PROBLEM GAMBLER OR GAMBLING ADDICTION?

Compulsive gambling, or gambling addiction, is a very serious form of process addiction. Learn the signs and how to treat it here.

Gambling addiction is more serious than many people realise. While most people are able to gamble responsibly, many others find themselves caught in the sticky web of gambling addiction, unable to escape.

Is Gambling Really an Addiction? : Gambling addiction, also referred to as an impulse-control disorder, is when a person gambles compulsively. This means they are unable to stop or control their gambling, even when they know that it is affecting their life in a negative manner. Whether they are depressed or happy, winning or losing, they will continue gambling - regardless of the consequences. Some say that these people simply have a gambling problem, but it is much more complex than that.

Problem gambling is gambling behaviour that affects your life in a negative way. Very much like alcohol and drugs, gambling addiction is considered a process addiction. Each time the addict places a bet, dopamine and endorphins flood the brain – eventually changing how the brain uses these chemicals, causing a dependence on the act of gambling to trigger the flow of these chemicals that cause you to feel happy and satisfied – very similar to the way a heroin addict needs heroin to feel ‘normal'. Once the brain has become re-wired to need these chemicals, the gambler has developed a gambling addiction.

Signs and Symptoms of Gambling Addiction: Gambling addiction has often been called the ‘hidden illness' because unlike alcohol or drug addiction, there aren't as many physical signs of addiction such as bad skin, weight gain or loss, etc. But what is similar to drug and alcohol addictions, is that problem gamblers are most likely in denial about their addiction, putting great effort into hiding or minimising the problem. If you think you may have a problem with gambling, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to better determine if you really do have a problem: Do I feel the need to keep my gambling habits a secret? Do I feel compelled to gamble, even when I don't have the funds? Are my family and friends concerned about my gambling?

If you have a suspicion that someone close to you is having a problem with gambling, there are several signs of gambling addiction that you can look out for:

Preoccupation with Gambling. The person is constantly thinking about gambling, having thoughts about how to obtain money for future gambling, and planning regular visits to their favourite gambling spots.

Building Tolerance. Similar to alcoholism and drug abuse, the person's need to spend more money on gambling in order to experience the same rush or excitement is insatiable.

Loss of Control. The person has made many unsuccessful attempts to minimize or stop their gambling.

Withdrawal  from Reality. The person experiences mood swings, eventually becoming withdrawn, irritable and depressed when trying to stop their compulsive gambling.

Gambling as an Escape. The person uses gambling as a means of escape from every day stresses. For the gambler, the moment the bet is placed all stresses and worries float out of the mind.

Chasing the Jackpot. Despite major losses the previous day, the addict will return to gambling the very next day attempting to regain his losses. The addict will truly believe that he can regain the money lost despite much evidence of the contrary.

Lying. The person will lie to their loved-ones, therapists, or colleagues in order to hide the magnitude of their gambling.

Illegal Activity. The person resorts to criminal acts such as theft, fraud and embezzlement to help finance their gambling. Many end up stealing from their loved-ones.

Risked Relationships. The person has endangered or lost an important relationship, job, or opportunity due to gambling.

Bailouts. The person will rely on others to bail them out of a bad financial situation caused by their gambling.

Keep in mind, however, that almost all addicts will do everything they can to not only keep their addiction a secret from those around them – but they will lie to themselves as well.  This often makes it hard to spot a gambling addict. Use your own intuition and investigate any potential signs or symptoms, and encourage them to get help or enter treatment.

Treatment of Gambling Addiction : There are many forms of gambling addiction treatment, including entering one of many addiction equipped to deal with this type of process addiction. There are also many self-help programmes for gambling addiction, however most people are unable to recover on their own.

Similar to alcohol or drug abuse, the need to gamble is a way to cover up a more serious problem, such as escaping the pressures of everyday life, work and family stress, loneliness, low self-esteem, and depression. If someone is gambling as a way to forget about these problems, choosing to stop gambling will mean they must face these problems head on – which can be very scary, and will often keep an addict from ceasing their behaviour. For this reason, it is crucial that the addict learns coping skills in order to properly handle these everyday hurdles.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is known to be extremely effective when working through gambling addiction. It focuses on changing any unhealthy thought and behavioural patterns, re-wiring the addict's brain to see gambling in a different light. Instead of using rationalisations and false beliefs as a crutch, problem gamblers are taught new and healthy ways to manage stress levels and decrease the need/urge to gamble.

Quitting Your Gambling Addiction : If you recognise a problem with gambling in yourself and want to quit, recognising these four elements of gambling and how to control them will be the most important part of your recovery.

The First Decision to Gamble. A person will only gamble if they have decided to. If you are experiencing a craving to gamble, call a family member or sponsor for help. Also consider the consequences of what will happen if you do give in and gamble. Find a productive task to take your mind off your craving and get into that activity immediately.

Money, Money, Money. Without money, you cannot gamble. Dispose of your credit cards, and let someone else who is trustworthy be in charge of your finances. Ask your bank to set up automatic payments for you and only keep minimal cash on hand at any given time.

