With so many similarities to substance abuse disorders, a gambling disorder is non surprisingly treated in much the same way. Addiction, no matter whether it’s substance or non substance related, is chiefly a mental illness.
Addiction comes in many different forms. While many people may think of substances when discussing subjects like “addiction,” the reality is addiction is a disease that can cover a wide array of substances and behaviors, not just drugs and alcohol. Behavioral addictions like gambling addiction can be equally as destructive.
Gambling addiction is a compulsive behavior where a person finds it difficult to stop gambling despite mounting negative consequences on their financial security, relationships, mental health, personal life, or professional life. Online gambling and apps on your phone can also make it easy to access gambling opportunities at any time, facilitating the development of gambling addiction, especially as tracking how much a person has lost or how often they use these programs can be difficult. However, sports betting, going to casinos, or compulsively playing the lottery can all lead to destructive consequences and affect your quality of life and your family, friends, and loved ones.
Gambling addiction is intensely difficult to overcome. Working with trained professionals and educated support is necessary to address its effects on the brain and your behaviors. However, it is always possible to overcome a gambling addiction, and recognizing the signs and symptoms of gambling addiction in yourself or your loved one is the first step to finding effective treatment.
Gambling is a widespread activity, and there are many legal forms of gambling. About 86% of the population has engaged in some form of gambling in their life. However, this also makes it paramount to identify problem gambling. Identifying gambling addiction, also known as gambling disorder or compulsive gambling, is the first step toward effective healing. Noticing even a few potential signs of gambling addiction can be a reason to contact Thrive Treatment or your local treatment facility about potential addiction, needs, and treatment programs available to address gambling addiction and its effects. These signs include:
Those living with a gambling addiction may also continue to gamble even after experiencing the negative effects of gambling and loss. This can be in a purported attempt to “make back” what they had lost, creating a cycle of gambling that can be difficult to break, or even gambling higher amounts to make back these losses. Others may begin to engage in increasingly risky behaviors as losses continue to mount, even resorting to theft to continue gambling.
Those living with a gambling addiction may also continue to gamble even after experiencing the negative effects of gambling and loss. This can be in a purported attempt to “make back” what they had lost, creating a cycle of gambling that can be difficult to break, or even gambling higher amounts to make back these losses. Others may begin to engage in increasingly risky behaviors as losses continue to mount, even resorting to theft to continue gambling.
Loved ones may also seem suddenly unable to cover financial obligations like groceries, rent, or other bills due to prioritizing continuing to gamble or as financial challenges continue to manifest, making paying these bills difficult. Pervasive stress from gambling, with the anxiety and depression that come with loss, can also lead to physical changes in yourself or your loved one. Skipping meals, weight changes, sleep issues, self-isolation, and even feelings of frustration, anger, and irritation toward loved ones are common in those living with gambling addiction.
Even though gambling is not a substance, it can still be just as addictive, activating the same parts of the brain as addictive substances like drugs or alcohol. Gambling can cause the release of dopamine in the brain or the feel-good “reward” chemical that causes a person to want to gamble again. As a person continues to gamble and release dopamine, they will need more and more of it to feel “normal” or “satisfied,” leading to even more gambling, chasing the euphoric feeling of “winning” despite mounting losses.
Hitting the jackpot or winning in any way through gambling releases a lot of dopamine, exciting the brain. However, for those living with a gambling addiction, gambling can feel like the only thing that can release this dopamine, facilitating further use. Chasing the feeling of hitting that jackpot again can be a motivating force, ignoring negative consequences or feeling compelled to keep gambling in the hope of experiencing this dopamine release. Likewise, getting close, even if ultimately not winning, can force this release of dopamine and make a person feel as if they are “close” to a big win, leaving them feeling compelled to continue gambling.
Gambling addiction also doesn’t necessarily develop in isolation, and there can be many factors that can lead a person to develop a gambling addiction. While nobody is ever guaranteed to develop an addiction, nobody is immune from the disease either, and various risk factors can increase the chances of compulsive and unhealthy gambling in your life or the life of your loved one.
