No other addiction can be highly brutal and destructive than gambling addiction. Even though many people say that drug addiction is a little bit more deadly, it does not reach the level of destruction that gambling addiction can bring. Some of the dire consequences that gambling addiction can lead to include bankruptcy, anxiety, job loss, development of depression, one can even lose family and friends, and in more severe cases it can lead to suicide. This is why it is important that if one has become addicted to gambling, they should stop it earlier rather than later. Gambling addiction has no discrimination, it can occur to anybody in life.
Gambling addiction does not matter whether one is educated or not, poor or rich if you are hooked to the vice, and you allow yourself to slide further, it is more likely that you will feel the negative effects of it. Even though it is not easy to quit gambling, there are some ways that you can help yourself before getting to the point of no return. Here are some of the ways that can help you overcome gambling addiction and reclaim your life.
Take a break
The first step that you should take is making a decision not to engage in gambling. Just make a decision not to gamble on that particular day. Even though it is just for a single day, it is okay. If a whole day is not applicable to you, you can take it a minute per minute. All you need to do is to promise yourself that you are not going to gamble on that day. To achieve this, you should plan your day in a way that you do not have a lot of free time.
Find a replacement activity
Find something else to do instead of gambling. You can go to the gym, go shopping, take a walk with friends or you can even undertake cooking classes. You can also listen to music rent and watch a movie, or you can embark on reading a book. Do whatever you can do so long as you ensure that you are busy. The ultimate goal of doing all this is to stop gambling. Just find a replacement and keep yourself busy.
Remember how bad it feels to lose
Whenever you feel the urge of gambling, just remember how it feels losing your hard earned money either in a casino, through online betting or even sports betting. When you have such thoughts, you will feel less likely to place a bet. The feeling of losing your hard earned money will always prevent you from betting.
Educate yourself about gambling
Learn and have as much information as possible concerning gambling. By so doing, you will be able to know the type of gambler that you are, and how best you can get yourself out of that situation. Some of the other measures that can help you get out of gambling addiction to include: finding yourself some self-help material, making a financial plan, getting a support group to help you out of gambling addiction, or you can even hand over the control of your money.
If all of the above does not work, you can find yourself a good counselor, who can guide you through the entire process.