Ease of access, the accelerated pace of the games, and dopamine rushes make it completely understandable why this can become a struggle. Neurological research has even connected non-drug behavioral addictions including gambling to changes in the brain — and all the associated cravings, impaired control, withdrawal — to those found in people who abuse drugs. The craving, behavior, and response happen unconsciously.
Place more barriers between yourself and the addictive behavior. The pattern right now is probably to sit down at your computer or whip out your phone and navigate to a gambling website a few seconds later.
The Freedom App can help you do just that. Instead of using willpower to stop yourself every time you feel an urge to gamble, which is unsustainable and exhausting, make a decision once and schedule your blocks beforehand. Not only does this keep you from visiting dangerous websites. Freedom works on Windows, Mac, and iOS devices. Apply your settings once, then get protection across multiple platforms and devices. Think of it like adding an event to a calendar app; you set it up once, and it repeats as often as you choose.
Choose Recurring session on the dashboard. In the example above, the recurring block is set to only on weekdays. This means that you will be refused service at online and offline locations from which you are self-excluded in all the states you selected.
However, requesting a ban from several states can be a long and tedious process involving filling several forms and writing countless emails. DoNotPay can find every state's self-exclusion laws and reference them in your request. If you want to stop gambling but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 6 easy steps:. Tell us which state the casino is located in, or the state you're accessing the online casino from.
DoNotPay will then find your state's self-exclusion laws and reference them in your request. Select how long you want to be banned for you can choose anywhere from 1 year to a lifetime!
Answer a few of our chatbot questions so we can help the casino identify you or your online account. If you want to be banned from an in-person casino, it helps to provide information about your height, weight, race, and other identifying features. Choose whether you want us to email the request to the casino on your behalf. You can also choose to notarize your document to legally verify your identity. Gambling addiction is classified as a mental health disorder, meaning:. The Internet has made gambling far more accessible and, therefore, harder for recovering addicts to avoid relapse.
Online casinos and bookmakers are open all day, every day for anyone with a smartphone or access to a computer. One way to stop gambling is to remove the elements necessary for gambling to occur in your life and replace them with healthier choices. The four elements needed for gambling to continue are:. A decision: For gambling to happen, you need to make the decision to gamble.
If you have an urge: stop what you are doing and call someone, think about the consequences to your actions, tell yourself to stop thinking about gambling, and find something else to do immediately. Money: Gambling cannot occur without money.
Get rid of your credit cards, let someone else be in charge of your money, have the bank make automatic payments for you, close online betting accounts, and keep only a limited amount of cash on you.
Schedule enjoyable recreational time for yourself that has nothing to do with gambling. A game: Without a game or activity to bet on there is no opportunity to gamble. Tell gambling establishments you frequent that you have a gambling problem and ask them to restrict you from entering. Remove gambling apps and block gambling sites on your smartphone and computer. Maintaining recovery from gambling addiction depends a lot on finding alternative behaviors you can substitute for gambling.
Some examples include:. Feeling the urge to gamble is normal, but as you build healthier choices and a strong support network, resisting cravings will become easier. When a gambling craving strikes:. Avoid isolation. Call a trusted family member, meet a friend for coffee, or go to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Postpone gambling.
As you wait, the urge to gamble may pass or become weak enough to resist. Visualize what will happen if you give in to the urge to gamble. Distract yourself with another activity , such as going to the gym, watching a movie, or practicing a relaxation exercise for gambling cravings.
Overcoming a gambling addiction is a tough process. You may slip from time to time; the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and continue working towards recovery. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional about different treatment options, including:. Inpatient or residential treatment and rehab programs. These are aimed at those with severe gambling addiction who are unable to avoid gambling without round-the-clock support.
Treatment for underlying conditions contributing to your compulsive gambling, including substance abuse or mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD. This could include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Problem gambling can sometimes be a symptom of bipolar disorder , so your doctor or therapist may need to rule this out before making a diagnosis. Cognitive-behavioral therapy. CBT for gambling addiction focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and false beliefs.
It can also teach you how to fight gambling urges and solve financial, work, and relationship problems caused by problem gambling. Therapy can provide you with the tools for coping with your addiction that will last a lifetime. Family therapy and marriage, career, and credit counseling. These can help you work through the specific issues that have been created by your problem gambling and lay the foundation for repairing your relationships and finances.
If you are concerned about your gambling habits and mostly bet or wager online, you can download software that stops you from accessing these sites. There are two different types of blocking programs that you can use:. These programs let you choose the types of websites you do not want to be able to visit, whether they are gambling sites or not.
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