"I have not gambled since my first visit with my new counsellor, but I don’t want to make the mistake I made the last time and stop the counselling too early."

Gail

• Ask someone to help you

  Don't be put off by this. You can do it on your own but the support of others makes it easier, especially if you've got serious problem...
  Don't be put off by this. You can do it on your own but the support of others makes it easier, especially if you've got serious problems caused by gambling. This person might be a spouse, parent, friend or counsellor.
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• Limit your access to cash

  About one in five problem gamblers can give it up fairly easily. Most find that for quite a time they can't stop if they have cash in t...
  About one in five problem gamblers can give it up fairly easily. Most find that for quite a time they can't stop if they have cash in their pocket and the club, TAB or casino is open. Many who stop gambling take a lot of trouble to get their cash flow under control.
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• Fill the gap

  Problem gamblers may spend 10-20 hours or more a week gambling. They also spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about their gamblin...
  Problem gamblers may spend 10-20 hours or more a week gambling. They also spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about their gambling. When you give up gambling you need to fill the gap it leaves. There are lots of ways to do this such as getting to know family and friends if you have neglected them while gambling or taking another part-time job.
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• Friends can help

  There is no doubt that if you have help from your spouse and close friends you are more likely to succeed. Make an effort to explain yo...
  There is no doubt that if you have help from your spouse and close friends you are more likely to succeed. Make an effort to explain your problem to your friends. Most people can understand the problem of getting addicted. Once you can admit that your problem may have hurt them, and you can tell them so, then they will be rooting for you.
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• Relax and look after yourself

  Giving up when you've spent hours each week gambling can make you feel tense and irritable. This can feel even worse when you still go ...
  Giving up when you've spent hours each week gambling can make you feel tense and irritable. This can feel even worse when you still go into the places where you gambled, like to the club if you played the pokies, or pass a TAB or the casino on your way to work.
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Gamblers Anonymous

Become a member of gamblers Anonymous group in your locality and get support from fellow gamblers in the group to tackle addiction. The...

Become a member of gamblers Anonymous group in your locality and get support from fellow gamblers in the group to tackle addiction. The support groups with people who are gamblers will help you deal with everyday temptations and provide invaluable insights in controlling the urge to gamble.

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Calculate your wins and losses

Gamblers generally forget to get the real picture of things and are more fascinated about the speculation of the outcome. Make a record...

Gamblers generally forget to get the real picture of things and are more fascinated about the speculation of the outcome. Make a record of the games you have played, stakes won or lost and an absolute idea about the financial position. This will help you to observe the impact of your gambling activity.

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Counselling

If you find it difficult to give up gambling, seek the help of a professional counsellor, who specializes in gambling addiction. The co...

If you find it difficult to give up gambling, seek the help of a professional counsellor, who specializes in gambling addiction. The counsellor near your area with adequate experience and qualification would guide you through recovery from addiction.

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Decide to stop gambling

Make a strong decision to abstain from gambling and indulge in other activities to keep you engaged. Overcome gambling addiction by sti...

Make a strong decision to abstain from gambling and indulge in other activities to keep you engaged. Overcome gambling addiction by sticking to abstinence and not deviating from it.

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Admit Addiction

Gambling obsession can be cured only when people recognize the addiction and admit it. Admitting the problem and enrolling in a program...

Gambling obsession can be cured only when people recognize the addiction and admit it. Admitting the problem and enrolling in a program to recover from the addiction are vital. When your family or friends inform you about your compulsive attitude towards gambling, acknowledge it after evaluating your behaviour objectively.

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Use internet filters

If you play gambling online, install internet filters that block these sites. When the sites are blocked, the urge to play subsides....

If you play gambling online, install internet filters that block these sites. When the sites are blocked, the urge to play subsides.

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Self-help books

Some self help books written by renowned authors can help you to learn more about controlling and curing gambling obsession. For overco...

Some self help books written by renowned authors can help you to learn more about controlling and curing gambling obsession. For overcoming gambling addiction, you can use the tips and guidelines mentioned in these books.

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Handover the finances

Entrust the duty of handling your finances to someone else in your family. Allow them to pay bills, buy essential household stuff. Stay...

Entrust the duty of handling your finances to someone else in your family. Allow them to pay bills, buy essential household stuff. Stay away from using money for a period of two to three months and check if you can avoid gambling altogether.

