Whether you like to hit the casinos and play the slot machines or you prefer the blackjack table or you play online poker, when gambling takes over your life, you need to recognize that you have a problem. Learn how to beat gambling addiction and get your life back in order so that you can restore your relationships, get your career back on track and your finances in line, and remember all of the fun things you used to do before gambling consumed you.
How do you Know you Have a Problem with Gambling?
If you are asking yourself this question, chances are you have a problem or you are on that path. You may be asking yourself, how does gambling addiction start? Betting online or going to the track might have started out as a way to have some fun every once in a while, but there are ways in which it can get out of hand. Often a gambling addiction begins with innocent bets now and again, and turns into an emotional need.
If you begin to hide your gambling from the people around you, your pastime may be turning into a problem. Another sign of an addiction is that you struggle to control yourself when you are gambling. Once you get started, you find it hard to stop. You keep thinking that the next hand, or the next spin of the slot machine will be the big winner. Each win, no matter how small, starts to feel like an amazing high and you want more. Another huge sign you have a problem is if you continue to gamble even when you are in dire financial straits.
How to Overcome Gambling Addiction
Once you have recognized that you have a problem with gambling, you can begin to overcome your addictive behavior. How you should start looking for help depends on your individual personality and your needs. You might want to start with a gambling support group. This is a regular meeting of people, who like you, feel the compulsion to gamble in spite of the problems it causes, and want to stop. A support group can be a powerful way to come to terms with an addiction because you are surrounded by people who are like you. They can help you by sharing their experiences with coping strategies and what it is like to lead a life after gambling.
While support groups are helpful, if your problem is very serious, you might want to consider individual counseling as well. A trained therapist can help you get over your addiction and learn about the underlying issues that caused you to become addicted in the first place. A combination of therapy and support from other problem gamblers will have you on the path to recovery in no time.
American Southwest Magazine 