When you or a loved one are ready to get help for gambling addiction, the main concern may be how you are going to pay for treatment. Addiction services can be very expensive. Many insurance plans cover treatment for a gambling problem as part of mental health services.
Many problem gamblers find that quitting gambling is only the first step toward recovery. The more difficult challenge is committing to stay away from gambling after treatment. The easy access and widespread availability of lotteries, casinos, internet gambling, bookies, and sports betting make avoiding gambling even harder.
Although there are many similarities between gambling addiction and substance addiction, there are a few significant differences. It is important to recognize these differences, especially regarding diagnosis and treatment.
Addiction is a chronic condition which requires multiple levels of treatment to promote recovery and prevent relapse. When an individual graduates from an addiction program, the aftercare phase begins. A part of aftercare is alumni programs.
No-one starts off with a plan to become a gambling addict. The process of developing a gambling addiction can take decades, for some - while others find themselves struggling with gambling very soon after their first bet. The brain plays a systematic role in the development of a gambling addiction, almost mirroring the patterns drug and alcohol abuse.
When does gambling become a problem? Do you need a residential program or is a support group sufficient? How long will it take? Do family and friends need to be involved?
When does gambling go from being entertaining fun & games to a destructive obsession?
The short answer is when a person keeps gambling even after it stops being fun. Too much of just about anything can become a problem. Gambling is no different. It may seem counterintuitive, but pathological gamblers can get that “high” feeling even when they lose. They begin chasing losses just as one might expect a gambler to chase wins.
Everyone faces difficult or tempting situations from time to time. It is how a person responds to a situation or a stressor that defines a pathological disorder. Like many addictive behaviors, the problem with gambling addiction isn’t the gambling itself – it’s how an individual responds to the gambling activity.
March offers a terrible temptation for people with compulsive gambling behaviors or a diagnosed gambling addiction. Whether you are currently in treatment for gambling addiction or are in recovery, March Madness has the potential to become a major problem.
Super Bowl 2019 is looming on the horizon, and with it the ever present temptation to place a bet. As most people in sports betting know, the Super Bowl can be a challenging time for somebody in recovery from gambling.
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