For many, gambling can be an enjoyable activity with few negative consequences. They set limits on the amount of money and time they devote to it and don’t exceed them. They can gamble in moderation.
However, for many others, gambling may have started out that way, but began to cause problems in their work, home, and social lives. Once a potent escape from emotional pain, now it made them feel worse. Once a fun past time, now it became an all-consuming addiction.
If gambling has become a problem in your life, you might be able to relate to the following symptoms:
- many hours spent planning how to get gambling money
- needing to gamble more and more money to get the same feeling
- feeling restless or irritable when you can’t gamble
- chasing gambling losses by going back another day to win back money lost
- jeopardizing important family relationships in order to gamble
- financial distress due to gambling
Due to a combination of these symptoms, a full 1 in 4 people with gambling disorder attempt suicide, which is greater than with any other addiction.
You are not alone
As a National Certified Gambling Counselor and Chair of the Washington State Gambling Counselor Certification Committee, I am experienced and competent to help you work through issues around gambling addiction. I have specialized training to help you process through triggers to gamble in an efficient and effective way that obviates the need for decades of counseling. As with my approach to treating other issues, clients typically experience fast and permanent healing using my approach.
If you are having serious thoughts of suicide or have a plan to harm yourself, please contact the care crisis line at 800 584-3578 for 24/7 access to a counselor. You may also text the crisis text line at 741-741. If you are in imminent danger of harming yourself or someone else, please dial 911 for immediate help. You matter.