what to tell a gambler when ask.for money
addiction
Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling
Are you or a loved i dealing with a gambling problem? Explore the alarm signs and symptoms and learn how to stop.
What is gambling addiction and problem gambling?
Gambling problems tin 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 yous bet on sports, scratch cards, roulette, poker, or slots—in a casino, at the runway, or online—a gambling problem can strain your relationships, interfere with work, and lead to financial disaster. Y'all may even do things y'all never thought you would, like running up huge debts or even stealing money to chance.
Gambling addiction—also known aspathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is an impulse-command disorder. If you're a compulsive gambler, yous can't command the impulse to take a chance, even when it has negative consequences for you lot or your loved ones. You'll take chances whether you're up or down, broke or flush, and yous'll keep gambling regardless of the consequences—even when you know that the odds are against yous or you can't afford to lose.
Of grade, you tin can as well have a gambling problem without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you're preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more fourth dimension and coin on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you take a gambling problem.
A gambling addiction or problem is often associated with other beliefs or mood disorders. Many problem gamblers besides suffer with substance abuse problems, unmanaged ADHD, stress, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. To overcome your gambling problems, you'll as well need to address these and whatsoever other underlying causes likewise.
Although it may feel like you're powerless to stop gambling, there are plenty of things you tin do to overcome the problem, repair your relationships and finances, and finally regain control of your life.
The showtime step is to separate the myths from the facts nigh gambling bug:
| Myths and Facts about Gambling Problems |
| Myth: You lot accept to take chances every day to be a problem gambler. Fact: A trouble gambler may hazard often or infrequently. Gambling is a trouble if it causes bug. |
| Myth: Trouble gambling is not really a problem if the gambler can afford it. Fact: Problems caused by excessive gambling are not just financial. Too much fourth dimension spent on gambling can also lead to relationship and legal bug, task loss, mental health problems including depression and anxiety, and even suicide. |
| Myth: Having a gambling problem is just a case of being weak-willed, irresponsible, or unintelligent. Fact: Gambling problems impact people of all levels of intelligence and all backgrounds. Previously responsible and stiff-willed people are just as probable to develop a gambling problem as anyone else. |
| Myth: Partners of problem gamblers often drive their loved ones to gamble. Fact: Problem gamblers often effort to rationalize their behavior. Blaming others is 1 manner to avert taking responsibility for their actions, including what is needed to overcome the problem. |
| Myth: If a problem gambler builds up a debt, you should assist them take care of it. Fact: Quick set solutions may announced to be the right thing to do. However, bailing the gambler out of debt may actually make matters worse by enabling their gambling problems to continue. |
Gambling addiction signs and symptoms
Gambling habit is sometimes referred to equally a "hidden affliction" because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol habit. Trouble gamblers also typically deny or minimize the problem—even to themselves. Nonetheless, you may have a gambling trouble if yous:
Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. Yous might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won't empathize or that you volition surprise them with a big win.
Have trouble controlling your gambling. In one case you first gambling, tin can you walk away? Or are you compelled to take chances until you lot've spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost money back?
Gamble even when you don't have the money. Y'all may risk until you've spent your last dollar, and then move on to money y'all don't take—coin to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You lot may feel pushed to borrow, sell, or even steal things for gambling money.
Accept family and friends worried about yous. Denial keeps trouble gambling going. If friends and family are worried, listen to them carefully. Information technology's not a sign of weakness to inquire for help. Many older gamblers are reluctant to reach out to their adult children if they've gambled away their inheritance, but it'southward never also late to make changes for the better.
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Cocky-assistance for gambling bug
The biggest footstep to overcoming a gambling addiction is realizing that you have a problem. It takes tremendous strength and backbone to own up to this, especially if you take lost a lot of money and strained or broken relationships along the mode. Don't despair, and don't effort to go it lonely. Many others take been in your shoes and have been able to break the habit and rebuild their lives. You can, too.
Learn to relieve unpleasant feelings in healthier ways. Practise yous gamble when you're lone or bored? Or afterward a stressful day at piece of work or following an argument with your spouse? Gambling may be a way to self-soothe unpleasant emotions, unwind, or socialize. Just in that location are healthier and more effective 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 support network. Information technology'southward tough to battle whatsoever addiction without support, then attain out to friends and family. If your support network is limited, at that place are ways to make new friends without relying on visiting casinos or gambling online. Attempt reaching out to colleagues at work, joining a sports team or volume club, 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 afterwards Alcoholics Anonymous. A key part of the program is finding a sponsor, a former gambler who has experience remaining gratuitous from habit and can provide you invaluable guidance and support.
[Read: Back up Groups: Types, Benefits, and What to Expect]
Seek assistance for underlying mood disorders. Depression, stress, substance abuse, or feet can both trigger gambling problems and be made worse past compulsive gambling. Even when gambling is no longer a role of your life, these bug will nonetheless remain, so it's important to accost them.
How to stop gambling for adept
For many trouble gamblers, it's non 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 twenty-four hours, every day for anyone with a smartphone or access to a calculator. But maintaining recovery from gambling addiction or problem gambling is however possible if you lot surround yourself with people to whom you're accountable, avoid tempting environments and websites, surrender command of your finances (at least at first), and discover healthier activities to replace gambling in your life.
Making healthier choices
One fashion to end gambling is to remove the elements necessary for gambling to occur in your life and supplant them with healthier choices. The 4 elements needed for gambling to keep are:
A determination: For gambling to happen, you lot need to brand the decision to chance. If you accept an urge: cease what you are doing and call someone, think about the consequences to your actions, tell yourself to terminate thinking about gambling, and find something else to do immediately.
