Free Yourself from Gambling
November 3, 2011 by Nan
Filed under Addictions, Gambling
Those in the gambling industry would like to sweep gambling addiction under the carpet. Yet the issue is a very serious one … much more than you may think.
People from all backgrounds and with all types of financial situations can find themselves addicted to gambling. And it isn’t just adults that suffer. Many teenagers are involved in gambling with their friends.
A gambling addiction is nothing to fool around with. It can deceive your brain into becoming “hooked” and before long, you could find yourself in a destructive downward spiral. Gambling has the power to rob you not only of your hard-earned money, but also of your dignity and peace of mind. It can even take away joy from your relationships and family life. It is a disastrous habit pattern that can and will affect your whole life if you allow it to. The most dangerous part? It often takes control before you know what happened.
If you are a gambler, you may not realize the extent your life is being affected. If you are making excuses for your actions (like missing work or school) or telling yourself it doesn’t have a a hold on you, you are deceiving yourself. When you continue to spend more and more money in the hopes of that ‘one big win,’ or you spend nearly all your time thinking about gambling, face it. You have a problem and you need to take a serious look at how it is affecting your life.
Many like to play at online casinos because it’s easier to hide your addiction from others (you don’t have to leave home), but it can become an addiction nevertheless.
Fortunately, there is treatment available for your gambling addiction. Many people who want to stop gambling choose 12-step programs (mainly because they’re free). However, they have a very low success rate. Over 90% of those who use this method continue to suffer from the addiction.
Psychotherapy is another treatment option, but it can cost a great deal of time and money. However, if you can afford it, psychotherapy has proven to be effective for many addicted gamblers.
Medication is sometimes prescribed, but usually in very extreme cases – and only rarely does it remove the underlying urge to gamble.
One relatively inexpensive method you might want to investigate if you’re truly interested in breaking free of your gambling 
addiction is a self-help guide called, “Your Life Beyond Gambling.” Based on years of experience and research, the guide includes case studies done on those who have successfully ended their gambling addiction.
It consists of a step-by-step approach that allows you to easily apply the practices to your own life so you can quit for good!
Don’t let your gambling problem get any worse. Stop it NOW before it destroys your relationships as well as your finances.
P.S. It doesn’t matter whether it’s poker, slot machines, roulette, scratch cards, the lottery, black jack, sports betting, bingo, craps, Keno, horses, or video poker – it’s all gambling. And if it’s become a compulsion, it’s time to STOP!
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Sure, everyone loves to gamble. But, the person sitting next to you in church, the man in line at the grocery store, or one of your co-workers; any one of these could be involved with a gambling problem. Imagine your grandmother committing a crime to support her gambling addiction. I am a recovering alcoholic, gambler, and have recovered from other addictive behaviors. I published a book, Gripped by Gambling, where the readers can follow the destructive path of the compulsive gambler, a prison sentence, and then on to the recovery road.
I recently published a second book, Switching Addictions, describing additional issues that confront the recovering addict. If a person who has an addictive personality, doesn’t admit to at least two addictions, he’s not being honest. These are two books you might consider adding to your library. I also publish a free online newsletter, Women Helping Women, which has been on-line for more than ten years and is read by hundreds of women (and men) from around the world. (www.femalegamblers.info). I have been interviewed many times, and appeared on the 60 Minutes show in January 2011, which was moderated by Leslie Stahl.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Lancelot
Thank you for stopping by and offering your in-depth comments on addictions.