Understanding
Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction is a serious behavioural addiction characterised by compulsive gambling despite negative consequences. It can devastate finances, relationships, and mental health, with the person feeling unable to control their urge to gamble regardless of the impact on their life.
Understanding
Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction is a serious behavioural addiction characterised by compulsive gambling despite negative consequences. It can devastate finances, relationships, and mental health, with the person feeling unable to control their urge to gamble regardless of the impact on their life.
Understanding
Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction is a serious behavioural addiction characterised by compulsive gambling despite negative consequences. It can devastate finances, relationships, and mental health, with the person feeling unable to control their urge to gamble regardless of the impact on their life.
What does Gambling Addiction feel like?
Living with gambling addiction can feel like being trapped on an emotional rollercoaster with devastating consequences. You might experience intense cravings to gamble, feeling restless or irritable when unable to place bets, and finding it impossible to stop despite mounting losses. Many people describe feeling consumed by thoughts of gambling, constantly planning the next bet, or believing the next win will solve all their problems.
The cycle of anticipation, brief highs from winning, and crushing lows from losing becomes all-consuming. Shame and secrecy often develop as debts accumulate, lies multiply, and relationships suffer. The addiction creates a double life where you might desperately want to stop but feel powerless against the compulsion to continue gambling.
Common Symptoms
Compulsive gambling despite significant losses or negative consequences
Preoccupation with gambling and constant thoughts about betting
Need to gamble with increasing amounts to achieve excitement
Restlessness or irritability when trying to cut down or stop
Lying to family, friends, or therapists about gambling activities
Jeopardising relationships, jobs, or opportunities due to gambling
Chasing losses by gambling more to try to recover money
Relying on others to provide money to relieve financial crises
What does Gambling Addiction feel like?
Living with gambling addiction can feel like being trapped on an emotional rollercoaster with devastating consequences. You might experience intense cravings to gamble, feeling restless or irritable when unable to place bets, and finding it impossible to stop despite mounting losses. Many people describe feeling consumed by thoughts of gambling, constantly planning the next bet, or believing the next win will solve all their problems.
The cycle of anticipation, brief highs from winning, and crushing lows from losing becomes all-consuming. Shame and secrecy often develop as debts accumulate, lies multiply, and relationships suffer. The addiction creates a double life where you might desperately want to stop but feel powerless against the compulsion to continue gambling.
Common Symptoms
Compulsive gambling despite significant losses or negative consequences
Preoccupation with gambling and constant thoughts about betting
Need to gamble with increasing amounts to achieve excitement
Restlessness or irritability when trying to cut down or stop
Lying to family, friends, or therapists about gambling activities
Jeopardising relationships, jobs, or opportunities due to gambling
Chasing losses by gambling more to try to recover money
Relying on others to provide money to relieve financial crises
What does Gambling Addiction feel like?
Living with gambling addiction can feel like being trapped on an emotional rollercoaster with devastating consequences. You might experience intense cravings to gamble, feeling restless or irritable when unable to place bets, and finding it impossible to stop despite mounting losses. Many people describe feeling consumed by thoughts of gambling, constantly planning the next bet, or believing the next win will solve all their problems.
The cycle of anticipation, brief highs from winning, and crushing lows from losing becomes all-consuming. Shame and secrecy often develop as debts accumulate, lies multiply, and relationships suffer. The addiction creates a double life where you might desperately want to stop but feel powerless against the compulsion to continue gambling.
Common Symptoms
Compulsive gambling despite significant losses or negative consequences
Preoccupation with gambling and constant thoughts about betting
Need to gamble with increasing amounts to achieve excitement
Restlessness or irritability when trying to cut down or stop
Lying to family, friends, or therapists about gambling activities
Jeopardising relationships, jobs, or opportunities due to gambling
Chasing losses by gambling more to try to recover money
Relying on others to provide money to relieve financial crises
History of Gambling Addiction
Understanding gambling addiction has evolved from viewing it as a moral failing to recognising it as a legitimate behavioural addiction requiring professional treatment.
1980
Pathological gambling was first included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, marking its recognition as a mental health condition rather than simply a lack of willpower or moral weakness.
1990s
Research began revealing similarities between gambling addiction and substance addictions, including shared brain pathways and neurochemical responses, leading to better understanding of its addictive nature.
2000s
The rise of online gambling and increased gambling accessibility led to greater awareness of problem gambling prevalence, whilst treatment programmes specifically for gambling addiction became more widely available.
Present
Modern understanding recognises gambling disorder as a behavioural addiction with neurobiological components, treated through evidence-based therapies, support groups, financial counselling, and harm reduction approaches that address both the addiction and its consequences.
History of Gambling Addiction
Understanding gambling addiction has evolved from viewing it as a moral failing to recognising it as a legitimate behavioural addiction requiring professional treatment.
1980
Pathological gambling was first included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, marking its recognition as a mental health condition rather than simply a lack of willpower or moral weakness.
