A gambler with an addiction may view the pastime as a way to solve problems and be unable to wager responsibly, the Keeping the Score website says. If you're hoping to get your interest in gambling under control before it escalates into a compulsion that affects your professional and personal life, adopt new habits and activities as a healthy diversion.
Monitor Activity
Keep a journal to record your gambling habits to determine whether you have a behavior pattern. Note the time and date, what you were doing before you gambled and how you felt afterward. If you discover that you only play online poker or head to the racetrack when you're bored on the weekend, for instance, find another activity to keep yourself occupied during those "danger" points. If you repeatedly head to a casino as a way to distract yourself from personal problems, commemorate an achievement or reduce stress after work, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Counseling Services suggests seeking help. Gambling for these reasons may indicate an addiction.
Stay Busy
Stop yourself from gambling by keeping yourself occupied with different activities. Spend time outdoors with friends or family members hiking, fishing or cycling. Adopt a hobby, such as reading, knitting, scrapbooking or stamp collecting. Take a dancing, cooking, photography or painting class to develop new skills. Adult classes also help you make new friends who don't have a gambling habit if you often gamble simply because your current friends enjoy placing bets.
Avoid Tempting Situations
Follow a suggestion from the Help Guide website and reduce gambling activity by avoiding tempting situations. Stay away from your friend's house when you know he's having a poker party and don't watch a televised sports event at a casino's "sports book," where you'll most likely gamble afterward. If you're afraid you'll be tempted to go to a racetrack after work or while running errands, carry a limited amount of cash and leave your ATM and credit cards at home.
Be Accountable
Ask a friend or family member to monitor your behavior to help you stop gambling. If you play poker or place bets online, for example, place the computer in a common area of your home so you won't be able to access those websites undetected. You can also put a relative in charge of your finances and get an allowance so you can't withdraw cash or use credit cards to gamble.
Seek Therapy
If you continue to gamble even after you've tried to distract yourself and enlist the help of loved ones, the Mayo Clinic recommends seeking the help of a physician or mental health professional. An expert can determine whether you're a compulsive gambler, help you uncover the causes of the addiction and suggest the appropriate treatment--such as group therapy or cognitive behavior therapy--to eliminate the feelings or beliefs that lead you to gamble.
Member Comments