Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Nowadays, there are many forms of gambling, from casinos to online slot gambling.
If you have a gambling addiction problem, you are constantly pursuing bets that result in losses, depleting your savings, and seeking loans or debt. Worse yet, someone who is addicted to gambling can commit theft or fraud in order to continue gambling.
For those who have been trapped in online gambling addiction, you need to find a way out. Here’s how to get rid of online gambling addiction, according to the Gate Away Foundation:
1. Understand the problem
Admitting that you are struggling with a gambling addiction is the first step you should take. If you recognize the signs and symptoms, you can work to change your behavior and improve your life.
People who, over a 12-month period meet four of the nine criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association, are considered to have a gambling disorder or gambling addiction:
- Feeling the need to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired excitement
- Restlessness or irritability when trying to reduce or stop gambling
- Have made repeated attempts to control, reduce, or stop gambling but have failed
- Often preoccupied with gambling (e.g. constantly thinking about recalling past gambling experiences) or planning the next gamble and thinking about how to get money to gamble
- Often gambles when feeling stressed (for example when sad, anxious or depressed)
- After losing at gambling, often returns another day to take revenge (chase the loss)
- Lying to hide the extent of his involvement in gambling
- Gambling activities can harm relationships, jobs, education or careers
- Relying on others to provide money to alleviate a messy financial situation caused by gambling
There are also several social problems associated with gambling, including lying about your activities or borrowing or stealing money to gamble.
2. Look for triggers
To overcome gambling addiction, you need to look for triggers. In other words, you must understand the reasons behind your gambling and any external stressors that may be contributing to gambling addiction.
The trigger can be any situation, thought, feeling or behavior that makes you want to gamble.
For example, being around friends with similar habits triggers many problem gamblers. Additionally, you may be more likely to gamble when under the influence of alcohol.
Those addicted to gambling have a higher risk of using drugs, which may arise from the same stressors.
To identify triggers, you can start by documenting them in a journal. You can record the type of gambling, time spent, and amount of money lost. Next, write down the thoughts, feelings and situations that occurred before and during the gambling session to understand what caused the craving.
3. Identify thoughts and feelings
The urge to gamble can be very strong, and when you experience it, you may feel like it will last forever. However, this feeling will pass.
Paying attention to your emotional health can help control those emotions.
If your urge to gamble increases, take a moment to note the following.
- Thoughts: You may be preoccupied with daydreaming about gambling and reliving past moments.
- Feelings: Maybe you feel bored or stressed about something.
Coping techniques: There are specific ways you can learn to cope with gambling, such as distracting yourself with a new hobby.
Do negative feelings such as depression or stress cause you to gamble? In this case, a good coping mechanism is to go to therapy or discuss your emotions with a trusted friend or family member.
4. Avoid high-risk situations
Avoiding high-risk situations is essential when trying to break a gambling addiction.
Instead of spending hours playing poker online, you can call a family member or friend to meet for coffee. Or you can distract yourself with activities like watching a movie, doing mindfulness exercises like deep breathing, or going to the gym.
Try the following techniques to prevent high-risk situations:
- Stay away from casinos and online gambling sites
- Turn off your credit card
- Don’t take out loans
- Never carry large amounts of cash
- Delete gambling applications from your cellphone
- Don’t socialize with friends who gamble
- Avoid people, places and activities that you associate with gambling
5. Seek social support
Social support is an important component so that you can stop gambling addiction. You can discuss your addiction problems with a trusted friend or family member. They can help you avoid gambling triggers and be a companion with whom you discuss stress or anxiety that can lead to addiction.
You can also look for people who are struggling with gambling addiction. With people who have had similar experiences, you can share your stories in a non-judgmental atmosphere.
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