Gambling Addiction Treatment

When people think about addiction, they tend to think first of drug and alcohol abuse and dependency. These types of addictions are common and everyone has been touched by their effects in one way or another in their lives, even if we personally were not the addicted individual. Drug or alcohol addiction can be devastating and can ruin one’s life and the lives of those who love them. These addictions are hard to overcome, but with care dedication, and support, people can and do break free every day.

However, these are not the only kind of addictions that exist. There are other less common, less obvious addictions out there that also ruin lives. One of the most devastating of these is gambling addiction.

Many people have heard some gambling addiction stories along the way, but they may not have ever encountered someone struggling with a gambling addiction themselves. However, many of us may not even know when a friend or loved one needs gambling addiction help. This type of addiction is easier to hide than addictions to drugs or alcohol, and you may not know the signs of gambling addiction.

It’s important to be aware of this type of addiction and to take it seriously. If you think that you or a loved one may be struggling with a gambling addiction, read on. In this informative post, we’ll tell you about the signs of gambling addiction, how to stop gambling addiction, and how to seek and find gambling addiction treatment.

Fortunately, overcoming a gambling addiction is possible as well. The first step, as with all addictions, is admitting that a problem exists. From there, individuals struggling with a gambling addiction can get help through gambling addiction therapy and through other strategies and methods. Gambling addiction recovery is possible. Read on to learn more.

What Is Gambling Addiction?

Gambling addiction is simply defined, really; according to the Mayo Clinic, it is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on your life. Although gambling is not a substance but rather an act and behavior, it seems strange that it is possible to become addicted to it.

However, it is very possible to become addicted to gambling because it stimulates the same reward centers in your brain that drugs and alcohol do. When you win, dopamine is released in one’s brain and that makes the person feel good. Then, the body seeks that sort of feeling over and over again. Over time, these reward pathways become hard-wired into the brain and it becomes an addiction, even though no substance is introduced into the body.

Although gambling addiction is not as common as drug and alcohol addiction, it’s not rare, either. Gambling addiction statistics state that around one percent of the adult population in the United States has a severe gambling problem. That number is higher for young people; researchers believe that as many as six to nine percent of young adults struggle with gambling.

What Causes Gambling Addiction?

No one is really sure why some people develop gambling problems and others do not. It’s believed that gambling addiction is caused by a number of factors and for some people, these factors collide in a dangerous way. Some factors that could contribute to gambling addiction include age (young people are more likely to be afflicted), sex (more men than women are compulsive gamblers), and the presence of other mental health disorders, to name a few. Further, some people end up gambling frequently because their friends do, or are risk-takers by nature who suddenly find themselves swept up in gambling more than they’d planned. All of these things together can certainly lead to gambling addiction.

Gambling Addiction Symptoms

If you’re wondering if you or a loved one may be addicted to gambling, then there are certain gambling addiction signs that are quite common. If you or your loved one are preoccupied with gambling and are always trying to figure out when and how to make the next bet, there may be a problem, and if more money or higher stakes are necessary to get the same excitement as before, that can be a sign of an issue as well. Chasing losses, or trying to recoup money lost by making bigger bets, also indicates addictive behavior.

Anyone who has tried to quit or cut back on gambling without success may need help to break free. Someone who is lying to others about his or her gambling or who feels the need to hide losses from others, or alternately, needs to borrow large sums of money from others to pay debts, likely could benefit from professional gambling addiction assistance.

How to Help Someone With a Gambling Addiction

If you think you might have a gambling addiction, the time to seek help is now. Chances are that if you believe there is a problem, then there is a problem indeed. On the other hand, if it’s not you with the problem but rather someone you love, the best thing to do to help is to be upfront and forward about the issue. Help him or her seek counseling and be supportive throughout. Tell your loved one that gambling addiction is common, that there is nothing to be ashamed of, and that help is available.

Gambling Addiction Treatment: Can Ibogaine Help to Stop It?

Some people can break free from an addiction to gambling through counseling and therapy. It won’t happen overnight, but by sticking to these types of services over the long term, a gambling addiction can be broken and managed moving forward. However, for some people, therapy and counseling alone are ineffective.

In these cases, ibogaine can help. Ibogaine supports people in breaking free from all types of addictions because it allows the individual who suffers from an addiction to go inside oneself to discover, evaluate, and overcome the root cause of the addiction. A medically supervised ibogaine experience can change one’s life because the participant can learn so much about himself or herself, and upon returning from that experience can use what was learned to avoid returning to unhealthy mental and physical habits.

In short, yes – ibogaine can help stop a gambling addiction in its tracks. Many people have used ibogaine to that end and have found much success. If you or someone you love struggles with addiction to gambling or to anything else and have been unable to find freedom through other methods, ibogaine is most certainly worth a try.

At Clear Sky Recovery, we are here to help you get started on your own path to recovery.  If you or a loved one is strugging with addiction, we can help you or him or her to take the first steps along a much healthier path. Our ibogaine treatment is innovative and effective, and our staff is standing by to answer any questions you may have about our staff, our facility, or the process.  Please give us a call today!