Alchohol Use For Those With A Gambling Addiction

 

 

When an individual has a gambling addiction and drinks alcohol as well, this can be a huge problem. This is especially true when a person with a gambling addiction is drinking while actively gambling.

Why do you think the gambling casinos in many parts of the country give out free alcoholic beverages. Do you think they are doing it just to be generous? I do not think so. The owners of these casinos know what they are doing as they are in business to make money..not give away free alcohol.

If you are actively drinking and getting a buzz off of alcohol, you will be more likely to spend more money as you are feeling good from your initial drinking behavior. The more you drink, the more money you may spend. The casino owners know this quite well and take full advantage of this.

For a recreational gambler with a budget, having a couple of drinks at the casino on a Saturday night is no big deal. However, for the individual with the gambling problem, this combination can be very costly (no pun intended).

Because alcohol is a depressant and can significantly impair judgement, alcohol is no friend to the compulsive gambler. An individual with a gambling problem can lose thousands of dollars while sitting in front of a slot machine, high on both gambling and alcohol.

If you have even the slightest signs of a gambling addiction, it is not a wise idea to drink alcohol while you are at the casino. You will truly gamble away a lot more money than you expected, just because of the effects of the alcohol on your judgement.

Be smart, and if you do make a decision to gamble, keep your alcohol to a minimum. If you do believe that you have a gambling problem, get help for yourself as soon as possible.

You should not be in or near a casino whatsoever if you have a gambling addiction. Gambling addiction can harm your life significantly if not treated.

Michelle Tee

Help With Your Gambling Addiction Problem

111 Tips To Help Beat Your Gambling Addiction and Reclaim Your Life

 

 

 

Families of Those With A Gambling Addiction

 

 

When a family member has a gambling addiction it can effect the entire family unit negatively. The family member with the gambling problem creates tremendous tension within the family unit that can effect all members of the family in a variety of ways.

Children of those with a gambling addiction tend to suffer the most. In severe cases, children of those with a gambling problem are brought to the casino and are waiting on the sidelines for hours while their parents are in the casino gambling. In more extreme cases, many children are left in the car while their parents are in the casino throwing out all of their hard-earned money.

Studies have also shown that the family member with the gambling problem can also become extremely verbally, physically, and emotionally abusive due to the stress of the addiction. This can be devastating to young children and adolescents as they are trying to succeed academically and socially.

The financial ramifications for families can also be devastating as well. Money that is supposed to be used for food, gas, shelter, medical bills, and other necessities becomes unavailable as it is squandered away by the gamblers. Debt piles up very fast, and the financial future of the family becomes severely threatened.

Many families who file for bankruptcy have been the result of having a compulsive gambler in the household gambling away all of their savings and credit. It is a tragic state of affairs that leads to homelessness, despair, and worse of all suicide.

If you have a loved one who is in the grip of this horrible addiction, intervention is imperative. The first thing you can do is reach out for help. I put some resources below that can help you get started so you can help your family get on the road to recovery.

Gam-Anon: http://www.gam-anon.org

1-877-727-5050

Gamblers Anonymous: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

1-877-727-5050

National Council on Compulsive Gambling: http://www.ncpgambling.org

1-800-422-5700

Michelle Tee

Help With Gambling Addiction

 

 

 

 

Some Causes Of A Gambling Addiction

 

 

 

What are some of the causes of a gambling addiction? As a former gambler and mental health counselor, I have done a lot of research on why people develop a gambling problem. What I have found is that there is more than one cause of gambling addiction and that although it is important to know the cause, the solution is much more important.

 

Here are some of the many causes of gambling addiction:

 

• Gambling is exciting while the gambler is in action. The adrenaline high feels good, and it is quite easy to become addicted to these “feel good” chemicals in our brain.
• Gambling compulsively may fill a void for many people with a gambling problem. This void could be in many areas of one’s life. Poor social life, loneliness, job dissatisfaction, empty-nest syndrome, boredom, and lack of purpose can all contribute to a gambling addiction.
• A big win at the casino is the worst possible event for anyone with a propensity for addiction. The adrenaline high of a huge jackpot can fuel future addiction like jet fuel in a plane. Most, if not all people give back the winnings from their jackpot, plus much more money as well.
• Escape from emotional pain and psychological distress can also fuel a gambling addiction. This is especially true for “escape gamblers” who mostly play slot machines, lottery, or partake in online internet gambling.
• For “action gamblers”, the craving for action and feeling very important to others can fuel a gambling addiction. Action gamblers are mostly male and are usually sports betters, poker players, and racetrack gamblers.
• The thrill of “easy money” can fuel a gambling addiction, especially if the gambling addict has a long string of wins at the beginning of his or her gambling career.
• People with anxiety and/or depression have show a strong propensity for gambling addiction as well as other addictions.
• People with first degree relatives with a gambling addiction have a stronger propensity to develop this addiction themselves.

