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Miscellaneous
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Help for gambling addiction
Originally Published: May 07, 1999
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Dear Alice, Do you know of any sites that deal with gambling addictions? My boyfriend's mother is very addicted and needs serious help. She just recently refinanced the house that we are to live in when we're married. I'm scared one day we'll come home and everything will be gone. If you can give me some info that can help that would be great. Or if you know some sites, it would help, too. Sincerely, LA
Dear LA, Gambling, in its different forms, has been popular for a long time. Many people are able to enjoy gambling once in a while, without much of an impact on their work, family, or finances. Some different forms of gambling include:
Gambling addiction, in a lot of ways, is quite similar to substance addictions to alcohol and other drugs. It's often overlooked since many forms of gambling and betting are legal, and, indeed, are encouraged by such governmental programs as the lotto. A person's gambling can be defined as compulsive or out of control when some or all of the following start happening:
Compulsive gambling can cause strain in relationships, psychological stress, physical symptoms of stress or a lack of attention to one's health, problems with one's job and other responsibilities, and, of course, financial difficulty. Usually, people having trouble controlling their gambling need help recovering from their addiction. You can assist in this process by researching and suggesting some resources for support and treatment. Keep in mind, though, that your boyfriend's mother must acknowledge that her gambling is out of control, and want to change her behavior, for treatment to be helpful. There are many self-help and professionally staffed programs available to both gamblers and their family and friends. People close to compulsive gamblers often find it helpful to talk and think about the ways the gambling has affected their lives, too. Many programs follow a twelve-step model similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. This, with the support of individual and group therapy, as well as the possibility of medication, may help your boyfriend's mother to overcome her gambling addiction. Here are some organizations to try:
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