can cause a person to lose it all--his job, finances, close relationships and family responsibilities. Many people find it difficult to control the impulse to gamble no matter how dire the consequences. Treatment is often necessary to overcome such a serious problem. Some of the most popular and successful recovery options include psychotherapy, self-help groups and medication.
Psychotherapy
One of the most successful forms of psychotherapy for gambling addiction is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). This type of therapy teaches clients to identify their own irrational, negative or destructive thought patterns and beliefs. This then allows the person to work on changing these beliefs and thoughts into positive ones. This works because positive thoughts are much more conducive to determination and motivation to change. Negative thoughts, on the other hand, can feed a gambling problem and cause debts and relationship problems to deepen.
Gamblers Anonymous
Self-help groups are a popular choice for people seeking help with a gambling addiction. Gamblers Anonymous is one such group in which the emphasis is placed on developing a support system to aid in beating the addiction. Group meetings allow members to share stories, advice, and feedback with each other, all in the hope that each member will uncover his or her own reason for gambling in the first place. Although this option is popular, it has not yet proven to be as successful as other programs of its type, such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Medication
Medication can be helpful in overcoming a gambling addiction as a supplement to therapy or another recovery program. Just as in the case of substance abuse, many people addictions suffer from mood or emotional problems, which may make recovery more difficult. In this case, medications such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers can help regulate mood and keep the person on track to recovery.
Tags: Gamblers Anonymous, gambling addiction, with gambling