Gambling is a highly destructive and brutal addiction. This form of addiction has many terrible disadvantages and consequences that run the gamut from anxiety, depression, job loss, bankruptcy, loss of family and friends, and of course most terrible – suicide. This is the reason why it is very important (even a force) for the addicts to minimize gambling harm or stop gambling soon before everything becomes too late.
There is no one that cannot be spared of a gambling addiction. If the propensity is in front of your eyes and you cross over that invisible line into gambling problems or gambling addiction, no one, even you, can resist it.
In general, gambling addiction is one of the addictions which are hardest to fight against and beat off. It is also one of the most harmful addictions because it leads to a very high suicide rate.
How To Stop Gambling Addiction – Best Ways To Quit Gambling Forever:
It really does not matter if you are old or young, poor or rich, male or female, and uneducated or educated. Gambling addiction does not care how kind you are, how wealthy you are, or how intelligent you are. Gambling addiction can send people to jail, causes major occupation and social problems, financial devastation, emotional breakdown, mental instability, and even death. When a person living with the gambling addiction cannot stop this addiction, the consequences they will have to face are truly devastating.
It is not easy to quit gambling when you have a gambling problem or gambling addiction. However, there are some ways that you can use to help yourself before your life is ruined and you get no chance to return. Here are 10 best tips on how to stop gambling forever which can help you reclaim your life and restore yourself to healthy thinking and living ways.
1. Avoid Gambling Chances:
Avoiding gambling chances is very important for people who want to limit their gambling activities. For almost everyone, just fighting against with their cravings for gambling is also very hard and when the chances of gambling come, the temptation of this usually “win” their will.
For people who consider gambling is the “center” of their social life, they need to replace the chances of gambling with other relaxation activities such as going to see movies and going out for dinner.
If these tips do not work for you, The Gambling Addiction Cure is the best guide you should read to cure your gambling addiction forever.
2. Force Yourself Not To Go To The Casino:
For people who usually go to big gambling dens (casinos), there is also another way to avoid gambling – fill the voluntary exclusion form which is available in gambling dens. After filling this form, that people will be banned coming to that gambling den within a certain time period. Thanks to this way, the cravings for gambling will be gradually reduced and instead, people will realize other activities which worth trying.
3. Find Ways To Fight Against “Highly Dangerous Time”:
When the chances to earn money easily comes, they can evoke your gambling addiction, and the “highly dangerous time” of a person is the time they are prone to be seduced. If you have been gambling for a certain time period, you can see a “pattern” in this matter. These patterns are actually your personal “highly dangerous time”. Once you can realize when your “highly dangerous time” is, you can make a concrete plan to handle the matter. The plan you build to find ways to address the gambling problem will help you fight against the temptation from gambling effectively.
4. Replace Gambling With Other Wholesome Activities:
As I mentioned, gambling is usually to satisfy some of human daily life’s demands. Some people gamble to find strong emotion while some others gamble to “run away” from the mental stress, depression, fatigue, or bore. Might be you will find it is easier not to go to the casinos if you can take part in other wholesome activities in life.
Might be you need to rethink about your ways to fill the leisure time of yours before. Typically, when people go deeply into the gambling circle, they quit their interests, hobbies, and daily activities which used to bring them happiness and fun in the past. Turning back to your old interests and favorite activities which you used to like need many efforts, but you will finally realize that this way really worth trying. In addition, taking part in these activities will help you avoid gambling effectively.
Listing down things you can and you want to do in leisure time is also a very useful tip on how to stop gambling forever, ensuring that you will have other choices if there is a craving for gambling stimulating your soul. Might be you will be more successful in fighting against these stimulants if you can do things you like.
If these tips do not work for you, The Gambling Addiction Cure is the best guide you should read to cure your gambling addiction forever.
5. Meet Experts And Counselor That Specializes In Addictions For Advice:
It is really necessary for you to go to meet a counselor who specializes in addictions, especially gambling, and talk to him (or her) about your own issue. This is very important and is one of the best tips on how to stop gambling addiction I want you to follow. That is because if your addiction is very serious, you will need as much help as you can possibly get to stop gambling now.
6. Meet The Debt Counselors:
Meet and talk about your gambling debts to a debt counselor is also very useful because you will be able to relieve the current financial pressure and find out how to handle the financial issues you have to face caused by gambling. This is very necessary to do because the stress caused by debts from gambling addiction could totally drive you back to gambling if it is not handled. This is the most serious and strongest consequence of the gambling problem, and there is always help available from debt counselors. Make sure that you will use a non-profit debt-help agency, not the for-profit one.
7. Make A List Of How Gambling Has Been Affecting Your Life:
Make a list of how negatively your gambling addiction has influenced your current life. Write as much as you can and list them in a clear order so that you can easily read them and think seriously about them. On the right side of the paper sheet, you should write about how your life will positively change when you stop gambling. Put the list of how gambling has been affecting your life in negative way on the left side of that paper sheet and compare.
If these tips do not work for you, The Gambling Addiction Cure is the best guide you should read to cure your gambling addiction forever.
8. Have A Close Family Member Handle Your Money:
Have a close family member handle your money is also one of the most effective tips on how to stop gambling forever you should remember. It is obvious that if you do not have money on your person, you will have less chance to impulsively go to the casino and gamble this money away. This may be very difficult when your gambling craving comes, but it is actually an important step in your recovery. Moreover, do not allow yourself to access to credit cards or ATM. Just keep a small amount of cash in your wallet so you are not seduced to spend your money on gambling.