 

These are just some of the general  causes of a gambling addiction problem, however, there are many more as well. In addition, each unique individual will have different reasons for having a problem with gambling, and no two situations are the same.

 

The most important thing, however, is that once some of the causes of a gambling problem are established, that the individual seeks immediate help for his or her problem.

 

The solutions, which include abstinence from gambling, professional help, and support groups, self-care, and lifestyle changes  are most important in reclaiming ones’ life from a gambling addiction.

 

Michelle Tee

Help With Your Gambling Addiction Problem

Avoid Substitute Addictions While Recovering From Your Gambling Addiction

 

 

 

 

When you have a gambling addiction, or any other addiction for that matter, it becomes very easy to substitute addictions. As a matter of fact, substitute addictions are very common, and can occur  when you least expect it.

 

When you have a gambling addiction and you begin to abstain, an abundance of emotions start to come up. This is totally normal, however, it can be quite painful as well.

 

While you are actively engaging in addictive behavior, you tend to numb out your feelings. If you have a gambling problem, your attention is most likely on your addiction and not on any troubling emotional feelings you may have.

 

If you are active in your gambling addiction, you are most likely preoccupied with the high of gambling, your next gambling excursion, or how to obtain funds to finance your gambling.

 

While you are abstaining from your problem, however, your true emotions and thoughts begin to come through. These buried thoughts and feelings are the feelings that you have been hiding through your addictive behavior.

 

If you do not have a strong support system such as a counselor or therapist or a good support group, it becomes very easy to become overwhelmed with these buried emotions.

 

Once anxiety or that old friend depression start to surface, it becomes very easy to substitute addictions.  Turning to food, drugs, alcohol, shopping, or sex can happen in an instant and it can truly stop the recovery process from happening.

 

It is best to be aware of the occurrence of substitute addictions when you stop gambling. Awareness can help you prevent a substitute addiction in its’ tracks.

 

Here are some tips to help you before you turn to a substitute addiction:

 

• Talk to your counselor or support group about your feelings so that you do not keep everything bottled up inside.
• Read self –help literature as much as you can. It will help put you in a more positive mindset.
• Do not isolate yourself. Make sure you keep busy. Loneliness is fuel for the addictive fire.
• Make sure you eat properly and exercise daily. It is hard to be healthy and behave addictively at the same time!
• Get a good night sleep every night as this will keep you thinking clearly and feeling good both physically and mentally.

Michelle Tee

Help With Your Gambling Addiction Problem

Coping With Urges When You Have A Gambling Addiction

 

 

 

When an individual with a gambling addiction has urges, immediate action must be taken.  A gambling urge is very powerful and an individual can give into this urge very impulsively.

 

If an individual gives into an urge without making an intervention, a vicious slide back into the addiction can happen in an instant. This can create a downward spiral of financial losses as well as severe demoralization.

 

Here are some tips to help cope with urges to return to gambling:

 

•  Call your therapist or someone in your support group immediately. Do not waste any time taking this step!
• Go online and visit one of the gambling forums in MSN or Yahoo groups and read some stories about people’s gambling addiction. Reading about their stories may help the gambling urge pass, since it will give you a reminder of just how destructive your gambling addiction really is.
• Get to the closes Gamblers Anonymous or even an Alcoholic’s Anonymous meeting as soon as possible. You need as much support as you can get.
• Call an old friend just to say hi.
• Visit a bookstore and treat yourself to a good cup of fancy coffee.
• Treat yourself to a massage.
• Take a long walk outside or in the park.
• Rent a good movie or watch a good comedy show on television.
• Treat yourself to a good meal. Indulge yourself a little…your are worth it!

 

 

It is hoped that some of these tips were helpful to either yourself or to a family member or friend with a gambling problem.