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Don't view gambling as a way of making money

Always remember that you are buying entertainment. Always be prepared to lose - if you win, know that it will happen by chance....

Always remember that you are buying entertainment. Always be prepared to lose - if you win, know that it will happen by chance.

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Spend time doing other activities

Spend more time with family or friends. Take up a new hobby or interest or revisit one that you enjoyed before gambling took over....

Spend more time with family or friends. Take up a new hobby or interest or revisit one that you enjoyed before gambling took over.

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Write Down Your Progress

Write down your progress in a journal or diary. Venting about your day really helps you stay focused on your goal of quitting gambling....

Write down your progress in a journal or diary. Venting about your day really helps you stay focused on your goal of quitting gambling.

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Start Today

Don't keep telling your self "I will quit tomorrow." The sooner you start, the better....

Don't keep telling your self "I will quit tomorrow." The sooner you start, the better.

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Get Smart

Do as much reading as you can on topics relating to a gambling problem. When you do this, you will be more educated about what your add...

Do as much reading as you can on topics relating to a gambling problem. When you do this, you will be more educated about what your addiction entails and you will realize that there are solutions. Do a search on the internet and you will gain a better understanding of what this affliction is and the powerful impact it can have on your life.

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Stay away from all forms of gambling

As you have decided to stop gambling, you must not gamble on anything, including lottery or raffle tickets. Stay away from all aspects ...

As you have decided to stop gambling, you must not gamble on anything, including lottery or raffle tickets. Stay away from all aspects of gambling because you can be easily tempted back into your primary addiction. For example, if you are a slots addict, and are out of control in his area, do not place bets on sports. Stay away from all forms of gambling.

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Make a Change

Change your lifestyle, and be ready to change your circle of friends, those who encourages you to gamble....

Change your lifestyle, and be ready to change your circle of friends, those who encourages you to gamble.

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Find the Cause

Discover the root cause that led you to gambling. By doing this, you can prevent this causes from invading your life....

Discover the root cause that led you to gambling. By doing this, you can prevent this causes from invading your life.

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Don't Run Over Your Problems

If you are addicted, it doesn’t mean that you are hopeless, you can always find means on how you can fight this dilemma that is makin...

If you are addicted, it doesn’t mean that you are hopeless, you can always find means on how you can fight this dilemma that is making your personality and your family rot. Everybody deserves a second chance. You have to use these chances to make your life even better than before. Don’t run over your problems, because it will hunt you down wherever you go.

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Learn All You Can

As a friend or relative of a problem gambler, research all you can about gambling addictions – symptoms, signs, consequences, the lot...

As a friend or relative of a problem gambler, research all you can about gambling addictions – symptoms, signs, consequences, the lot.

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Just Say No

Learn to say “no” to the gambler. No you won’t accompany them to the races. No you won’t lend them money. As they begin to real...

Learn to say “no” to the gambler. No you won’t accompany them to the races. No you won’t lend them money. As they begin to realise their friends and family no longer condone their actions they may start to address the problem head-on.

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Change Takes time

The problem won’t get fixed overnight but recognise any progress and successes that the problem gambler makes. Learn to identify thei...

The problem won’t get fixed overnight but recognise any progress and successes that the problem gambler makes. Learn to identify their triggers and help them suppress urges to gamble when these triggers come up.

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Never Accept the blame

As a loved one, this is not your fault – and besides, this is not the time to be blaming anybody. Often the blame will arise as a res...

As a loved one, this is not your fault – and besides, this is not the time to be blaming anybody. Often the blame will arise as a result of the problem gambler trying to justify their habit by shifting responsibility from his or her own shoulders, and should be ignored.

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Don’t Lecture or Accuse

This is not the time for moral superiority and ivory towers. Showing the gambler that their problem is damaging themselves and you is i...

This is not the time for moral superiority and ivory towers. Showing the gambler that their problem is damaging themselves and you is important, but it is also important that they don’t leave the room feeling like scum, or resenting you for the way you have spoken to them in such a way that they’ll just ignore you.

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Don’t Lend them Money

The problem gambler may be your best friend. You may have known each other since the day you were born. They probably fully intend to p...

