Gambling is considered the number one psychological addiction. The best recommended treatment for a gambling disorder is a combination of a 12 Step Program and sessions with a trained clinician. That being said, it is important to keep in mind that all individuals are different and require personalized recovery programs.
Paths to Gambling Recovery
There are many different paths to recover from a gambling addiction. Some of them are:
- Self Help Methods
- Steps based programs like Gamblers Anonymous
- Professional counseling
Individuals might need to try a variety of methods before they settle on which one works best for them. In the meanwhile, they should try and make some lifestyle changes to help avoiding being in a situation where they feel the urge to gamble.
Non Traditional Tips for Gambling Recovery
Writing a Goal Statement
The individual should consider their reasons for quitting gambling. Are they doing it for a healthier lifestyle? To spend more time with family? To find ways to deal with emotions instead of using gambling as an escape? Once the individual has articulated what their reasons are, they should write down their goal, being as specific as possible. During those times that the individual feels the urge to gamble, they should revisit their goal statement as a reminder or why they wanted to quit gambling in the first place.
Identifying Triggers
Thinking back to the times that they gambled, the individual must decipher their triggers. Why did they gamble? When did they gamble? Was it due to boredom? Was it to make money? Once the reasons behind the behavior have been identified, the individual can go on and also identify ways to cope with the urge to gamble.
Have a Conversation
Talking to family and friends will help. It may be difficult for the individual to talk about their gambling problem with their family and friends, but it is essential to have a strong support system when in recovery. This is the time to repair those relationships that might have been damaged due to the addiction.
Financial Responsibility
An obvious consequence of a gambling addiction is damage to the individual’s financial situation. A first step is assessing one’s finances and listing debts and income. Then the individual must create a budget and stick to it. Asking family and friends for help managing a budget is a good idea. As often this is the most difficult thing for the individual to do.
The road to recovering from gambling is long and tough, and the individual must be prepared to make some hard decisions for themselves to ensure they stay on the path to recovery.
Contact The Villa if you are looking for facts on gambling disorder and resources for recovery. We can help you overcome your gambling addiction.