 

Remember that we are all looking to receive pleasure and avoid pain. A person with a gambling addiction needs to replace his or her gambling activity with a pleasurable activity that is slightly indulgent… but non-destructive.

 

 

 

Michelle Tee

Help With Gambling Addiction Problem

Self Care While In Recovery From Your Gambling Problem

 

 

If you are struggling with a gambling addiction problem and you are trying to recover, it is important that you practice self-care.

 

When you were in the midst of your addiction you were most likely not taking care of yourself very well. It is important that while you are in recovery that you take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially, physically, and socially.

 

You most likely neglected all of these areas in your life while you were active in your addiction, and it is important that you tend to each area of your life that suffered while you were gambling. You are also making a conscious effort not to be self-destructive.

 

The most important thing that you could do when you make the choice to stop engaging in compulsive gambling is to make a list in order of priority. For example, you may need to make an appointment to see a therapist as part of  your self-care plan. In addition, you may need to visit a doctor or dentist  as well.

 

After you make a list, tackle this list slowly so you do not overwhelm yourself. Once you start your recovery from your gambling addiction you may be very tired, vulnerable, depressed, and anxious. Do not try to tackle too much at once, as this can set you up for a gambling relapse.

 

I do believe that once you start addressing these needs one by one, you will start to feel much better about yourself. When you actively suffer from a gambling addiction problem, your self esteem is most likely extremely low. It is hard to feel good about oneself while throwing away time, money, and positive relationships.

 

When we are self-destructive to our body and minds, there is no way that we can possibly feel good about ourselves.

 

As you begin to practice self-care in all areas of your life you will be less likely to engage in your gambling addiction behavior. It is truly impossible to practice self-care and self-destruction at the same time.

 

Best of luck in your recovery from your gambling addiction.

 

Michelle Tee

Help With Gambling Addiction Problem

 

Gambling Addiction As A Self-Destructive Act

 

 

Is gambling addiction self-destructive?  You probably know the answer to that question. Gambling addiction is just about as self-destructive as you are ever going to get. Gambling addiction destroys us emotionally, financially, psychologically, spiritually, and of course financially. This is just about as self-destructive as you are going to get.

 

It has been said by experts in the field that gambling addiction is a form of self-punishment. These experts have stated that gambling addicts gamble to lose, and that this is a true form of self-harm.

 

It is up to you whether you believe what these experts say about gambling addiction  as form of masochism. It becomes very psychogical and a lot has to do with the unconscious mind. Self –destruction is a hard concept to understand on a truly conscious level.

 

 I also believe that many gambling addicts do not believe that they are being self-destructive. They may believe that they are gambling addictively as a form of stress release after a hard week of work.

 

I do think, however, that once a gambler crosses the line into a gambling problem or compulsive or addictive gambling, that gambling losses can become a form of self-punishment.

 

It is my belief that during a period of losing throughout one specific gambling episode, that the gambler may spend irresponsibly and self-destructively. A person with a gambling addiction has very low self-esteem, and pumping more money into a slot machine after losing several hundreds of dollars already could be a form of self-punishment.

 

As stated earlier, gambling addiction is a destructive, toxic, life-destroying problem that will rob the gambler of everything valuable in his or or life.

 

If you or a loved one suffers from gambling addiction, there is help available in your local area, depending on your country of origin.

 

You can visit my website for more  resources as well.

 

Michelle Tee

Gambling Addiction: Help and Treatment For Gambling Problem

 

 

 

 

 

These Are Some Signs Of A Gambling Addiction

 

 

There are many signs of a gambling addiction that are important to know. If you or a loved on suffers from a gambling addiction or problem, knowing the signs of a gambling addiction will help lead you to an intervention. Although gambling addiction is not as easy to identify as drug or alcohol problem, there are very visible signs that you will be able to recognize.

 

• Lack of interest in activities that have nothing to do with gambling. The individual becomes totally preoccupied with gambling.

 

 

• Mood changes that are quite frequent and for no apparent reason. The lability of mood will become worse as the addiction progresses.

 

 

• Missing work or school as a result of gambling.

 

 

• Lack of self care and unconcerned about appearance. Usually there is an obvious change in appearance.

 

 

• Money problems, and asking to borrow money. There is also an excessive preoccupation with money.