1990s
Research began revealing similarities between gambling addiction and substance addictions, including shared brain pathways and neurochemical responses, leading to better understanding of its addictive nature.
2000s
The rise of online gambling and increased gambling accessibility led to greater awareness of problem gambling prevalence, whilst treatment programmes specifically for gambling addiction became more widely available.
Present
Modern understanding recognises gambling disorder as a behavioural addiction with neurobiological components, treated through evidence-based therapies, support groups, financial counselling, and harm reduction approaches that address both the addiction and its consequences.
History of Gambling Addiction
Understanding gambling addiction has evolved from viewing it as a moral failing to recognising it as a legitimate behavioural addiction requiring professional treatment.
1980
Pathological gambling was first included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, marking its recognition as a mental health condition rather than simply a lack of willpower or moral weakness.
1990s
Research began revealing similarities between gambling addiction and substance addictions, including shared brain pathways and neurochemical responses, leading to better understanding of its addictive nature.
2000s
The rise of online gambling and increased gambling accessibility led to greater awareness of problem gambling prevalence, whilst treatment programmes specifically for gambling addiction became more widely available.
Present
Modern understanding recognises gambling disorder as a behavioural addiction with neurobiological components, treated through evidence-based therapies, support groups, financial counselling, and harm reduction approaches that address both the addiction and its consequences.
Take our free self-test
Take our free self-test
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Instructions
Answer the questions based on the last few weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test explores whether therapy could be helpful for you right now. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
Instructions
Answer the questions based on the last few weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test explores whether therapy could be helpful for you right now. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
Instructions
Answer the questions based on the last few weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test explores whether therapy could be helpful for you right now. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
How therapy can help
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has proven highly effective for gambling addiction, helping identify triggers, challenge distorted thinking patterns, and develop alternative coping strategies. Therapy addresses the underlying beliefs about luck, control, and money that fuel gambling behaviour, whilst building skills for managing urges and preventing relapse.
Treatment often includes financial counselling to address debt and money management, family therapy to repair damaged relationships, and support groups for ongoing peer support. Therapists also address any co-occurring mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or substance use that may contribute to gambling addiction.
Benefits of Therapy
Identify and manage gambling triggers and high-risk situations
Challenge distorted thoughts about luck, probability, and control
Develop healthy coping strategies for stress and difficult emotions
Learn financial management and debt recovery strategies
Rebuild damaged relationships and improve communication skills
Address underlying mental health issues like depression or anxiety
Create relapse prevention plans and early warning systems
Build long-term recovery skills and meaningful life goals
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about gambling addiction and recovery treatment options
How do I know if my gambling has become an addiction rather than just entertainment?
Can someone with gambling addiction ever gamble recreationally again?
How can I recover financially from gambling addiction?
How can family members help someone with gambling addiction?
How therapy can help
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has proven highly effective for gambling addiction, helping identify triggers, challenge distorted thinking patterns, and develop alternative coping strategies. Therapy addresses the underlying beliefs about luck, control, and money that fuel gambling behaviour, whilst building skills for managing urges and preventing relapse.
Treatment often includes financial counselling to address debt and money management, family therapy to repair damaged relationships, and support groups for ongoing peer support. Therapists also address any co-occurring mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or substance use that may contribute to gambling addiction.
Benefits of Therapy
Identify and manage gambling triggers and high-risk situations
Challenge distorted thoughts about luck, probability, and control
Develop healthy coping strategies for stress and difficult emotions
Learn financial management and debt recovery strategies
Rebuild damaged relationships and improve communication skills
Address underlying mental health issues like depression or anxiety
Create relapse prevention plans and early warning systems
Build long-term recovery skills and meaningful life goals
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about gambling addiction and recovery treatment options
How do I know if my gambling has become an addiction rather than just entertainment?
Can someone with gambling addiction ever gamble recreationally again?
How can I recover financially from gambling addiction?
How can family members help someone with gambling addiction?
How therapy can help
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has proven highly effective for gambling addiction, helping identify triggers, challenge distorted thinking patterns, and develop alternative coping strategies. Therapy addresses the underlying beliefs about luck, control, and money that fuel gambling behaviour, whilst building skills for managing urges and preventing relapse.
Treatment often includes financial counselling to address debt and money management, family therapy to repair damaged relationships, and support groups for ongoing peer support. Therapists also address any co-occurring mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or substance use that may contribute to gambling addiction.
Benefits of Therapy
Identify and manage gambling triggers and high-risk situations
Challenge distorted thoughts about luck, probability, and control
Develop healthy coping strategies for stress and difficult emotions
Learn financial management and debt recovery strategies
Rebuild damaged relationships and improve communication skills
Address underlying mental health issues like depression or anxiety
Create relapse prevention plans and early warning systems
Build long-term recovery skills and meaningful life goals
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about gambling addiction and recovery treatment options
How do I know if my gambling has become an addiction rather than just entertainment?
Can someone with gambling addiction ever gamble recreationally again?
How can I recover financially from gambling addiction?
How can family members help someone with gambling addiction?