'Idle Hands are the Devil's Workshop'. If you stay idle, you may be tempted to gamble. Fill up your time with things that have no relation to gambling.  Spend some quality time with your family, or take up a new hobby, such as a new sport or cooking class. Basically, the less free time you have on your hands, the better.

Don't Tempt Yourself. Do not put yourself in environments that may tempt you to gamble. Stay away from any facilities that have gaming machines, betting avenues, or poker tables. Block gambling sites on your mobile phone and home computer so you cannot access them easily when you're experiencing a craving to gamble.

If you or someone you know is experiencing negative effects as a result of gambling, be sure to contact a qualified professional for an assessment. Gambling addiction can have very serious consequences, and must be dealt with sooner rather than later to ensure a better chance at full recovery.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)

14 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR STAYING SOBER

Having trouble staying sober? Use these tips to make your addiction recovery just a little bit easier.

Whether you are considering drug rehab or alcohol rehab, or have already graduated into addiction recovery, there are several things that you can do to make staying sober easier.

1. Addiction is a disease: Remembering that addiction is a disease is critical to your success at staying sober. When you understand that addiction is a disease, instead of a lack of will power, it is easier to understand the real risk that is present from engaging in addictive behaviours. You can understand that no matter how ‘in control' you feel, having just one drink, or just one hit, is not actually a possibility for you – addiction is an actual disease and needs to be treated as one.

2. Staying sober takes support: Staying sober long term means relying on support from others. Such support can take many forms, such as one-on-one counseling or peer support, group meetings, phone calls and even online forums (which have become increasingly popular over the past few years). But where do you find this support? Ask your doctor or addictions counsellor for help to find support in your area. Asking someone who is familiar with your recovery goals will ensure that you find support that is aligned with your goals for sobriety and recovery. And don't be afraid to communicate what you need from your friends, family and other supportive people that you have in your life.

3. Know that others have recovered: Facing sobriety can be an isolating experience, which is why it is so important to understand that others have recovered from similar circumstances.  Many recovery programs use some form of group therapy, in which one benefits from hearing of others' struggles and triumphs over addiction. Many addicts in recovery go online to engage with other addicts from all over the globe. Knowing you're not alone makes staying sober easier.

4. Master your mind: Staying sober is highly influenced by the thoughts and feelings that you have. For this reason, it is essential that you master your mind. Keep track of your moods, feelings and thoughts. When you notice that something feels off, it's your signal that you need to change something. Cognitive-behavioural therapy has a list of “thinking errors” that are likely to result in unpleasant emotions. One example is all-or-nothing thinking, a perspective that either has you winning completely, or failing miserably. Thinking errors like this can derail your plans for staying sober.

5. Practice mindfulness: One of the most direct ways to break negative thinking patterns that come about is present mindfulness. There are a range of techniques which fall under the umbrella of mindfulness. This practice helps support your need for staying sober in the following key ways: when you are mindful, you can, first of all, remember your intention to stay sober. This is big! Many times you can get so caught up in life that you easily slide into old behaviors. The same is true for old thought patterns: one thought can easily lead to another, but with mindfulness, you can consciously choose thoughts which benefit your sobriety.

6. Get into your body: Go to the gym, head to the pool, or simply put on your shoes and go for a brisk walk. Physical activity is great for clearing out your mind and staying sober. What's more, you can combine this with tip number 2 and do some exercise with a friend… maybe even a group of friends if you are into a group sport.

7. Unlock creativity: Whether you have always had a creative urge, or you think of yourself as “not a creative type,” stepping into creative space is a great way to recharge, recuperate, and connect with what really matters. Have a pen and paper? You can doodle right now! Or you can get some paint, grab a musical instrument, or even check out apps on your mobile device.

8. Make a date with yourself: Get out your calendar, circle a day, and decide you are going to treat yourself. Go somewhere you've always wanted to visit or do something enjoyable you've been putting off. Get creative! You'll find yourself counting down the days with anticipation.

9. Make some lists: What are you grateful for? How has being sober improved your life? What are your goals for the next 5 years? Write down the things which are important to you. Setting your intentions is a powerful way to stay clean.

10. Help someone in need: If you find that you are overly preoccupied with your own problems of staying sober, a great way to put them in perspective is to help others who are in need. You can help other people in recovery, or find other places in your community, such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters or youth programs where you can support others. There are countless ways to help out, and when you help others, you make yourself feel good too.

11. Good food: When you eat good, nutritious food you feel good. This positive mood will help you make healthy choices. Take the time to find food that truly nourishes you, or find an interesting cookbook and make a home made meal and enjoy the time spent cooking.

12. Healthy distraction: Sometimes, you can over think your problems. Find some ways to healthily get out of your thinking patterns. Movies, music, books, and other entertainment help to get your mind away from addictive behaviours and life stress.

13. Improve your space: Look around you now. What can you do to make the space better? You could clean, organize, or make an improvement of some kind. Improving your space here and now is a powerful way to feel good about yourself… and have a better environment to live in!

14. Go to meetings: There are many support groups in a variety of formats. Go to several and find the one that you feel connected to. It's a great way to get support, offer support, and keep yourself away from unhealthy situations.

Addiction is a disease and you may need professional services to support your recovery. At Shafa home we offer tailored treatments relying on the latest research-based methods. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you in your goals for sobriety.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)