When you feel the rush and euphoria of gambling coursing through your veins, it can be hard to stop. You’re yearning for just one more throw of the dice because maybe, just maybe, the next time will be your big win – the one that will solve all your problems… That’s how you get stuck in the vicious circle of gambling addiction.
Unfortunately, the deck is stacked against you. No casino would be profitable if it were otherwise. And the habit is genuinely expensive.
So, what does gambling addiction look like and is there a way out?
What does gambling addiction look like?
Just like any other addiction, gambling can take over your life.
You only remember the rare wins and the euphoria, so you’ll do anything to feel that way again. And the more money you lose, the more obsessed you become with gaining it back. The stakes are sky-high and the need to win swallows you whole.
It starts quite innocently.
Maybe you buy a weekly lottery ticket, place a bet on a horse or play some poker. Anticipation of the result matches your excitement! And perhaps you get lucky early on and win a decent sum. So, you go back for more.
But the innocent habit becomes a real issue when you can’t seem to stop even if the odds aren’t that great. You stop doing it for fun and instead feel compelled to gamble some more. When you start gambling more than you can afford and go into debt, that’s when you’ve lost all control over your addiction. And you’ve probably lost the trust of your loved ones along the way.
Some people realise they have a problem and ask for help early enough. But others get to the point of losing everything – their job, money, family and even their home – before they recognise they need help.
Here are a few signs that can help you detect if you have a gambling addiction:
- You’ve lost interest in other activities you used to enjoy
- You can’t stop thinking about gambling
- You lie to others (and yourself) about your gambling
- You need to borrow money, skip paying bills or go into debt to finance your habit
- You’re neglecting your family, work and personal needs
- You’re arguing a lot with your loved ones
- You need to raise the stakes to get the same rush
- You feel irritable, anxious and ‘on edge’ all the time
- You always tell yourself you’ll stop, but you never do
Healing gambling addiction can be challenging. But wherever you are in your journey, just know that there is hope.
There is a way out.
Talking therapies are a common approach since there is no pill for gambling. Hypnotherapy for gambling addiction is one of the more successful approaches.
Hypnotherapy for gambling addiction
Hypnotherapy leads you into a relaxed state of mind where you’re able to access your unconscious mind. With the help of your hypnotherapist, you can search for and identify the root cause of your addiction, as well as transform the thoughts and behaviour patterns that encourage your addiction. It’s a deep dive into your own psychology.
But there’s a caveat: you have to want to change your behaviour. You need to accept and admit to yourself that you have a problem. Otherwise, the therapy most likely won’t be successful.
Because of what we’ve seen in films, we often perceive hypnosis as a state where others control us and tell us what to think and how to behave. But the reality is nowhere near that. There is no magic trick. A hypnotherapist is only a guide who helps you navigate the labyrinths of your subconscious. But it is you who has to do all the heavy lifting.
And you have to be willing to do the hard work. To face your fears and past experiences that shaped you. To learn about your triggers and practise new ways of reacting to them. To face the truth of your addiction. If you’re ready to do that, then hypnotherapy can help you dismantle your craving and replace it with something more positive.
You can gain back control over your life. It’s a process and a journey, but one well worth taking!
If you’re interested in learning more about how hypnotherapy for gambling addiction can help you, book free consultations with me. I offer hypnotherapy in London or online and would be glad to help you out on your journey to healing!