According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately 2 million Americans qualify as compulsive gamblers. Statistics compiled by the American Psychological Association indicate the average male pathological gambler has incurred a debt in the range of $55,000 to $90,000. Pathological gambling is a mental health disorder that can fracture your personal and professional life. Alarmingly, pathological gamblers account for more than 20 times the amount of suicide attempts than non-gamblers do. Thankfully, you can be successfully treated for your gambling problem and addiction.
Identification
Clear Point Credit Counseling Solutions lists indicators on their website that would suggest you may have a gambling problem. Many gamblers keep their habit secretive from friends and family. Problem gamblers often remain discreet about their habits because they don't want to alarm friends and family who have already expressed concern. If you are a compulsive gambler, you may be unable to stop gambling despite lacking the financial means to continue.
Consequences
If you are a compulsive gambler, your personal and professional relationships may be badly strained. Your habit may have you in financial ruins and it's possible you may even resort to stealing money to continue gambling. Theft, fraud and embezzlement are not uncommon crimes committed by degenerate gamblers. Sadly, many gamblers don't see an outlet to curb their addiction and they wrongly decide that suicide is their best option.
Gambling Debts
If you have gambled your way into financial shambles, there are debt management options that you can consider to better your situation. The organization Gamblers Anonymous can help you establish a sound budget and provide you with advice on how to contact, and interact with, creditors. This organization can also help you with debt consolidation and bankruptcy. Debt management experts recommend that you don't repay several debts with one large loan. Experts believe that giving a problem gambler a large loan will spur their desire to again wager. Bankruptcy is considered an absolute last resort. When you file for bankruptcy, your credit rating is left in tatters. Plus, bankruptcy should also be a last emergency option because you can only file for it once every seven years.
Treatment Options
If you are a compulsive gambler, the biggest step that you can initially take is acknowledging your problem. After you admit that you have a problem, seeking therapy for gambling addiction and Gamblers Anonymous are two tremendous options for treatment. Gamblers Anonymous developed a 12-step recovery program that is similar to the one used by Alcoholics Anonymous. Gamblers Anonymous can prove successful because it places you in an environment with people who are experiencing issues comparable to the ones you are. If you are a problem gambler, you may also want to seek cognitive-behavioral therapy. This form of therapy teaches gamblers how to deal with their urges and it can reprogram your thinking toward gambling.
Rehabilitation
If you can admit that you have a gambling problem, you can recover from your habit. With hard work and help, your gambling problem and addiction can be successfully treated.
