Treatment duration is a minimum of 28 days and can extend up to 8 weeks in primary care. Liberty Home Clinic provide residential treatment for those in need of help for their gambling troubles. We also offer sober living in our Belgian facility for those who wish to continue with further treatment once the initial phase has come to an end.
A gambling addiction is a medical condition that is defined by a person’s compulsive gambling. A person who has a gambling addiction will play regardless of the consequences that they suffer. They can lose their whole life savings, and they’ll take out loans, sometimes from unsavoury sources, so that they have the funds they need to keep on playing.
A person who has a gambling addiction will keep on playing even if they win. They can go to a casino and win generational wealth at a table, but they won’t be able to stop playing. Instead, winning will only encourage and reinforce their behaviour.
This is because this form of addiction isn’t entirely about the money or wins and losses. Problem gambling is about the act of gambling itself, and winning and losing money is just a fringe benefit or consequence.
In-person gambling refers to gambling that is done onsite or face-to-face. This can include going down to a track to place a bet or going to a casino to play at the table or the machines. It can even entail something as seemingly innocuous as buying a lotto ticket.
Online gambling has become rather prevalent in recent years due to the rise of smartphone usage. Nowadays, there are numerous apps that people can use to bet on a variety of sports and games. Aside from the apps, there are also a number of websites on which people can place bets.
Online gambling has become incredibly prevalent, with the industry projected to be worth more than 184 billion United States dollars by 2032.
Like any other addiction, a gambling problem can be caused by numerous factors. Genetics is a major factor, as addictive traits can be passed down between family members.
A person’s environment can also play a major role in whether they become a problem gambler. Growing up in an environment where gambling was normalised can make someone more likely to develop an addiction.
Mental health can also play a major factor. A person can turn to gambling in order to cope with stress, trauma, or the symptoms of a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety.
There are numerous ways to treat gambling addiction. Many governments have gambling helplines that people can call for support. However, there are professional treatment programmes, and treatment for gambling addiction must be comprehensive. Some of the treatment options to help behavioural addictions such as gambling include:
There are a number of signs that may indicate that a person is struggling with gambling addiction. One prominent sign is financial difficulty. The more a person gambles, the more money they are likely to lose. It’s not uncommon for problem gamblers to blow through their savings in a short space of time.
Another sign of a gambling addiction is secrecy. Many people with gambling disorders seek to obfuscate their activities so that they may be more protective of their phones, and they may borrow money to either cover their losses or to keep gambling.
People who have a gambling disorder may also have unpaid bills or debts, as the money they could have used to settle their accounts instead went towards gambling.
Gambling addiction can come with a number of risks. The most prominent risk is financial ruin. Gamblers do not often win. The odds are often stacked against players. As such, many players often end up with mounting debts.
In some cases, a person may face legal consequences if they are unable to pay back their debts. These losses and mounting debts can also compel a person to declare bankruptcy in some cases.
Many gamblers can resort to selling assets in order to cover their debts. In some cases, these assets may hold sentimental value.
While gambling can be used to cope with mental illness, it can also exacerbate anxiety and depression by adding to a person’s stress.
Gambling can also have social consequences. Relationships can break down due to an individual’s attempts at hiding the gambling addiction and the financial hardships that can come with the losses and debts mentioned above.
Gambling may be fun to some extent. The uncertainty and the risk both lend themselves to an adrenaline rush. But some people can take it too far. The main problem with an addiction to gambling is that it affects everyone around the person who struggles with it. People can lose their houses, which can often end up in entire families having to squat with friends or loved ones, and some may even have to resort to sleeping rough.
But help is available. Your gambling may be a problem, but it is a problem that can be solved with the right treatment. Liberty Home can offer you that treatment, and we can help you retake control of your life from gambling.
Individual therapies include CBT, DBT, Narrative therapy, and person-centred therapy.
Gambling, shopping, gaming, sex, porn, internet, and social media addictions.
Activities include visiting museums, golf, yoga, acupuncture, sightseeing, and hiking.
The best way to prevent yourself from developing a gambling problem is to never gamble in the first place. However, if you do gamble, set hard limits for yourself and stick to those self-imposed limits.
If you know someone who is struggling with a gambling disorder, the best way that you can help them is to encourage them to seek professional treatment. You may even stage an intervention.
Simply asking or even begging them to stop may not be enough, as they may be unable to control their urges without professional intervention.
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