The first step to recovering from gambling addiction is to make a conscious decision to stop. While it’s tempting to give into the urge, resisting it is crucial. Gambling requires money, so you’ll need to limit your spending. You can try to stop using credit cards, letting a friend or family member handle them, or set up automatic payments. You should also cancel online gambling accounts and only keep a limited amount of cash on hand.
You should consider seeking professional help from a qualified therapist. BetterHelp is an online counseling service that matches you with a therapist who can help you overcome your gambling problems. The service is free and reader-supported, but if you click on a link and sign up through its service, I may earn a commission. While admitting that you have a gambling problem is hard to accept, you need to know that many other people have overcome gambling problems and are living life without it.
While gambling is a fun, social activity and an occasional release from the stresses of daily life, it should be considered a serious problem if it becomes an addiction. The risk of addiction increases when a person begins to lose control and spend more money than usual.