Steven James Counselling

If you are a compulsive gambler, you will have an uncontrollable urge to gamble and when the bills pile up you will look back and ask yourself what you have done. But you will continue to hide the problem, with fear that others will discover how much you have lost on a game of chance.

Often, you will begin to panic and see no way out, but then the slightest amount of good news will bring back your optimism, so the gambling begins again. The struggle to control the addiction becomes harder each day and emotional outbursts are common.

Ultimately, your addiction will bring despair and humiliation, and cause deterioration in almost all areas of your life. When you finally realise there is a problem, help is available. Quite often, depression, drinking and gambling accompany your gambling addiction; Nevertheless, treatment is highly effective and you can be restored back to normal functioning and happiness.

Signs of compulsive gambling

• Spending an excessive amount of time gambling
• Increasing the frequency of gambling
• Continuing to gamble despite negative outcomes
• Borrowing money to gamble
• Increasing the amount of money spent gambling
• Frequent mood swings
• Secretive behaviour
• Absence from work or family problems due to gambling
• The irresistible urge to gamble and take larger risks

Causes

Some research has suggested the cause of gambling addictions to be partly due to physical or hereditary predispositions, however this has never been proven. Many experts also believe a person's experiences and personality type play a large part in the addiction.

What do I do next? Call Steven James Counselling.

We arrange a convenient time to meet up and talk about your concerns and needs and together we plan a way forward.