9. Lean On Self-Help For Gambling Addiction Books Or Courses:
Purchasing self-help for gambling addiction courses, or books, or just regular books about gambling addiction is also very useful for gambling addict. Moreover, self-hypnosis for gambling issues is also shown to be very useful. Besides, you can opt for joining some Gambling Problem/ Gambling Addiction group or forums online, or if you do not want to take part in them, just read other gambling addicts’ stories for experience and knowledge. When you read others’ stories of gambling addiction, you will realize that you are not alone.
10. Read Much As You Can About Gambling Addiction:
Read as much as you can about gambling addiction is the last tip on how to stop gambling I would like to show you in this article. Educating yourself about the different types of gambling, and especially the type of gambling you are stuck in is very useful. If you know what type of gambler you are, it will be much easier to handle the problem. Are you an action or an escape gambler? Once you know clearly about gambling addiction, especially the powerful negative effects it can leave on your life, you might think twice before deciding to go out for gambling.
This is the list covering 10 tips on how stop gambling forever that you and other readers of VKool.com who are gambling addicts can make use to quit gambling forever.
If you think that the tips on how to stop gambling forever I mentioned above are really what you are looking for and if you think that these tips will be also good for other people you know, you should not be hesitate to do this and let me see your feedbacks and comments by filling the comment form below!
If these tips do not work for you, The Gambling Addiction Cure is the best guide you should read to cure your gambling addiction forever.
Want More Content Like This In Your Inbox?
Last Updated: April 25, 2017 by
Brown Join The Discussion
vkool.com
1. Take a Short Break
When you wake up, make a decision that you will not gamble, just for this one day. If you have to do this an hour at a time, that is okay. Some might have to work one minute at a time, which is fine too, as long as you promise yourself that you will not gamble, and you keep the promise. Schedule your day in a very structured way so you do not have a lot of free time. Forbid yourself from entering a casino, downloading online gaming apps, or visiting gaming websites.
2. Find a Replacement Activity
Find something to replace your gambling. Exercise, go shopping, go out with friends, or do some cooking. You can also rent a movie, listen to some music, or do some reading — do whatever it takes to keep yourself busy. You could pick up a new, exciting hobby, like bike racing or climbing or welding.
Your goal is to stop gambling, and it is not easy when you get such a high from it. Finding replacements, however, can help. Try and see how it goes.
3. Remember How Bad It Feels to Lose
Remember the feeling when you lose a lot of money at the casino, online, or through sports betting. Allow yourself to feel that despondency when you are having thoughts about gambling again. You may find that you are less likely to go out and place a bet. I have done this before, and must admit that these feelings have stopped me from taking that ride to the casino. This hasn’t worked every time, but many times this tool has helped.
4. Educate Yourself About Gambling Addiction
Read as much as you can about gambling addiction. Educate yourself, especially about your particular type of gambling. Find out what type of gambler you are and whether you have a gambling problem and have crossed over this invisible line. Are you an escape or an action gambler? Find out what some of your triggers are, as this can help a lot. When you read about gambling addiction, especially the power that it can have on your psyche, you may think twice about going out and placing a bet.
The resources at the end of this article may be of some help to you.
5. Find Self-Help Materials
Seek help. Look for books or courses. Self-hypnosis for gambling problems can also be helpful. Consider joining an online gambling addiction forum. Even if you do not join, reading other people’s stories may help you realize that you are not alone. It is crucial that you realize that you are not the only person with this problem. Many share your plight and are looking for answers and support from other gamblers.
Again, there are resources at the bottom of this article that may be of some help to you.
6. Find a Support Group
Attend a Gamblers Anonymous meeting for group support. If you do not want to do a 12-Step program, there is an online program called Smart Recovery. Having support from other gamblers who also want to quit is an important piece of your recovery. Just talking about gambling with other people who understand what you’re going through can be really helpful.
7. Hand Over Control of Your Money
Ask a close family member to handle your money. If you do not have money on your person, you will be less apt to impulsively gamble money away. It will be hard, but it is an important step in your recovery. Also, do not allow yourself access to ATM or credit cards. Just keep a small amount of cash with you, so you cannot spend the money gambling.
8. List the Cons of Gambling and the Pros of Quitting
Make a list about how your gambling problem has affected your life in a negative way. Write as much as you can. Make the list on the left side of a sheet of paper so you have room on the right side. On the right side, write about how your life will change for the better when you stop gambling.
9. Make a Financial Plan
Talk to a debt counselor about your gambling debts. Ask for advice about how to relieve financial pressure and solve financial problems caused by your gambling. The financial stress that you have from gambling addiction debts can drive you back to gambling if not addressed. Financial problems are the biggest consequence of gambling, and help is available. Be sure to use a non-profit debt assistance agency, and not one that is for-profit.
10. Get a Good Counselor
See a counselor that specializes in addictions, especially gambling, and talk to this person about your problem. If your addiction is severe, you will need as much support as you can get to stop gambling now.
11. Get Help for Underlying Mood Disorders
Many people with a gambling problem also suffer from depression, anxiety, stress, or other substance abuse issues. These can both trigger compulsive gambling as well as make it worse.
12. Get in the Right Environment
Surround yourself with people that you trust who want to see you recover and avoid any kind of environment where you might be tempted to gamble, which could be anything from a casino, to being at home alone with your smartphone. Delete gambling apps from your phone and tell casinos that you have a problem and that you want them to block you from entering.
Some Final Thoughts
Gambling is a dangerous addictions because of the related risk of suicide. Find help now and make a plan to begin quitting. Take it one day, or hour, at a time and keep in mind how great you will feel when you have come clean and stopped gambling with your life.
healdove.com
