WHAT IT REALLY TAKES TO START RECOVERING FROM GAMBLING ADDICTION

Addiction recovery may not start with an ideal plan. It begins with a silent moment of truth, when you realize that gambling is not enjoyable, and that it has left you with more than it has brought. You don’t need to have everything figured out to get better. But recovery requires something of you as well:

Making the concession that it is a problem

This may seem like a no-brainer, but this is where many individuals fail. You may continue to assure yourself that you are capable of managing it. That you are going through a challenging time, or that a big win is all it takes. However, deep inside, that is not the case.

It is hard to accept that gambling is affecting you negatively in one way or another. It could be financially, emotionally, or in your relationships. But acceptance is not weakness. It is an indicator of being willing to get out of the hole.

Giving up the notion of winning it back

The feeling that you will fix your losses by betting to win more is one of the biggest mental traps. That thinking is what keeps you hooked. The reality of the matter is that many people in this loop end up losing significantly in an attempt to restore what had been lost.

One of the initial steps towards getting free is by dropping the desire to achieve a break-even. It is also one of the most painful aspects. However, as soon as you quit chasing losses, you create room to begin recovering.

Talking to someone who understands

You may assume that nobody will understand what you are going through. But that is not the case. The first step of recovery begins when you confide in someone. It could be a trusted friend, a support group, or a professional.

Holding it all inside will only leave you in that disillusioned state. Just a word of honesty can be the start of a new beginning.

Seeking professional help

You don’t have to guess your way through addiction recovery. Find a professional therapist or a counselor who is trained to aid in gambling addiction recovery. Some specialize in science-driven gambling addiction treatment that aims to assist you in realizing the reasons why you developed an issue with gambling in the first place and how to resolve it.

Professional help will not only help you quit gambling. It is a matter of developing new habits, dealing with urges, and learning how to get along with stress and anxiety without gambling.

Progressing slowly

Recovery is a step-by-step process in the right direction. It could be:

• Erasing a gambling app
• Blocking internet access to sites
• Implementing financial security measures.

It is all about consistency. Some days you will have it tough, perhaps even setbacks. This does not signify that you have failed. You are on the right track.

Concluding remarks

You don’t have to lose everything before the idea “enough is enough” comes up. Even when gambling has started to put you into a feeling of not being in control, it is justification enough to start the recovery process.

Addiction recovery may not start with an ideal plan. It begins with a silent moment of truth, when you realize that gambling is not enjoyable, and that it has left you with more than it has brought. You don’t need to have everything figured out to get better. But recovery requires something of you as well:

Making the concession that it is a problem

This may seem like a no-brainer, but this is where many individuals fail. You may continue to assure yourself that you are capable of managing it. That you are going through a challenging time, or that a big win is all it takes. However, deep inside, that is not the case.

It is hard to accept that gambling is affecting you negatively in one way or another. It could be financially, emotionally, or in your relationships. But acceptance is not weakness. It is an indicator of being willing to get out of the hole.

Giving up the notion of winning it back

The feeling that you will fix your losses by betting to win more is one of the biggest mental traps. That thinking is what keeps you hooked. The reality of the matter is that many people in this loop end up losing significantly in an attempt to restore what had been lost.

One of the initial steps towards getting free is by dropping the desire to achieve a break-even. It is also one of the most painful aspects. However, as soon as you quit chasing losses, you create room to begin recovering.

Talking to someone who understands

You may assume that nobody will understand what you are going through. But that is not the case. The first step of recovery begins when you confide in someone. It could be a trusted friend, a support group, or a professional.

Holding it all inside will only leave you in that disillusioned state. Just a word of honesty can be the start of a new beginning.

Seeking professional help

You don’t have to guess your way through addiction recovery. Find a professional therapist or a counselor who is trained to aid in gambling addiction recovery. Some specialize in science-driven gambling addiction treatment that aims to assist you in realizing the reasons why you developed an issue with gambling in the first place and how to resolve it.

Professional help will not only help you quit gambling. It is a matter of developing new habits, dealing with urges, and learning how to get along with stress and anxiety without gambling.

Progressing slowly

Recovery is a step-by-step process in the right direction. It could be:

• Erasing a gambling app
• Blocking internet access to sites
• Implementing financial security measures.

It is all about consistency. Some days you will have it tough, perhaps even setbacks. This does not signify that you have failed. You are on the right track.

Concluding remarks

You don’t have to lose everything before the idea “enough is enough” comes up. Even when gambling has started to put you into a feeling of not being in control, it is justification enough to start the recovery process.