How to Overcome a Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is a complex problem that can have serious psychological, family, financial and work-related consequences. People can develop a gambling addiction when they become obsessed with the thrill of risk and the possibility of winning big money. They may even lose control of their spending, putting themselves at risk of financial problems and compromising their health. There are a variety of treatments available for someone with a gambling addiction, including therapy and recovery programs such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is based on the 12 steps used by Alcoholics Anonymous.

The first step in overcoming gambling addiction is to identify your triggers. These can include the people, places and things that make you want to gamble. For example, if you frequently gamble with friends who also gamble, it might be best to spend time with new people who don’t have the same interests so you can focus on other activities. You might also want to avoid going to places where you’ve previously gambled or consider limiting the amount of money that you carry on you when leaving the house.

It is also helpful to take it one day at a time when dealing with gambling addiction. This can help you avoid focusing on past losses and relapsing. Instead, concentrate on taking healthy steps towards recovery, such as attending therapy and seeking treatment. This may involve family, credit and legal counselling as well as learning about coping mechanisms to prevent compulsive gambling from occurring in the future.