 

 

• Stealing money as the severity of the addiction increases.

 

 

 

• Unexplained whereabouts for long periods of time, and potentially lying to family an friend regarding this.

 

 

• Social isolation by the person who suffers from the gambling addiction.

 

 

•  Bizarre changes in spending habits so as to have more money for gambling.

 

 

These are only some signs of a gambling addiction by an individual suffering from a gambling problem. It is very important for an intervention to take place so the individual with the gambling addiction gets help as soon as possible.

 

Gambling addiction is progressive and it can truly destroy individual lives and families as well.

 

 

 

Does My Teenager Have A Problem With Gambling Addiction?

 

 

Teenage gambling is becoming more and more of a problem with each passing year. Teenagers can gamble on video games with their friends, gamble online, and engage in poker games with friends. This problem is deepening as more and more teenagers engage in gambling in one form or another.

 

Studies have shown that gambling in teenagers is on the rise and that it does not seem to be slowing down. The glamorizing of poker games by celebrities on television has had a negative impact on teenagers.

 

These teens believe that gambling is the road to easy money and huge sums of cash. They believe gambling to be an exciting dreamworld that they want to soon become part of.

 

Gambling addiction can occur very easily in these teens because of the adrenaline high that happens while engaging in a gambling activity. Studies have also shown that teens can become addicted very fast, and that it is much harder to break the gambling addiction habit when starting at such a young age.

 

The effects of a teen gambling problem are as follows:

 

1. .Cutting school, and having unexplained absences.
2. Poor grades that become worse and worse
3. Money problems and stealing money from parents.
4. Constantly needing money for poorly explained reasons.
5. Preoccupation with gambling and social isolations, except with gambling friends.
6. Engaging in forms of illegal behavior.
7. Use of drugs and alcohol.
8. Unexplained mood changes.
9. Poor sleep habits and hygiene.

 

So what do parents do when they suspect that their teenager has a gambling problem or gambling addiction? Because every situation is different, there is no “one size fits all answer”. However, there are a few things that you can do.

 

1. Insist that your teenager visits a counselor or therapist. A specialist in gambling addiction will be your best bet. Your first session will be known as an intervention.
2. Make sure that your teenager has no access to cash or credit  cards and keep your cash and credit cards locked up so your teen has no access to this.
3.  You teen will most likely not admit that he or she has a gambling problem or gambling addiction. This does not matter at the beginning, however. You are the parent and you can decide the intervention.
4. Insist that your teenager attend a Gamblers Anonymous or other 12 Step Group.  You can attend a Gamanon meeting which is usually next door to the Gamblers Anonymous Meeting

Michelle Tee

Author and Counselor

Help With Your Gambling Addiction Problem

 

When Gambling Addiction Becomes Your Best Friend

 

 

When your gambling addiction becomes your best friend, you know that you are in trouble. Gambling becomes the activity that you partake in when you are sad, happy, bored, lonely, frustrated, stressed out, or grieving.

 

The problem with this whole scenario is the fact that your gambling addiction is really your enemy, disguised as a friend. Your gambling addiction is truly your enemy, and will cause greater distress in your life than you can possibly imagine.

 

When you turn to your addiction to cope with an emotion you may be having, you create a situation where you truly lose your coping skills. In addition, you are also numbing out your feelings and thoughts through your compulsive gambling behavior.

 

When we seek out gambling as a best friend, we really need our friends and family. This is what we are truly seeking.  We are looking for love, companionship and the good company of others and we replace gambling for these true needs.

 

Humans are social beings, and if we are feeling lonely we need to seek out others to fulfill these social needs. If we are an empty nester, single, widowed, or divorced, we may have more difficulty meeting these social needs. Even if this is more of a challenge, we can try to meet these needs the best we can.

 

There are many groups that those with a gambling problem  can join to gain a sense of belongingness. Gamblers Anonymous or other self-help groups are a good choice. Meetup.com is a website with  local groups from different areas of the country , offering groups of special interests to all people.

 

Gambling is a best friend that is a devil in disguise. If you have a gambling problem and you turn to gambling to meet your need for real people, there is help available.  You can change this pattern by getting professional help, reading self-help literature, and severing contact with a very unhealthy relationship called gambling.

 

 

Michelle Tee

Help With Your Gambling Addiction Problem