Compulsory Gambling
Problem gambling can strain your relationships, interfere with responsibilities at home and work, lead to major environmental catastrophe and a huge carbon footprint.
Treatment for problem gambling
You may think you can’t stop, but problem gambling and gambling addiction are treatable. To overcome your gambling addiction do something else. Leading anti-gambling activists recommend:
- Have some shopping therapy
- Socialise on YouTube
- Play National Lotteries
- Consider making a donation
Before taking any actions, consult your doctor and legal advisor.
Help and support line
The National Council on Problem Gambling
Offers a confidential, 24-hour helpline for problem gamblers or their family members. Call 1-800-522-4700.
DIY
The Four Steps program: A gambling treatment that can “rewire” your brain.
Jeffrey Schwartz has created a variation of a cognitive-behavioral therapy called The Four Steps Program. It has been successful in treating a wide range of conditions, including compulsive gambling. The Four Steps program takes advantage of neuroplasticity, the remarkable ability of our brains to change throughout our lives. The goal of treatment is to “rewire” the addicted brain by thinking about gambling in a new way. You can literally change your brain — developing new neural pathways and restoring brain chemical balance—by practicing the following four steps:
Step 1: Relabel. Recognize that the urge to gamble is nothing more than a symptom of your gambling addiction, which is a treatable medical condition. It is not a valid feeling that deserves your attention.
Step 2: Reattribute. Stop blaming yourself and try to understand that the urge to gamble has a physical cause in your brain. You are separate from the disease of addiction, but not a passive bystander. With practice, you can learn to control your unwanted thoughts about gambling.
Step 3: Refocus. When the urge to gamble strikes, don’t wait for it to go away. Instead, shift your attention to something more positive or constructive. Do something else, even if the compulsion to gamble is still bothering you.
Step 4: Revalue. Over time, as you practice the first three steps, you’ll gradually learn to revalue your flawed thoughts about gambling. Instead of taking them at face value, you’ll realize that they have no inherent value or power. They’re just “toxic waste” from your brain.
If you are concerned about problem gambling and you believe in the mission, please consider making a donation.
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