How to Stop Gambling
Gambling can be a fun and social activity, but it’s also a serious addiction that can harm your health, relationships, performance at work or studies and cause you to become financially vulnerable. If you’re a problem gambler, there are ways to help you stop gambling and get back on track with your life.
Identifying a Problem
If you have a problem with gambling, it’s important to be honest and open about it. Telling people that you are struggling with gambling can help them support you and keep your situation from getting worse. You may also want to consider talking to a professional, such as a mental health professional or a counsellor.
Keeping a Gambling Diary
It’s important to note all the events that occur during your gambling sessions, including what you were thinking and feeling at the time. This can help you to understand the root causes of your gambling problems and give you the motivation to get help.
Be aware of your feelings and urges when you’re gambling and take note of how they affect your life. For example, if you are always feeling stressed or depressed when you’re gambling, this is a sign that you might have an underlying mood disorder and need help to manage your symptoms.
If you find that your gambling habits are having a negative impact on your relationships, you should seek help from a counsellor or a social worker. They can provide you with a range of services to help you change your behaviour, including behavioural therapies and counselling.
You should also seek help if you think that your gambling is making it difficult for you to pay your bills or keep up with your mortgage. Seek free debt advice to discuss your finances, and make sure you’re able to repay your money on time.
Resolve to Change Your Lifestyle
One of the biggest challenges with gambling is that you often don’t have control over how much you spend. This can lead to significant financial losses. The best way to avoid this is to limit your gambling and focus on other activities.
Instead, try to replace the negative aspects of your gambling habits with positive ones. This will help you to feel better about yourself and your lifestyle.
It’s a good idea to seek help from a professional and talk about your gambling habits with someone you trust, such as a family member or a friend. This will allow you to have a confidential discussion about your problems, and it might even help you find ways to deal with them more effectively.
Adopt a New Habit
When you’re recovering from a gambling addiction, it can be very difficult to change your lifestyle. It’s easy to fall into the same old patterns, so it’s important to find new things to do and enjoy in place of gambling. This can include learning a new skill or trying out a new hobby, for example.
A new, healthier lifestyle is also important when you’re recovering from a gambling addiction. Using healthy practices such as exercise, eating well and getting enough sleep will help to improve your mental and physical wellbeing, and will reduce the risk of you becoming a problem gambler again in the future.