The problem gambler may be your best friend. You may have known each other since the day you were born. They probably fully intend to pay you back but that’s literally down to chance, and particularly in industrial gambling the odds will be stacked against them (and you).

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Don’t cover or lie for them

The gambler has a problem and you pretending they don’t will help neither them nor you. Make sure everybody who should be, is aware o...

The gambler has a problem and you pretending they don’t will help neither them nor you. Make sure everybody who should be, is aware of the situation, and that everyone is being honest with each other.

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Don’t Let Them Manipulate You

An addict, gamblers included, can be a devious, cunning beast, and they will manipulate you and try to exert control over you in order ...

An addict, gamblers included, can be a devious, cunning beast, and they will manipulate you and try to exert control over you in order to fulfil their need for a hit of gambling. Make sure you know what they’re doing and why, and always keep in mind how each action would affect their addiction.

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The Addiction tornado

As a “family disease”, addiction shares many characteristics with a tornado – it affects not only the person at the centre of it ...

As a “family disease”, addiction shares many characteristics with a tornado – it affects not only the person at the centre of it all but also everybody they are close to.

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Talk to a debt counselor

Talk to a debt counselor about your gambling debts to relieve financial pressure and find out how to solve financial problems caused by...

Talk to a debt counselor about your gambling debts to relieve financial pressure and find out how to solve financial problems caused by your compulsive gambling problem. This is important, because the financial stress that you have from gambling addiction debts can actually drive you back to gambling if not addressed.

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Reward Yourself

Reward yourself for not gambling. Go shopping for that special thing you always wanted, you should have money for it now since you are ...

Reward yourself for not gambling. Go shopping for that special thing you always wanted, you should have money for it now since you are no longer losing your money gambling.

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Get Professional Help

If you are depressed, anxious, or perhaps even suicidal because of gambling, you must seek out professional counseling immediately. 24 ...

If you are depressed, anxious, or perhaps even suicidal because of gambling, you must seek out professional counseling immediately. 24 hour gambling hotlines and suicide hotlines are available for you if you are in a gambling crisis.

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Talk about lying

When people lie about gambling and debts, they may sometimes try to gamble their way out of debt so they won't have to ‘come clean'. ...

When people lie about gambling and debts, they may sometimes try to gamble their way out of debt so they won't have to ‘come clean'. This usually leads them further in to debt. Coming clean about gambling with a trusted person can relieve pressure and provide the space to prepare a more thoughtful plan for recovery. Lying is a hard habit to break. If it happens with your support person, it stops them being able to help you because they won't trust what you say. You and your helper need to talk about this and plan out how to cope.

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Become a good problem solver

If problems happen in other parts of your life, don't stick your head in the sand. Do what you've done about gambling. Look your proble...

If problems happen in other parts of your life, don't stick your head in the sand. Do what you've done about gambling. Look your problem in the eye and cope with it. Good problem solving has the following steps: - Recognise there is a problem and look closely at it. - Brainstorm all the ways you could deal with the problem. Write out a list and put down even the silly or impossible ideas. - Decide on the best solution and try it out. - Check to see if it works. If it doesn't, start again.

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Busts and setbacks

Problem gamblers can kick the habit. However, you must be fair to yourself. Problem gambling is like an addiction. It is really hard to...

Problem gamblers can kick the habit. However, you must be fair to yourself. Problem gambling is like an addiction. It is really hard to stop or keep it under control. You can often predict when problem gambling will reappear. You are more likely to lose control when you have bad times in other parts of your life that make you feel sad, anxious, angry or depressed. When you feel this way, it's challenging to stick to your plans, as you may feel an urge to borrow some money and go back to the old habit.

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List all the advantages of ceasing gambling

Keep in mind the benefits of stopping gambling, as this will help you to stay the course. Some of the main advantages to keep in mind a...

Keep in mind the benefits of stopping gambling, as this will help you to stay the course. Some of the main advantages to keep in mind are: you will save more money, get out of debt and spend more time with your family.

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List all the problems you have had due to gambling

Remind yourself that when you completely stop gambling, these problems will start to resolve. Stop being in denial, face the facts abou...

Remind yourself that when you completely stop gambling, these problems will start to resolve. Stop being in denial, face the facts about your addiction and the harm it has caused you. Acknowledging these problems is important – you will do your best to stop gambling and eliminate these problems.

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More Tips & Hints