Anil Wilkes 
Gambling is a popular hobby and one that can provide fun and entertainment – but also loss of wealth and strained relationships.
It is often fatal to gamble addicts, ranging from money and relationships ruined to criminal charges for theft or fraud. Accepting that you have a problem and coming to someone for help takes courage – which compulsion lacks.
Listen to yourself.
The shame, guilt and desperation a person feels is intense and devastating for relationships in many who gamble. You won’t get out of them by playing cards and you’ll only make yourself feel worse.
If you are unable to pay the gambling bill, you may want to try a nonprofit credit counseling agency. They will help set a budget and provide debt-reduction programs.
Keep in mind that gambling winnings will never re-enter. When you see gambling as an act of luck in which the house always has the upper hand, it will help build up the willpower and drive to quit gambling.
Take a break.
Gamers can improve coping skills through self-compassion, switching the game to something healthier like yoga or support groups through Gamblers Anonymous. Gamblers should postpone impulses to gamble by imagining potential adverse effects and talking to family members or taking treatment through counselling organisations such as Gamblers Anonymous. Other solutions may include therapy or joining support groups such as this one.
We should also have ways to keep our time and avoid boredom, for example, by trying new hobbies or pursuing regular physical activities. If mood changes and mental health issues are to be treated, psychotherapy – treatment that helps people recognise and change unhealthy thoughts and feelings – may include either an individual or family therapy with a qualified psychiatric professional. Identifying the underlying reasons for gambling addiction can create individualised strategies for treatment.
Embrace self-compassion.
Gambling loss is a devastating and damaging, it can wreck relationships, depress financial stability, and cause emotional and physical illnesses.
You might be able to resolve things by discussing it with your family or friends, or attending a support group, or consulting an addiction professional. What’s more, this can help you feel as if you’re part of a community, and decrease your sense of loneliness.
It is the practice of self-compassion that will help counter the anxiety and guilt caused by gambling failures. Mindfulness meditations, affirmations and reframing bolster the tolerance of inner speech – which in turn aids the restoration of the core values away from the hooks of addiction. It is also essential to remembering achievements like debt repayment or not falling back into gambling, when trying to keep the recovery train moving.
Replace gambling with healthier activities.
Gambling addiction typically brings financial devastation. It is not only impossible or unsustainable to pay back gambling debt, but it can result in the loss of property and the emptying of bank accounts. Recovery therefore needs to come down on the cash to be successful.
Do set a reasonable budget that includes everything and seek financial advice from a professional if needed. That way you can adjust work back to getting there step by step.
Be engaged in activities that you enjoy and fulfill through hobbies or other healthy pursuits, such as painting, drawing, writing, playing music, going to the gym, or giving back. The pursuit of these healthy activities will help keep you away from gambling impulses and gives you an understanding of meaning and purpose in life.
Take care of yourself.
It is easy to accuse yourself of losing your bets, but self-compassion will remind you that everyone gets it wrong and you are not going to get over it overnight. You can employ good coping techniques such as proper rest, nutritious diet, regular physical activity and relaxation techniques to help with your recovery.
You can get help from a counselor who has experience with gambling addiction, and treating whatever conditions are causing your addiction. CBT could help correct addictive gambling beliefs and practices while marriage, career and credit counseling may help if needed.
Recovery from gambling debts might be scary but with a little planning and encouragement, you can get back in the game and shape a good life.
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