How to Help a Friend Addicted to Gambling
Gambling can be a fun activity, playing games with your friends and going for the big bucks. Unfortunately, gambling can also lead to addiction. Gambling addiction can not only hurt your wallet, but also damage relationships, your professional life and your psychological well-being. When confronting a gambling addict, he might claim he doesn't have a problem or shrug it off as no big deal. He might be reluctant to seek help. Yet as a friend, you can play a role in his recovery.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Acknowledge your friend has a problem. It doesn't help him get better if you hide the problem yourself. Encourage his family and other friends to also acknowledge the problem.
-
2
Recognize the signs of gambling addiction, which include frequently talking about gambling, borrowing or stealing money to fund gambling, no longer paying bills, mood swings related to gambling and lying about gambling problems.
-
-
3
Gather evidence of the gambling problem. Evidence includes unpaid bills, deteriorating performance in school, frequently missing work and requests to borrowed money.
-
4
Locate counseling services that help people with gambling problems or Gamblers Anonymous meetings in your community. Acquire literature, phone numbers and information on how your friend could get in touch to seek help for this problem.
-
5
Approach your friend about her problem at a time when she's showing remorse about her gambling. Act kind, caring and supportive. Don't act angry or name-call.
-
6
Use the evidence you acquired if your friend denies the problem to drive the issue home.
-
7
Discuss the impact the gambling problem, especially how it's affecting other people, including you.
-
8
Give your friend the contact information for local counseling services or Gamblers Anonymous. If you want, offer to accompany him to these counseling sessions or meetings.
-
9
Work with your friend to formulate a plan for recovery. Let her know you're behind her and that you want to continue to help her get better.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