No two people’s journey with a gambling addiction will be the same. However, knowing the common risk factors that can inform gambling can be instrumental in developing an effective treatment plan. Some of these common risk factors include:
Those experiencing financial struggles can also have an increased risk of turning to gambling to find a quick way out of these financial debts, often leading to further exacerbated financial challenges. These challenges, especially coupled with pervasive online or television ads for gambling outlets like sports betting or the lottery, can all influence a person’s perception of gambling, prompting an individual to explore it as a stress relief option or recreational activity before adopting a more compulsive need to gamble.
For many, gambling can be an activity that is used to cope with stress. Pervasive anxiety, depression, and stress can all impact a person’s chances of gambling to escape these daily challenges. Stress can also compromise effective decision-making strategies, leading to turning to gambling despite knowing the danger and destructive effects it can cause.
Likewise, substance abuse and gambling addiction can also be closely related. Both these substances and behavior can similarly affect the brain, chasing the release of dopamine and stress relief. Substance abuse can also cause a person to relax inhibitions and further compromise decision-making, making a person more likely to engage in risky behaviors like gambling or lose track of how much they have lost gambling in a sitting. These attempts to self-medicate stress, depression, anxiety, and other personal challenges with substance abuse, gambling, or a combination therein can often lead to a dangerous relationship that can profoundly affect your quality of life, personal relationships, and professional life.
At Thrive Treatment℠ we accept most private insurance plans and we are in network with Cigna, Optum, First Health, and Anthem Blue Cross. Additional payment options are available so don’t hesitate to give us a call so we can get you the help that you need.
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Gambling can also have a profound effect on your daily routine, impacting your mental health and lifestyle. Persistent feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress related to feelings of loss and financial strain are all common and can persist throughout daily life. Accumulating losses and mounting financial strain can also lead to hopelessness and increased rates of suicidal ideation in some cases, with these feelings often accompanied by shame, guilt, and regret associated with gambling.
Gambling can also lead to emotional instability as feelings of intense hope and highs of winning are contrasted by intense lows, making it difficult to regulate emotions and maintain a healthy emotional homeostasis. Gambling addiction can also lead to an increase in self-isolating behaviors, impacting daily routines with increases in lying and secrecy about gambling, leading to compromised personal relationships, even with those closest to you, such as parents, siblings, spouses, and loved ones.
Debt and financial strain are intense feelings, and it is normal to feel stressed when faced with financial insecurity or uncertainty. However, a gambling addiction can create a destructive cycle of financial stress, debt, and gambling. For many, “chasing the losses” is an attempt to make back what a person has already lost. However, for others, persistent debt and losses through gambling can leave debts larger than before, making it seem like hitting the jackpot or winning big is the only way out of such a deep financial situation, often leading to even more losses and greater debt.
Gambling addiction can lead to isolation and social withdrawal, especially as it impacts your mental health or feelings of shame. Withdrawal from social events or friction in personal relationships related to gambling can all carry an intense emotional toll. An increase in arguments, self-isolation, frustration, and feelings of betrayal between family members, friends, and loved ones are all possible as gambling increases or becomes a part of daily life. Addiction’s impact on your professional life can also lead to friction between coworkers or loss of a job.
These can add to already destructive feelings of anxiety, stress, depression, and more, with those living with a gambling addiction suffering an intense emotional toll. This can also further inform the cycle of use as those living with a gambling addiction may see gambling as a way to manage stress, furthering this destructive cycle.
However, healing is always possible, and finding an effective gambling rehab program can help you or your loved one overcome the effects of gambling and develop the skills and strategies to repair personal relationships and navigate a healthy and fulfilling daily life.
Thrive Treatment has been serving Los Angeles and the communities of California, overcoming addiction to drugs and alcohol to providing support for compulsive behavior like gambling disorder. Our programs are available to meet you where you are in your journey to overcoming gambling addiction and create a program that can help you take your first step toward a healthier daily life, all while working with families and the community for comprehensive, effective healing.
No two journeys with gambling addiction are the same. The stresses that you face, your experiences, and the effects of gambling on your life and the lives of your family members, friends, and loved ones all make up a unique story and set of personal needs and goals during your time in our treatment center. Thrive Treatment personalizes each treatment plan to reflect your unique story, needs, and goals in treatment, ensuring that you are committed to your healing and reaching the milestones that matter in your life.
Overcoming gambling addiction is challenging. Having access to a community of peers and support in your healing is crucial. We offer comprehensive partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and outpatient programs to support your journey to overcoming gambling addiction.
