Gambling Addiction Recovery
Recovery from any addiction is not an easy road, but it is a rewarding road. It is necessary to get through both the acute and post acute withdrawal without giving in to the addiction, and it is also necessary to deal with the emotional issues that helped spawn the addiction in the first place. Any damage that has been done to the life of the individual involved must also be gradually healed as much as possible.
In addition to finding a good therapist who deals with addiction, a 12 step program can be helpful in overcoming an addiction. Gamblers Anonymous, for instance, provides a place where you can get help and fellowship without worrying about being judged for having the addiction. The 12 steps involved in overcoming the addiction are only suggestions, however, and these steps may not be exactly what you need to help your recovery along. It must also be recognized that the 12 step programs and the people who attend them have many faults and one may potentially get some bad advice. For this reason, it is important to be cautious about what you hear at these meetings and to test it against what an experienced addiction counselor or therapist says. The important thing about Gamblers Anonymous is that it provides you with a community of support from people who know what you are going through.
An addiction recovery program may include the following elements:
- Attending a 12 step meeting
- Going through these 12 steps with a sponsor and recovery friends
- Learning how to satisfy one’s personal needs for emotional support and intimacy
- Psychotherapy to help address the problems that gave fuel to the addiction originally
Please visit Gambler's Anonymous or the National Council on Problem Gambling for more information and support in overcoming a gambling addiction. Check out our Gambling Addiction Recovery Resources page for a list of treatment centers and help line numbers you can call to find help in your area.
