depression or anxiety may help curb gambling urges; behavioral therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and imaginal desensitization may also prove helpful; GAM-ANON may offer additional encouragement and resources.
Recovery
Recovery from gambling addiction involves identifying triggers and distractions that may lead to relapse of unhealthy habits, including gambling venues and risk factors like carrying large sums of cash, using credit cards or drinking alcohol. Furthermore, socializing in non-gambling environments and substituting maladaptive coping mechanisms with healthier ones such as exercising regularly, writing daily gratitude lists or volunteering can be very helpful in keeping one on their recovery journey.
Some individuals could benefit from psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps alter unhealthful gambling behaviors and beliefs while providing strategies to cope with stress and anxiety that may contribute to gambling addiction.
Addiction to gambling can be an intricate issue that takes time and dedication to overcome. Relapses may occur along the way; it’s important to remember that each setback provides an opportunity for growth and moving closer towards permanent recovery from this addiction.