GAMBLING AS AN ADDICTION

Many do not know that gambling can become an addiction. Gambling addiction can also be called problem gambling or compulsive gambling. This is the urge to gamble continuously despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop.          

According to Wikipedia (2017), problem gambling is often defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler’s behavior. So, harm is not only caused to the gambler but everyone around him or her. When you become addicted to anything, it draws your attention away from God and God is jealous God. You cannot serve God and mammon. So, gambling addiction is against God’s wish.

         

Problem gambling is an addictive behavior with a high comorbidity with alcohol problems. Comorbidity is the presence of one or more diseases or disorder co-occurring with each other. A common feature by people who suffer from gambling addiction is impulsivity (Wikipedia, 2017). Gambling is one of the most insidious of human vices, as it presents the illusion of easy money yet can quickly lead to financial ruin. One thing gamblers fail to understand is that the odds are never in their favour. 

WHAT CAUSES AN ADDICTION TO GAMBLING

·       Stress

·       People want to use gabling as a way of passing time and chance to be in the company of others

·       Convenience. Nowadays, gambling has become so easy and convenient that it is very difficult to resist the temptation especially for men.

·       Depression and alcohol

It is not always easy to identify if someone is a gambling addict, as sufferers tend to be secretive and will generally deny the extent of their gambling. But if someone is spending time alone, is getting into debt for no justifiable reason or frequently wants to borrow money, then it is possible that they have become addicted to gambling and need help.

HOW CAN GAMBLING ADDICTION BE STOPPED

It can happen to anyone. So please share and pass to people. Remember, gambling addiction is a problem and it becomes a higher problem if it causes problem to people around the gambler.

To stop gambling addiction,

• Surround yourself with people to whom you’re accountable
• Avoid tempting environments and websites
• Give up control of your finances (at least at first)
• Find healthier activities to replace gambling

From counseling directory, 10 successful ways to stop gambling

1.    Plan ahead to avoid boredom

Ex-gamblers, so used to the highs and lows of active addiction, typically struggle with periods of boredom in their lives. Try to plan your days so that you are not tempted to fill empty space by gambling.

2.  Live your life one day at a time

This means trying to forget about what happened yesterday, including your gambling losses. A desire to get even with the bookmakers or casinos will restrict your ability to focus on your recovery issues.  Taking your life one day at a time also means not worrying about what tomorrow might hold for you in your life. Keep the focus on what you can do today that will help your ongoing recovery from addiction.

3. Do something completely different

Your brain got used to working in a certain way when gambling, but it still needs to be constantly stimulated now that you have stopped. So try to set yourself new goals and tasks each day. When you are focused on problem solving, you will be better able to cope with gambling urges when they come.

4. Rekindle an old hobby

Invariably, gamblers will lose interest in hobbies as they become more and more addicted to their gambling. After you have stopped, it is important to rekindle old hobbies. This will not only boost your self-esteem but will also provide a regular reminder of your new way of life. It will also keep you focused on the benefits of your new way of life rather than on what you are missing out on.

5. Be especially vigilant leading up to special events

Recognize the need to bolster your resolve when special events approach on the calendar. If you had been a sports gambler, for example, then special events such as football World Cups and European Championships, the Wimbledon tennis tournament, the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot or the Ryder Cup can be particularly challenging. Perhaps you need to avoid the increased hype within the media surrounding these events, especially when bookmaking firms offer special offers.

6. Find ways that help you cope better with stress

Stress is the barometer of how we manage our emotions and can be a major contributing factor in relapse from gambling recovery. It is vital to find new, healthy ways to cope with stress, whether that is physical exercise, meditation or talking to a trusted friend. The risks are that the temptation to gamble will become stronger and stronger as you become more stressed.  

7. Remind yourself that to gamble is to lose

It is important to remind yourself that in the absence of discipline you will almost certainly lose your money, regardless of your betting strategy. This is the fundamental fact of problem gambling. Your gambling urges might appear as seductive temptations when you are undergoing financial worries, especially as most forms of gambling offer the potential of immediate high reward. Reminding yourself that you can’t stop once you start can help you to deal with any urges to gamble.

8. Identify your self-sabotage triggers

Your clean time is precious. See any urge to gambling as a temporary menace and be prepared for them to emerge before special occasions such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries or exam time.

9. Visualize your betting firm or casino with a negative slogan

Associate your betting platform with a negative connotation and imagine a nasty image when you think of the operator's logo. This way you can seek to embed the negative bias of gambling in your sub-conscious. It will also help you to remember exactly how low and desperate you felt when you stopped.

10. Write a daily gratitude list

Staying aware of how better your life is without gambling is vital in any relapse prevention strategy. If this conforms to any spiritual practice then all the better. When we have a grateful attitude, we are less likely to be searching for excitement. Try it, it really works.

Finally, pray about it. Commit it to almighty God in prayer because Luke 1:37 ‘with God all things are possible’

Do not forget to share you views and opinions. Thank you
You can also check out GAMBLING PART ONE and GAMBLING PART TWO