Things You'll Need:
- Honesty
- Strong will
- Telephone
- Good friend
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Step 1
Be honest with yourself and admit you need help. Signs that you need help include late or unpaid bills, mortgage and other obligations because you used the money gambling, maxed out credit cards from cash advances to gamble; lying to family and friends about your past time; constantly playing or chasing the win to make up the money loss. If any of these sound familiar, you have a problem. Be honest, own up to the problem and admit you need addiction help.
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Step 2
Get gambling addiction help. Don’t fool yourself – you cannot beat this by yourself. Gambling addiction is just as bad as drug addiction, alcohol addiction or any other addiction. If you cannot afford to gamble, if you are losing everything you have, including your family, you need professional help. Get it.
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Step 3
Contact an addiction counselor. Check your local directory for addiction counselors and contact them. Ask if they specialize in gambling addiction treatment or if they could recommend a colleague. Develop a self-help plan with your counselor and stick to it.
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Step 4
Call the gamblers addiction hotline. Call Gamblers Anonymous at (213-386-8789), National Council on Problem Gambling (1-800-522-4700) or www.gambler.org (1-800-522-4700)if you are not ready to call a counselor. The National Council on Problem Gambling offers 24-hour hotline service to help you.
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Step 5
Join a gamblers anonymous or addiction help group in your area. These groups typically operate under a 12-step program and members are anonymous. If you don’t trust this, join an internet group, but get involved with a group of people with the same problem that can provide you with the support you need to get over gambling addiction.
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Step 6
Tell a friend you trust with your life and ask for their help. Information about your addiction can affect your career, especially if your career involves handling money; therefore it is understandable that you don’t want your gambling addiction to become public knowledge. That is why you should confide in someone you trust. You need this person to be available, day or night, to take your call and help you stay strong when the overwhelming urge to gamble strikes.
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Step 7
For online gambling addiction, shut off the computer. It will not be easy, but force yourself to shut down the computer, exercise, read a book, take a walk, or call a friend when the urge to gamble surface.
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Step 8
Buy online gambling blocking software. If you are the administrator on your laptop, the protection software installed and controlled by you will not be effective as you can remove the controls anytime the urge strikes. If you purchase Gambloc, Gamcare, TXNoGam or a similar software, online gambling sites will be blocked and you will not be able to control the software. For example, if you try to remove or alter Gambloc, your computer will shutdown. If you access a gambling site, you get a warning that the site is blocked and then it shuts your computer down.
Comments
rorsich said
on 12/20/2008 They should add a "Trying to do this" button...
Easier said than done - But great tips, never-the-less!
5*s, and recommended you!
Susang6 said
on 12/19/2008 My husband is addicted to slot machines....he loves the lights and the music, and even dreams about the machines, the pay outs are huge, but it's not worth the addiction. great article, thanks for sharing!
Geargirl113 said
on 12/19/2008 This very true. I have seen people with gambling addictions.
Addonis said
on 12/17/2008 great work 5 *
MIghtyDreamer said
on 12/16/2008 Gambling addictions can cost lives. It is just as serious as shooting up. A family member's debt could cost a family member their safety. Good advice in your article on gambling addiction