Gambling Recovery Blog

Though gambling withdrawal can be a challenging process it is important to remember that it’s an unavoidable part of recovery and the rewards outweigh the experience. If you are mentally prepared for withdrawal you can flourish during your recovery.

2018 is a special year for Algamus — it’s our 25th anniversary. As we reflect on this milestone we look back at how far we have come, the relationships that have been restored, lives that have been transformed and friendships that we have created along the way.  

Just like chemical substance addictions, those suffering from compulsive gambling disorder can go through serious withdrawal. Identifying the signs and symptoms of gambling withdrawal can help you manage them. Studies on behavioral addictions have found that there are a range of different withdrawal symptoms. These are grouped as either physical symptoms or emotional symptoms. You might experience some, all, or none of the symptoms listed here. 

Our clients arrive at Algamus in various stages of resistance or acceptance to our residential treatment process. Some are accepting the severity of their gambling disorder and this can make them extremely motivated to continue the program. 

Trading cryptocurrencies has become a way for many people to make money. Much like day trading, buying in the dips and selling at the peaks can result in some good returns. The volatile market and changing regulations make this form of currency trading very lucrative for some people but can result in devastating losses for others. The highs and lows of crypto trading can stimulate dopamine release which can contribute to a compulsive behavior disorder – also known as behavioral addiction.

Now that the Supreme Court has unlocked the doors to state-sanctioned sports gambling and empowered states to pass legislation legalizing sports betting, the gambling landscape is changing in the USA. Let’s take a look what this means for the proliferation of gambling across the country and the impact this could have for gamblers.

Your body has a buffet of hormones that regulate how you feel at any given moment. These hormones can make you feel the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and gambling can help to stimulate and/or simulate that emotional roller coaster. The hormone that makes you feel gloriously happy is dopamine and the chase for that next dopamine rush is what keep some people making decisions that would otherwise seem unwise. For some people this can culminate in a substance use addiction and for others it can result in other compulsive behavioral addictions, such as compulsive gambling.

A gambling addiction relapse is not a failure verdict. It does not mean that treatment has failed, nor does it reflect lack of will power from the recovering person. Rather, relapse can be a brutal but essential learning point for some people recovering from gambling addiction. Relapse is a powerful experience that can become an important part of the recovery process when addressed properly. It can be the necessary evil that will reinvigorate ones’ commitment to recovery.

Many women who are showing signs of compulsive gambling disorder do not seek help, nor do their friends and family push them to get help. This is partly due to the fact that women with gambling disorders often started gambling as a way to escape other problems that were weighing them down. Divorce, loss of a family member, unemployment or other traumas can be difficult to deal with and escaping into games, or video lottery terminals, is an easy way to avoid the reality and depression that they may be facing.

During recovery, keeping gambling addiction cravings at bay is all about changing your habits in favor of good activities that can naturally elevate your mood. Exercise is one of the best available means to do this, while helping you secure a healthier mind, spirit and body.

Here are a few ways exercise can help you on your journey to recovery from a gambling addiction.