Money: Gambling cannot occur without money. Go rid of your credit cards, let someone else be in accuse of your money, accept the banking concern make automated payments for you, close online betting accounts, and go on but a express corporeality of cash on you.
Time: Even online gambling cannot occur if you don't have the time. Schedule enjoyable recreational time for yourself that has zilch to exercise with gambling. If you're gambling on your smartphone, find other ways to fill the quiet moments during your mean solar day.
A game: Without a game or activity to bet on there is no opportunity to gamble. Don't put yourself in tempting environments. Tell gambling establishments yous frequent that yous have a gambling trouble and ask them to restrict y'all 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 culling behaviors you tin can substitute for gambling. Some examples include:
| Reason for gambling | Sample substitute behaviors |
| To provide excitement, get a rush of adrenaline | Sport or a challenging hobby, such as mountain biking, rock climbing, or Go Kart racing |
| To be more social, overcome shyness or isolation | Counseling, enroll in a public speaking grade, join a social group, connect with family and friends, volunteer, observe new friends |
| To numb unpleasant feelings, not recall near issues | Effort therapy or utilise HelpGuide's free Emotional Intelligence toolkit |
| Boredom or loneliness | Find something yous're passionate about such as fine art, music, sports, or books and then find others with the same interests |
| To relax subsequently a stressful day | As little as 15 minutes of daily practice can save stress. Or deep breathing, meditation, or massage |
| To solve coin bug | The odds are ever stacked against you and then it's far amend to seek assistance with debts from a credit advisor |
Dealing with gambling cravings
Feeling the urge to run a risk is normal, but as you build healthier choices and a strong support network, resisting cravings will go easier. When a gambling peckish strikes:
Avoid isolation. Call a trusted family fellow member, meet a friend for coffee, or get to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.
Postpone gambling. Tell yourself that you'll look 5 minutes, 15 minutes, or an hour. As you wait, the urge to chance may laissez passer or become weak plenty to resist.
Visualize what will happen if yous give in to the urge to risk. Remember well-nigh how you lot'll experience afterward all your coin is gone and you lot've disappointed yourself and your family unit again.
Distract yourself with another activity, such as going to the gym, watching a picture show, or practicing a relaxation exercise for gambling cravings.
Coping with lapses
If you aren't able to resist the gambling craving, don't exist too difficult on yourself or employ it every bit an excuse to give up. Overcoming a gambling addiction is a tough process. You may slip from fourth dimension to time; the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and continue working towards recovery.
Gambling addiction treatment
Overcoming a gambling trouble is never piece of cake and seeking professional treatment doesn't mean that you lot're weak in some mode or can't handle your problems. Simply it'south important to call back that every gambler is unique so you need a recovery program tailored specifically to your needs and state of affairs. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional almost different treatment options, including:
Inpatient or residential handling and rehab programs. These are aimed at those with severe gambling addiction who are unable to avert gambling without round-the-clock back up.
Treatment for underlying conditions contributing to your compulsive gambling, including substance abuse or mental health problems such as low, feet, OCD, or ADHD. This could include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Problem gambling can sometimes be a symptom of bipolar disorder, so your doctor or therapist may need to rule this out before making a diagnosis.
Cerebral-behavioral therapy. CBT for gambling addiction focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and imitation beliefs. Information technology can also teach you how to fight gambling urges and solve financial, work, and relationship problems caused by problem gambling. Therapy can provide you with the tools for coping with your addiction that volition terminal a lifetime.
Family unit therapy and wedlock, career, and credit counseling. These can help you work through the specific issues that take been created by your problem gambling and lay the foundation for repairing your relationships and finances.
How to help someone cease gambling
If your loved i has a gambling problem, y'all probable have many conflicting emotions. You may have spent a lot of time and energy trying to keep your loved one from gambling or having to cover for them. At the aforementioned time, you might be furious at your loved one for gambling again and tired of trying to continue upward the deception. Your loved one may have borrowed or fifty-fifty stolen coin with no way to pay it back. They may have sold family possessions or run upwardly huge debts on joint credit cards.
While compulsive and trouble gamblers need the support of their family and friends to help them in their struggle to stop gambling, the determination to quit has to exist theirs. Equally much as you lot may want to, and every bit hard as information technology is seeing the effects, you cannot make someone stop gambling. However, you can encourage them to seek help, support them in their efforts, protect yourself, and have any talk of suicide seriously.
Preventing suicide in problem gamblers
When faced with the consequences of their actions, trouble gamblers tin endure a crushing drop in self-esteem. This is one reason why in that location is a high charge per unit of suicide amid compulsive gamblers. If you suspect your loved one is feeling suicidal, phone call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. at i-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 have a right to protect yourself emotionally and financially. Don't blame yourself for the gambler's problems or permit his or her addiction boss your life. Ignoring your ain needs can be a recipe for burnout.
- Don't go it alone. It tin can feel and then overwhelming coping with a loved 1'due south gambling addiction that information technology may seem easier to rationalize their requests "this one terminal time." Or y'all might feel ashamed, feeling like yous are the merely ane who has bug similar this. Reaching out for back up will brand yous realize that many families take struggled with this problem.
- Set up boundaries in managing money. To ensure the gambler stays accountable and to forbid relapse, consider taking over the family finances. However, this does not hateful you lot are responsible for micromanaging the problem gambler'southward impulses to run a risk. Your commencement responsibilities are to ensure that your own finances and credit are non at run a risk.
- Consider how you will handle requests for money. Problem gamblers often become very proficient at asking for money, either directly or indirectly. They may use pleading, manipulation, or even threats to get information technology. It takes practice to ensure yous are not enabling your loved i'due south gambling habit.
| Do's and Don'ts for Partners of Trouble Gamblers |
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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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