How Can You Help Someone with a Gambling Problem?

Know Problem Gambling and When to Get Someone Treatment Help

Someone you love is involved in heavy and compulsive gambling. You know that a loved one’s gambling issue can lead to escalating behavioral concerns as well as increasingly alarming money problems. Now you’re asking: How can you help someone with a gambling problem?

Being in Las Vegas gives Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada a better understanding of why people gamble than most other gambling addiction treatment centers. We provide non-judgmental, science-based treatment for gambling disorder, treating it as an illness, not as a moral failing.

We invite you to continue reading to learn what makes gambling urges so irresistible to some and how to stop them with the help of the mental health professionals at Icarus Nevada.

Compulsive Gamblers Need Your Help and Professional Treatment

Gambling Disorder is a clinical diagnosis. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or DSM-5) has officially recognized compulsive gambling. Their latest volume specifically acknowledges how such behavior, “leads to problems for the individual, families, and society.”

Here are a few things family and friends can do to minimize the negative consequences:

Encourage Them to Seek Professional Help for the Compulsive Gambling

Your loved one may want to stop gambling, but they cannot quit without support – from both you and therapists with experience in helping overcome addiction. Treatment centers provide targeted, customized treatment options to help someone stop gambling.

Don’t push them away by forcing the issue of recovery on them if you’ve never set boundaries or consequences before. That tactic can backfire and make them more resistant to help. The only person who can decide to get help is your loved one.

Try Local Support Groups

Suggest community-based self-help groups if your loved one is ready to seek support but doesn’t agree to see a counselor. Support groups are good starting point for recovery. While they don’t replace the need for help with their mental health problems, getting them to try this option is a baby step.

Gamblers Anonymous is a Less Intensive Approach Than a Treatment Center

Gamblers Anonymous is the best-known gambling addiction help group. It follows the faith-based 12-step model for recovery. Your loved one will receive peer support and guidance from others who have gambling issues.

Working the Twelve Steps gives a clear alternative pathway to becoming free of gambling. You can find a local Gamblers Anonymous meeting using their online “find a meeting” resource.

SMART Recovery Can Help Replace Gambling with Healthier Behaviors

SMART Recovery is a science-based behavioral change program. It’s for anyone experiencing harm due to behavioral health concerns, from compulsive urges to yo-yo dieting to drug or alcohol and gambling. Instead of a faith basis, SMART uses elements of cognitive behavioral therapy and rational emotive behavioral therapy to help a gambling addiction:

• Build and maintain one’s motivation to change gambling behaviors
• Cope with the urge to gamble
• Manage thoughts, behaviors, and feelings that can lead to gambling-related harm
• Live a balanced life, free of problem gambling

SMART offers numerous in-person and online meetings for compulsive gamblers, substance abuse, and anyone who needs to reshape behaviors.

Gam-Anon for Loved Ones of People With a Gambling Disorder

Before a passenger plane takes flight, the attendants explain how you must always apply your air mask before you can help someone else in an emergency. Similarly, you cannot support a family member or partner with a gambling addiction until you look after your needs.

Gam-Anon is a program for anyone whose own situation is impacted by someone with a gambling addiction. For instance, family members or loved ones often feel ashamed of mounting gambling debts. Others might have curtailed family activities to avoid embarrassment. Gam-Anon can be very helpful for the family members by providing community support and tools for their own well-being.

Call the National Council on Gambling Helpline

The National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) can provide confidential assistance and share tips to stop gambling. They can help either the person with a gambling problem or family members, partners, or friends.

Trained professionals staff this no-cost helpline and can help you find resources:

• Information and education on the signs and symptoms of problem gambling
• Referrals to support groups in your community
• Learning to self-exclude from gambling establishments or online gambling apps
• Financial counseling and tips for managing money well

This helpline is not a crisis hotline; they ask you to call 911 or 988 if having thoughts of self-harm.

Take Charge of Your Own Finances or the Family Budget to Limit Money Access

Problem gamblers can’t stop gambling, even when they risk their family finances. Conversations about money with gamblers can be very challenging because they truly believe they’re just one game away from the next big win.

You may need to take on the financial problems by setting up separate bank accounts or limiting access to funds for the gambler. You might also want to look at your credit card statements and lower the spending limit or need to put the family jewels in a safety deposit box to avoid disaster.

What Causes Gambling Addiction?

What circumstances make someone start gambling? A gambling addiction can come from a range of psychological and environmental factors. A University of Colorado Boulder article suggests that gambling can be a combination of mental health problems and genetics.

Here’s a breakdown of some common reasons some enjoy spending time gambling:

The Brain Begins to See Gambling as a Reward

Some studies have shown that problem gamblers often have increased norepinephrine levels during gambling. Norepinephrine is a brain chemical that helps relieve stress. The study may point to how some gamble because it simply helps them feel good.

In that way, it works similarly to substance abuse. Gambling becomes an inappropriate coping tool that worsens as the brain begins to look forward to the next flood of norepinephrine.

Problem Gamblers May Have Additional Mental Health Disorders

Some use gambling to cope with dual diagnosis, or underlying mental health conditions, commonly:

• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Substance use disorder
• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Mood disorders

Without professional guidance to confront the difficult emotions and behaviors of these underlying factors, gambling becomes a way to numb the pain.

