Counseling for Gambling Addiction
Gambling Addiction Costs Money and Ruins Lives
Gambling is widely accepted as a fun recreational activity, but it can turn into gambling addiction rapidly. If gambling is a fun, occasional activity where you carefully manage your risks and never spend more than you intended, then that might be perceived as “normal” gambling. However, that’s not how everyone’s experience with gambling goes. Many people get into compulsive and addictive gambling, which is usually accompanied by a rigid denial system with an endless array of rationalizations, minimizations and flat out lies they tell themselves and others to keep the addiction going. Meanwhile, finances are either nearing or have past the point of ruin and tragedy is not far away if it hasn’t occurred already.
A qualified addictions counselor is the best hope for breaking this cycle of addiction. If you are dealing with problems related to gambling, please reach out and schedule a consultation. Together, we can set the right treatment for you to provide the tools and skills you’ll
Here are the primary symptoms of someone with a gambling addiction:
- Gambling with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement
- Restless and irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
- Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling
- Preoccupation with gambling
- Gamble when feeling distressed
- After losing money gambling, they often return another day to “chase” their losses
- Lying to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling
Many who are addicted to gambling have jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, education or career opportunity because of gambling. Below are concerning statistics about people who are addicted to gambling:
- 60% will commit crimes
- 20% commit or attempt suicide
- 63% are alcoholics
- 20% have filed for bankruptcy
- 50% will abuse spouses and children
- 20% of the homeless are gambling addicts
- 50% of gambling addicts will divorce
- The average gambling debt is between $63,000 and $110,000
The good news: Gambling addiction, like all other addictive behaviors, can be successfully treated.
People oppressed by gambling addiction struggle with depression, anxiety and sometimes even other addictive behaviors. Additionally, relationship problems almost always accompany gambling addiction.
If you or a loved one is dealing with a gambling addiction, please reach out to me for a consultation. We can work on the individual issues surrounding your personal situation and provide tools and therapy that will lead to recovery. It won’t get better by itself and you deserve a happier, more empowered life.
(727) 394-7325
Personal and Confidential Counseling for Gambling Addiction and
all Addictive Behaviors