How to Help Someone Addicted to Gambling
Gambling is an activity in which wealth changes hands on the basis of chance, risking something of value for a prize win. It involves wagers on events, such as sports games or horse races, or activities of a commercial nature like casinos or lotteries. The desire for gain, the desire for a thrill and the desire for competition are usually driving forces in gambling. Creative effort and useful skills are not essential factors.
Some people enjoy gambling and find it fun, but a small number of individuals become too involved in the activity to the point where they experience substantial personal, social and financial harm. This is known as pathological gambling.
The problem is especially serious for those who become addicted to gambling, and it affects many different aspects of their lives. It can lead to problems at work, at home, and in their relationships. It can also cause serious debt and even bankruptcy. It is common for people who are addicted to gambling to gamble until they deplete all of their assets, including their savings, personal belongings and family income. In some cases, they may even be forced to turn to illegal activities in order to raise the money that they have lost to gambling.
People who are addicted to gambling often feel a sense of denial, shame and guilt over their addiction. They may lie to friends and family members about their gambling habits, and they might hide the activity from those close to them. They may also spend a large amount of time and money gambling and ignore other important activities, such as spending time with friends or family, or working on personal goals.
There are several ways to help someone overcome a gambling problem. One way is to encourage them to spend more time on hobbies and other enjoyable activities. Another way is to provide them with access to professional help, such as a gambling addiction treatment program. These programs typically follow a 12-step model similar to Alcoholics Anonymous and involve finding a sponsor, who is a former gambling addict with experience staying sober.
Another way to help is to set limits on how much time and money they can gamble. This is particularly important because it is easy to lose track of time while playing at a casino, where there are no clocks and the rooms are dark. It is also important to avoid chasing losses, as the more you try to win back what you have lost, the more likely you are to lose. Lastly, it is critical to avoid gambling when you are feeling emotional or stressed. Instead, take a walk or do some other relaxing activity. It is also helpful to build up a support network so that you can talk about your problems and seek non-judgemental advice from others. You can learn more about how to get help for yourself or a loved one with a gambling problem by visiting the Gamblers Anonymous website.
