Cbt Gambling Treatment

According to an article published by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, only 10% of people with a gambling disorder actually seek help or treatment for their problem. Why aren’t more problem gamblers seeking help for their disorder?

The answer, as research from the ANU Centre for Gambling Research suggests, is that problems gamblers often feel ashamed due to the stigma surrounding their disorder. Additionally, problem gamblers have also been found to produce a significantly higher amount of irrational (or distorted) thoughts and statements, and failing to address these cognitive biases only further motivates a gambling disorder.

Keep reading to find out more on the most common cognitive distortions that are specific to problem gambling and how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help to resolve these irrational (or distorted) thoughts that problem gamblers experience.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT addresses the self-defeating thoughts and behaviors that lead to problem gambling.
2. Pathological gambling is a common disorder with severe consequences for patients and their families. This case study describes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for pathological gambling and its general principles and provides an example of a modification of CBT techniques in the treatment of a 51-year-old immigrant Afro-Caribbean woman.
3. Cognitive behavioral therapy with a gambling addict typically focuses on four components. The first is the correct cognitive distortions about gambling itself. The second is to develop problem solving skills with the addict when faced with triggers or concerns.

Jeopardizes or loses an important relationship, work or education, or an opportunity to gain success in or from a profession, due to gambling. Antidepressant, anticonvulsant and antipsychotic drugs that are useful in the treatment of this disorder to provide impulse control. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common herapy.

Cognitive Distortions Behind Problem Gambling

A cognitive distortion refers to the irrational thoughts and beliefs that people subconsciously reinforce over time. Some of these irrational thoughts include:

• Selectively remembering wins, and disregarding losses (or not giving equal weight to any experienced losses)
• Overestimating the odds
• “Gambler’s Fallacy” — A belief that a future win or loss is directly related to a previous gambling event when in fact each gambling event is discreet and unrelated
• Illusion of control, wherein the problem gambler thinks they can control gambling outcomes
• An unjustifiably high perception or belief of personal success

When it comes to cognitive distortions and problem gambling, researchers are turning to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as an effective treatment plan for those with a gambling disorder. CBT attempts to change the thoughts and destructive patterns of behavior associated with problem gambling by:

• Teaching relapse prevention
• Developing problem-solving skills
• Correcting any cognitive distortion about gambling
• And bolstering social skills

CBT helps those suffering realize that the short-term sensations they receive from gambling are not worth the long-term consequences that follow (debt, family problems, legal issues, etc.). Those who opt for CBT will also learn how to identify and avoid situations and thoughts that could lead them to relapse.

In addition to regularly attending cognitive behavioral therapy, it’s important to maintain a strong network of supporters and have access to programs like Gamblers Anonymous, as these resources will help in the prevention of relapse as well.

There Is Hope

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) has become thousands of problem gamblers’ lifeline with readily available resources and treatment options for those suffering from a gambling disorder. Whether it’s illegal sports gambling in the New Jersey Meadowlands area or casino gambling in Atlantic City, the CCGNJ offers a discreet, helping hand day and night.

If you are struggling with a gambling disorder or a substance use disorder (otherwise referred to as a drug use disorder) in Woodbridge, please visit https://800gambler.org/, where you will find many resources for support, treatment, and hope around the clock.

Last updated: 11/14/2018
Author: Addictions.com Medical Review

Reading Time: 4minutes

Gambling is often referred to as the “silent addiction” or the “silent killer” because the addiction often goes unnoticed for many years causing great financial and emotional harm before anyone realizes that it’s even a problem. Every gambler has unique needs when it comes to recovery from gambling addiction which is why gambling addiction treatment provides so many different means and methods of care to assist those who are suffering with the tremendous burden of gambling addiction on their shoulders.

It takes great strength and courage to seek help for gambling addiction and treatment may not be a walk in the park but it is effective and there is hope!

Recognizing the Need for Gambling Addiction Treatment

Gambling does not have to control your life. Treatment can help!

You may wonder if there’s really a need for treatment of whether or not your loved one’s gambling problem is really that bad. The fact is, determining whether a gambling problem really is a problem or not can be difficult, especially considering the fact that many gamblers will cover up the actual amount of money that they spend, hide the level of gambling that they really take part in and otherwise mask the problem or downplay the situation. The signs of gambling addiction are not always as easy to spot as we may wish. Here are a few ways that you can tell if there is a need for gambling addiction treatment, as noted by the US National Library of Medicine:

• Individual is defensive about his or her gambling activities
• Individual runs out of money or is secretive about money
• Borrowing to gamble
• Taking drastic measures in order to fund gambling
• Depression or altered mood when not gambling
• Increased happiness when gambling
• Suicidal thoughts

Cbt Gambling Treatment Programs

Self-proclaimed Abstinence from Gambling

One of the best methods of overcoming gambling addiction, and also the first to fail without treatment, is to self-proclaim your own abstinence from gambling. What this means is that the gambler will actually make the promise to him or herself not to gamble and will exclude him or herself from any activities that involve gambling. This is a necessity when it comes to overcoming gambling addiction but without proper treatment, this method of recovery often tends to fail. Here’s why:

• The gambler will begin to have cravings or urges to gamble and will often resort to gambling to control these feelings.
• The gambling will then lead to feelings of depression because the individual feels as if he or she has been defeated as a result of relapsing against their own promise to themselves not to gamble.
• These feelings, of depression and defeat, will usually lead to increased gambling and the ball just continues to roll downhill from there.

How Treatment Centers Can Help

People who are addicted to gambling have various reasons for their addiction. They may want to feel an adrenaline rush, be social with others who are gambling in a casino or similar environment, numb feelings or emotions, or solve money problems. Each person’s interest and reasons for gambling are typically based on their own individual lifestyle and unique desires. Some people gamble just because they are bored and others gamble to relax.

Gambling addiction treatment centers can help by providing the addict with insight into the reasons why they gamble. Once the individual understands what it is that triggers his or her gambling, they can begin to learn ways of changing their thoughts and behaviors in order to refrain from gambling. Many of the reasons for gambling such as social reasons or to overcome boredom can still be overcome through substitution behaviors such as exercise, talking with a friend, joining a social group or taking part in a hobby.

Treatment can help the addict to learn how to deal with gambling cravings in a healthy manner that continues to promote his or her abstinence. Instead of just making a promise to stay away from gambling all together, the individual will actually learn through counseling and therapy how to recognize the triggers that cause gambling, how to avoid those triggers and how to take part in other substitution behaviors that will fulfill their desire or perceived need to gamble.

Types of Gambling Addiction Treatment

Cbt Gambling Treatment Near Me

Various methods of treatment for gambling addiction are found in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Most of the time, gambling addiction treatment will consist of some method of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This method of treating problem gambling focuses on helping the addict to change unhealthy thought processes and behaviors into rational, healthy thought processes and behaviors. Gamblers learn how to effectively fight the urge to gamble, how to deal with the triggers that cause them to gamble and how to solve problems that have been caused by their addiction.

Cbt Gambling Treatment Centers

The following types of treatment are common for those who suffer from gambling addiction:

Cbt Gambling Treatments

• Counseling
• Medication for depression or anxiety or other mental health problems
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Behavioral therapy

Gamblers Anonymous is a world renowned support group that helps those who suffer from gambling addiction to stay on a direct path of continued abstinence from gambling through peer support. The groups use 12-step recovery methods similar to those which are outlined by Alcoholics Anonymous for the treatment of alcohol addiction. The gambler will have a sponsor who will help him or her by providing guidance and support along their journey to recovery from gambling addiction.