Gambling
Compulsive gambling is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling
despite the toll it takes on your life. If you're prone to compulsive
gambling, you may continually chase bets, may lie or hide your
behaviour, and may resort to theft or fraud to support your addiction.
Compulsive gambling is a serious condition that can destroy lives.
Most people who have a gambling problem are using gambling as an opportunity to escape from other problems or pressures in their lives. Understanding what role gambling is playing in your life can be an important first step in beating the problem.
Signs of compulsive gambling
- Uncontrolled spending
- Increasing the frequency of gambling
- Concealing or lying about gambling behaviour
- Withdrawal from family activities
- Borrowing money or stealing to gamble
- Frequent mood swings
- Absence from work
- Taking increasingly bigger gambling risks
Causes
It's not known exactly what drives people to engage in compulsive gambling, but like many problems, it may result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
When gambling or trying to give up gambling, feelings of shame, guilt, anger, anxiety and depression can occur. These emotions should be explored and discussed with a professional counsellor.
Help and Support
Options in partnership with GamCare offers FREE counselling for anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s problem gambling.
Our specialist gambling counsellors will use a combination of
techniques, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help the
person change their attitudes, opinions and behaviours to enable them
to manage their gambling.
Open 8am-midnight
To find out more information or to book an appointment with a counsellor here to help you or someone you who know who is suffering with Gambling.
Self Help tools
In order for the counselling to have an impact and lead to success, you will need to be able to engage on a weekly basis for an agreed period of time.
Counselling services are available at our centres in Banbury, Basingstoke, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Salisbury and Southampton. Click on the location for full address details and directions.
Click on the location for full address details and directions. Contact us for more details or to book an appointment.
We can help
- Issues
- Depression
- Anxiety and Stress
- Bereavement
- Confidence and Self Esteem
- Gambling
- Alcohol
- Self Help Tools