Cultural and Social Influences Can Lead Someone to Gamble

Some who struggle with a gambling problem grew up with parents or close family members who shared the compulsion to gamble. When one grows up in a home where they see family spending their time and money on betting, they see it as a typical behavior.

Besides the family culture, society glamorizes the idea of games of chance. Just think of the shimmering lights and elegant staff at any casino. Every detail is carefully implemented to keep people at the tables or machines and spending money for as long as possible.

Making things worse, online gaming is available on every phone. Ad campaigns on every media make it seem “cool” to gamble, or make people feel left out if they don’t play with their friends.

When problem gamblers realize their predicament, the urge to gamble is too strong to give it up without help.

The Most Common Signs of a Loved One’s Gambling Addiction

Here are some of the signs of gambling addiction, as listed in the DSM-5:

• Spending increasing amounts of money: The person gambles higher amounts to continue to get the same rush or excited feeling.
• Restlessness when they try to stop gambling: When the person tries to break the gambling addiction, they become restless, irritable, or moody.
• A preoccupation with gambling: When someone thinks persistently about getting money to gamble, relives past gambling, or is constantly planning for the next big win, it may indicate a gambling problem.
• Past treatment to stop gambling has been unsuccessful: Someone with a gambling addiction may have sought help that proved ineffective.
• Gambles when feeling distress: If the person turns to gambling to soothe distress, such as helplessness, guilt, or low mood, it could mean they have a gambling problem.
• Chasing losses: After losing money, problem gamblers often believe they can solve financial problems by winning back the money by gambling even more.
• Lying or concealing the gambling addiction: They may lie or cover up the extent of their problem.
• Risking relationships or opportunities: Someone who would rather gamble than maintain relationships or opportunities for a better life could have a gambling addiction diagnosis.
• Needing others to help solve money problems: They may turn to a family member, friend, or partner to help manage their increasing debt.

When seeking professional help, a diagnosis is made when the person has four or more of these symptoms within a 12-month cycle.

Knowing It’s Time to Pursue Treatment Options

Our free downloadable assessment above can help you decide if it’s time to convince your loved one to stop gambling.

Feel free to call us if you need to discuss the assessment results.

What Does Professional Help for Gambling Addiction Consist of?

People who come to Icarus Nevada for a gambling problem generally choose outpatient services. They intend evidence-based therapy by day and sleep at home by night. However, those with a gambling addiction that co-occurs with thoughts of self-harm or suicide or another mental illness or disorder may choose residential treatment.

Whichever of the treatment options is best for your loved one, they will receive a custom care plan that includes a combination of the following:

Therapy with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Everyone in our program receives therapy, working on a program to suit their specific needs:

Individual Therapy

Your loved one’s therapist will help them discover why they’ve developed a gambling addiction. Digging to the root of the issue and treating it is the key to success. Some methods we use to achieve this are:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Motivational interviewing
• Dialectic behavior therapy
• Art or music therapy

Each therapeutic intervention will be chosen carefully to meet the client’s needs and personal recovery goals.

Group Therapy

Many treatment programs also involve working with small groups of peers in the recovery center. Working with others in a small group allows them to share their stories and find solutions that will help them avoid a recurrence of the gambling problem. Sessions can also be more hands-on, such as role play sessions or skill-building challenges.

Family Therapy

Gambling addiction is hard on the entire family, especially for people with younger children who can’t understand the shift in family dynamics. The loss of trust can be a tough hurdle to clear; family counseling sessions are the right place to resolve these differences. A family therapist guides these challenging conversations and facilitates healing for all.

Lifeskills Training Sessions

Icarus clients work on various life skills they’ll need to remain in recovery after graduating from our program. For someone who gambles compulsively, that might mean stress reduction skills to avoid a relapse. Or, we may challenge them to work with a credit counselor to learn more about healthy financial skills. These vary based on what each person in recovery needs.

Self-care for Family Members of Someone with a Gambling Addiction

While you likely found this page seeking ways to help a loved one overcome a gambling problem, you must also look after yourself. Loving someone who struggles with any addiction presents unique challenges that few others will understand. Look into these ways to provide your own self-care:

Eat Well and Stay Hydrated

It’s standard advice that’s worth reiterating. The toll of worrying for someone who gambles can be a heavy burden. The result can sometimes be loss of appetite, binge snacking, or drinking unhealthy beverages. So remember to eat a healthy diet and drink your eight glasses of water during this stressful time.

Do Something New

Trying a new hobby or mastering a skill you’ve always wanted to learn can be a good distraction. We mentioned Gam-Anon earlier. Besides attending a support group, you can take a public speaking class, rock climbing, or check out that spin class you’ve always wanted to try. Whatever your new passion is, make a few hours each week to pursue it.

Mastering Mindfulness

Becoming mindful can help you stay in the present on the days when it feels like everything is falling apart. Some people equate mindfulness with meditation. While that is one aspect of mindfulness, you can also find deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualization techniques on YouTube. Give them a try and learn how to escape into a less stressed state the next time you need it.

Seek Professional Support for Gambling Problems at Icarus

When your loved one is ready to accept professional guidance, Icarus will be here to offer the right level of support. Our Joint Commission-accredited, evidence-based gambling programs have helped many overcome gambling addiction.

Don’t let your money concerns hold you back from treatment – call our Admissions to verify insurance coverage to start the process. We will work with your health insurance company and obtain a pre-approval for a low-cost – or $0 – program.

Making the call for help is the first step – let’s start today.