If You Are Lost: How To Stop Gambling And Save Your Money

Seeking for information on how to stop gambling addiction for yourself, your relatives or for partners? If so, the first thing which you are supposed to to do is to acknowledge and realize how severe the problem of gambling addiction is. Until 1980, pathological gambling was only seen as being an issue. But later, in 1980, the APA (American Psychiatric Association) officially identified gambling addiction as being a mental disorder.

Whether you desire to cease gambling, remember you are not alone who struggles from this issue. Right now, there are over 1 million US citizens engaging in compulsive or problematic gambling. Moreover, it is estimated that close to 8 million adults suffer from gambling addiction.

As you can see, learning how to cease problematic gambling needs to first be about recognizing the problem before learning how to stop gambling urges. This gets us to the first thing you have to do.

Realize and Detect the Problem

We are talking about an addiction so the very first step towards stopping gambling is to face the fact that you have a problem. Regrettably, only a little bitty number of gambling addicts actually consider taking medication (only around 3% are looking for therapy) or wonder how to stop gambling addiction and cut corners. Usually, the addict looks for help only when the problem is very severe and it simply cannot be denied.

When gambling addicts start to look for information on how to stop gambling, they often reach out gambling hotlines. Mental health professionals answer them and statistics show us every single year there is an increase of 10 percent in the number of calls made.

Focus On Consequences

During addiction recovery, it is normal to feel very strong feelings of guiltiness and embarrassment. These are dangerous since when they are overwhelming, they lead to relapse. At the same time though, a healthy level of guilt and shame increases motivation. This is why it often helps to focus on the after-effects of your actions as a gambling addict.

Think of such things like:

• The emotional pain felt by the loved ones.
• The untruth you have to say to conceal the gambling problems.
• The financial issues the family struggles with due to your gambling addiction.

Think about after-effects and how life would be different if these problems were not absent in your life.

Find Specialist Who Will Help You

Well-nigh all gambling addiction cases are treated through CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). But this is only possible through the help of a licensed therapist. They work with the gambling addict to identify the destructive behaviour, the thoughts that lead to it, and then build coping skills. Also, CBT aids the gambling addict to build their tools to actually resist gambling urges.

Gambling disorders are the same as any other disorders in the sense that relapses are very common. Usually, a trigger leads to going on some sort of gambling spree. Mental professionals are thus very important since they can help the gambling addict deal with the actual issues that lead to having gambling as a getaway.

Consider Using Medication

Learning how to stop gambling urges is close to stopping drug urges in the sense that the gambling addict does not feel the “high” they felt in the past during gambling process and anticipating a win. Even with responsible gambling on reliable sources, there is still the possibility the high gets smaller and smaller. This is what leads to seeking other “highs” that make them feel the same things they did in the past. Basically, the problem gambler will need much more than a person who does not have this pathologic problem.

At the core of the problem, there is an imbalance of dopamine. Psychiatrists thus often prescribe antidepressants capable of affecting the body’s serotonin system. Also, based on the individual, other drugs can be prescribed, like lithium or nalmefene.

Join Gambling Addiction Support Groups

It is essential to understand you are not alone in your struggles. Even whether your closest ones and friends do not understand, there are people who do. Many that look for how to stop gambling urge figure out that discussing their problems with someone who fully understands can do wonders. Support groups are always available and welcoming.

In the US alone, there are almost 2,000 official gambling addiction groups you could join. Several more might be available in small cities and towns since they are often not reported on a national scale. And there are even support groups available for people affected by family members who suffer from gambling addiction. These can be very useful in teaching them how to help people stop gambling.

Final Thoughts

Whether you need help with how to stop online gambling, how to stop gambling and save money, or how to simply stop gambling urges, the vital aspect is to recognize you have a problem. Then, you most likely need a professional help, and joining support groups helps a lot. It is important to note that what works for some people might not work for you. This is why working with people specializing in gambling addiction helps. And if you cannot stop, look for free casino games to play not spending a penny. The only world just made it easier to be addicted.