How to Stop Gambling
Gambling is putting something of value, such as money or possessions, on an event that has a random outcome and the intent to win. This is a form of risk-taking that can have both positive and negative social, personal and financial consequences.
It’s possible to gamble without becoming addicted, but it’s also easy for gambling to become a problem, and it can affect the lives of those around the person who is gambling. For example, it can affect a person’s physical and mental health, relationships with family or friends, performance at work or study and may even result in serious debt and even homelessness. In fact, Public Health England reports that it is likely more than 400 suicides per year are linked to problematic gambling.
Some people are more vulnerable to developing a gambling addiction than others, including children. Research suggests that younger people are more likely to develop a gambling addiction than older adults, and they can be more susceptible to it because of the influence of peers who are also gambling. People with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are also more at risk of developing a gambling addiction.
Gambling has been around as long as humans have, and has often been associated with crime, social injustice, political corruption and both positive and negative economic and social effects. There is evidence of gambling throughout the world, from dice found in the ancient city of Troy to loaded dice buried with Pharaohs, and there is no doubt that the act of gambling is addictive.
Generally, there are four reasons why someone might start gambling: for social reasons – to get involved with friends who are already gambling; for coping reasons – because it helps them forget their worries; for entertainment reasons – they enjoy the thrill of winning and losing, and thinking about what they might do with the money; and for financial reasons – they believe that if they bet more, their chances of winning will increase.
The key to stopping gambling is knowing how to identify the signs of gambling addiction and then addressing them. One way to do this is by strengthening your support network and finding healthy ways to deal with boredom or stress. This can include exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, joining a book club or sports team, taking up a new hobby, or volunteering.
Changing how you spend your spare time can also help, and many people have been helped by attending a peer support group such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is modelled on Alcoholics Anonymous. There are also some support services available online, such as the GamCare helpline and the National Gambling Helpline. The key is to find the right service for you and your needs. This is a difficult journey, but you can get through it. We hope this article has been helpful to you and that it will encourage you to talk to someone if you are concerned about the gambling habits of yourself or a loved one.