Gambling Addiction Treatment – Do You Need Gambling Specific Therapy?

There are some successful ways to administer gambling addiction treatment. Not every gambler is the same, the best recovery programs are specifically tailored to his or her needs.

Like with all other addictions, honesty plays a crucial role, the gambler must come to terms with their addiction first and foremost. Gambling can ruin marriages for the obvious reasons, often causing serious financial damage.

It also affects one psyche and causes undue emotional strain that may affect work and family. Overcoming a gambling addiction is a challenge like most addictions, however recovery is possible with the right program and support.

Gambling addiction is not a disease as drug addiction has come to be seen, so specific gambling therapy can work. Gambling addiction treatment can effectively provide steps to recovery.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy can break gambling addiction by focusing on the decision behavior process of the gambler. If the unhealthy gambling behavior can be addressed at its root cause, it can eliminate the impact of the false beliefs and harmful rationalizations.

The key is for the gambler to recognize the motivational emotions that compel them to gamble. Gambling specific therapy teaches them how to change their behavior rather than seek the high that gambling provides.

If the gambler can better understand the emotional reasons behind why they gamble, they can develop a mental defense mechanism to resist the temptation of gambling.

The goal of the gambling specific therapy is to rewire the addicted part of the brain by finding new ways to think about gambling. If thought patterns and beliefs are altered, then the gambler can reframe their thoughts and create a lasting impact.

Gambling specific therapy provides the necessary support that gamblers need. It’s important that gamblers have a trusted counselor that they can open up to. Sometimes they’ve carried the guilt for far too long inside. Effective therapy lays out a series of steps for the gambling treatment to occur step-by-step.

Quitting gambling is generally considered the easy part, staying in permanent recovery is the challenge. It’s important to support gamblers with people to whom they can be accountable, they must stay away from tempting situations or enablers. As with other addictions, patience is vital, gamblers need to fill the void with a more positive activity.

Gamblers can pursue thrill and excitement in other endeavors. They can find hobbies or activities that they are passionate about to help replace the void. Gambling addiction treatment can enhance the quality of life.

Part of the therapy entails analyzing the underlying factors that motivate the gambler. Usually there are several factors that cause compulsive gambling. The desire to make money quickly and the excitement of the game.

If the gambler learns how to make better decisions, they can avoid the temptation. Whenever the gambler feels the urge to gamble, they should have several steps in place that they can execute.

Firstly, they can call someone to assist them in their time of need. They can also consciously remind themselves to partake in another activity.

Also to gamble, you need money, they can get rid of excessive credit cards and avoid having bundles of cash around the house. They can also block all the gambling websites on their computer. In addition, they should also inform all the gambling establishments they frequent and alert them about the recovery program.

It’s possible to successfully implement gambling addiction treatment with therapy and a plan of action. Therapy can address the reasons for gambling and effectively change thoughts and habits to a sustainable recovery.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on Gambling Addiction Treatment – Do You Need Gambling Specific Therapy?

Gambling Addiction: How Is It Different From Other Addictions

The word “Addiction” is characterized by many people as being a negative compulsion. A person with an addiction is unable to stop doing the thing they are addicted to.

Not all addictions are the same, and even though we are focusing more on gambling addiction, we also want to touch on other addictions that can overtake a person’s life.

What Are The Different Type of Addictions?

There are basically three categories for addictions:

1. Substance
2. Impulse/Emotional
3. Behavioral

Most people relate substance addiction to drugs, but it can also be related to: alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, and inhalants.

Impulsive/emotional types include: gambling, stealing, and pyromaniacs (setting fires).

Behavioral types include: eating, shopping, pornography, working, and perfectionism.

The one thing all of these addictions have in common is – control. A person with an addiction, gambling or otherwise, is in bondage to their addiction. The crazy thing about this problem is – they don’t overlap most times. A person addicted to gambling will not have any desire to set fires and a pyromaniac won’t be tempted to gamble.

Taking a Closer Look at Gambling Addiction

There’s a distinct difference between a gambling and substance addiction. Gambling is triggered at an emotional level and substance addictions are craving some type of chemical relief.

The gambling atmosphere is all about “emotions” and “excitement” but alcohol, smoking, stress, anxiety, and many other vices are all part of the casino experience. This is one instance where the initial addiction can lead a person into multiple other addictions.

Casinos spend millions of dollars each year studying the habits of gamblers. Gambling is different from other addictions because of money. Money is the fuel for gambling and the emotional rush comes from having your money on the line.

Slot machines are designed so that the colors and sounds attract people to play; at that point money loses its value. The tables convert cash into chips. By doing this the player loses their sense of value for money; the casino knows exactly what they are doing.

Pathological gambling destroys relationships, it devastates finances, and it can even cause a person to commit suicide. So, what can cause a person to become a gambling addict?

Since gambling is categorized as an emotional/impulsive addiction, we have to look at other emotions that can trigger it. The experts have listed a few:

– Anxiety
– Depression
– Stress (work/family)
– Personal Loss
– Debt

We also have to include the “beginners luck” syndrome. There’s a natural attraction to easy money and lotteries are one example of this fact. The multimillion dollar lottery pools are a reflection of the hope of getting rich, and this is what drives a person to the point of becoming a gambling addict.

When gambling becomes an addiction it goes beyond just winning, it’s more about just playing. People who are addicted can be winning thousands of dollars and not quit, why?

The reason is – love. The love of gambling. The phase of losing and desperation comes next, and this is when the addiction can turn into a monster. Fortunately there is help, and there are help centers waiting to help.

Chris Tan is gambling enthusiast and advocates Responsible Gambling to othe

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on Gambling Addiction: How Is It Different From Other Addictions