Introduction
Gambling addiction can be a serious problem. It can affect your finances, relationships, and health. Even if you are not addicted to gambling but are worried about someone who is, there is help available. This guide will explain how to recognize the warning signs of gambling addiction and how to get help if needed. Gambling addiction is a problem that can affect anyone. It does not matter if you are an adult or a child, male or female. What matters is how badly you want to stop gambling and how willing you are to ask for help.
Introduction
Gambling addiction is a serious problem. It’s a form of mental illness that can affect anyone, and the consequences can be devastating to those who suffer from it. But gambling addiction is treatable and recovery is possible.
There are three important things you need to know about gambling addiction:
Gambling addiction is a serious mental illness. It causes both intense cravings for your favourite activity (gambling), as well as unpleasant feelings like guilt, shame, or anxiety when you try to resist those cravings. Gambling addicts have trouble controlling their urge to gamble despite knowing that it’s causing problems in their life—they just can’t seem to stop themselves! That’s why treatment works differently than most other kinds of mental health disorders: instead of focusing on fixing your thoughts or emotions (which aren’t broken), treatment helps you learn new skills so that you can manage your impulses without relying on willpower alone.
You’re not alone—there are many people with gambling problems in our community who want help getting better but don’t know where to turn for support or advice about dealing with their condition at home or at work comfortably without worrying about judgmental attitudes from co-workers, friends, or family members who may misunderstand what having an illness really means.
The first step in recovery is admitting you have a problem. If you are thinking about gambling and are unable to stop yourself, even after trying many times, then you may need help. The good news is that there are many ways to get it!
Gambling and your health
Gambling can be harmful to your health, both physically and mentally.
Gambling addiction can lead to depression and other mental health problems.
Addiction to gambling can lead to money problems because of gambling debts or money spent on the activity itself, like travel costs.
Gambling addiction may indicate an underlying mental health condition such as anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is a guide used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental health conditions. The most recent version, DSM-5, includes gambling disorder as a mental health condition that can lead to substance abuse problems.
How to get help
Talk to a professional. If you’re struggling with a gambling addiction, it’s important to seek help from a trained professional. Your first step should be talking to your doctor, and then perhaps seeing a counsellor or therapist if you don’t feel like your problem is being adequately addressed.
Talk to family and friends. Tell the people in your life that you trust about your problem, so they can support you as you work through it—and also so they can hold you accountable for any commitments that come from seeking treatment and doing self-care.
Find support groups online and offline. You may want the advice of others who share similar experiences with gambling addiction (there are many forums where people discuss their struggles), but it’s also beneficial to just know that there are other people who understand what it feels like when an urge comes over them, even if they’ve never visited Vegas themselves!
Get a hobby. Having something else to do in your free time can help you avoid the temptation to gamble. Try taking up a new sport or learning how to play an instrument—it could be just what you need!
There is help if you are experiencing gambling addiction.
There is help if you are experiencing gambling addiction.
Gambling addiction treatment facilities and support lines can offer a safe place to talk about your issues, and support groups provide an opportunity to meet other people who understand what you’re going through. If you’d prefer online help for your gambling addiction, there are plenty of resources available in that format as well.
Gambling addiction treatment facilities and support lines can offer a safe place to talk about your issues, and support groups provide an opportunity to meet other people who understand what you’re going through. If you’d prefer online help for your gambling addiction, there are plenty of resources available in that format as well.
Conclusion
If you feel that your gambling is getting out of hand, it’s important to seek help. Talk to someone about how you are feeling and what support you need. The longer you wait, the harder it will be on yourself and those around you. The sooner you seek help, the better off your life will be. Treatment can help you create a healthier relationship with gambling and enjoy the things in life that really matter to you. If you or someone you love is struggling with a gambling problem, please reach out to us. We are here to help.