During these programs, you will attend on-site meetings and activities at our facility, connecting you with peers and engaging in therapeutic exercises, new experiences, and effective healing practices. Thrive Treatment combines proven, evidence-based treatment modalities with holistic experiential healing options to address your unique needs and goals. We understand that overcoming a gambling addiction is about more than treating a collection of symptoms. Rather, developing the skills necessary to address your lifestyle as a whole is crucial, with regular support, meetings, and care to develop the life skills, coping strategies, mindfulness techniques, and more for a sustainable life away from gambling.
We can also further personalize your treatment through our sober living community. Gambling addiction and substance use can be closely tied, and our dedicated community can help you find a safe, sober, and supportive place to challenge multiple forms of addiction simultaneously, like overcoming gambling addiction and substance use in tandem for a truly transformative recovery.
Thrive Treatment creates a natural, tranquil environment to help you in your rehab journey. Overcoming addiction of any kind is challenging and demands dedication and focus. Thrive Treatment uses our tranquil and peaceful environment to reduce stress and empower you to focus wholly on your healing and development without unnecessary stress, distractions, or triggers.
Healing in a safe, peaceful environment can be a great way to practice new strategies, deconstruct barriers, and overcome difficult feelings of vulnerability in your recovery journey. Thrive Treatment also celebrates the role of community, empowering you to not just benefit from a tranquil and supportive environment in our walls but also become a part of our larger supportive and caring community for a transformative approach to your change.
There is no “quick fix” to overcoming gambling addiction. Rather, it is normal to experience persistent urges or cravings to gamble again. Thrive Treatment works with you to find your best approach to coping with these challenges, as well as personal stresses and triggers, for effective relapse prevention. Overcoming addiction of any kind is an ongoing journey, and finding new coping strategies and adjusting your treatment plan to address new stresses in your personal or professional life are necessary for a sustainable healthy future.
Stopping gambling is just one step in your recovery journey. Replacing compulsive behavior like gambling with healthier outlets is crucial for continued success. Thrive Treatment’s holistic approach to change helps you replace self-destructive behaviors like gambling with new activities and strategies to further your personal goals while preventing relapse.
Physical exercise outlets and experiential activities, practicing life skills like problem-solving, financial support and budgeting, exploring new self-care outlets and activities, and setting new personal goals can all inform healthy and constructive habits that can help you overcome gambling addiction and achieve personal goals in daily life. Strategies like art therapy, music therapy, film therapy, and adventure activities are all available to help you explore healthy habits to replace destructive gambling or self-destructive behaviors in recovery and inform effective self-care outlets and routines.
Stress is a constant in daily life. Thrive Treatment embraces the role of meditation and mindfulness strategies to help you identify changes, needs, and goals in your recovery. Yoga, meditation, and more all play a role in maintaining your gambling-free life while empowering you to make necessary changes, tend to personal needs, address new sources of stress, and improve emotional resilience in recovery.
Peers and community play an integral role in recovery, providing you with new ideas and a constant source of support, success, and motivation in recovery from gambling addiction. Seeing others reach their own goals, develop new strategies, and share in trials, challenges, and accomplishments creates a culture of healing that is impossible to replicate if you are attempting to overcome addiction on your own.
We offer regular meetings with community members, ensuring you never feel isolated or alone in your recovery journey. These peers cannot only facilitate a culture of healing but also hold you accountable for overcoming challenges and triumphs in your continued healing journey.
With so many similarities to substance abuse disorders, a gambling disorder is non surprisingly treated in much the same way. Addiction, no matter whether it’s substance or non substance related, is chiefly a mental illness.
Plumbing the depths of your psyche, thoughts, experiences, etc. in order to find what caused you to fall down the abyss of gambling is actually what allows you to work your way out of it.
Gambling addiction treatment in Los Angeles, at our Santa Monica rehab center, is centered on just that. Through one-on-one cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a licensed therapist, individual and group therapy sessions, we work with you to bring to light whatever is at the core of your addiction to gambling.
Gambling addiction is a real and devastating disease, but healing is always possible. We at Thrive Treatment can help you create a plan to overcome gambling addiction and create a healthy daily life today. Call to speak to us at (855) 232-1344.
1-855-232-1334
