March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) encourages everyone to have the conversation about gambling! There are numerous ways to participate in gambling in our society. There's buying a Lotto ticket, a scratcher, betting on animal races (or really any other popular sporting event you can think of), casinos, and popular card games just to name a few. That being said, it's safe to say that most adults either gamble themselves or know someone who gambles. With the widespread acceptance of gambling, it can be easy to cross the line from occasional indulgences to developing an addiction. As with other mental health illnesses, some people may be suffering in silence due to not knowing the signs of gambling addiction, not knowing how they developed an addiction, or simply not knowing where to get help.
Ask yourself these three questions:
1) During the past 12 months, have you become restless, irritable, or anxious when trying to
stop/cut down on gambling?
2) During the past 12 months, have you tried to keep your family and friends from knowing how
how much you gamble?
3) During the past 12 months, did you have such financial trouble as a result of your gambling
that you had to receive help with living expenses from friends, family, or welfare?
If you answered yes to any of these questions and you feel that you may have an issue with problem gambling, then set up an appointment for counseling in order to begin addressing the issue before it starts to take control of every aspect of your life! In therapy, I work with my clients as a team to address the multiple aspects of their addiction including: understanding the role of chemicals in the brain and how the addiction develops, recognizing and becoming aware of triggers, developing coping skills for urges and cravings, and how to implement healthy lifestyle changes in place of negative habits. Call (858) 522-0206 or email me at HeatherEricksonTherapy@gmail.com to schedule an appointment. For more information on problem gambling, including a list of resources for help, visit ncpgambling.org!
