There are various means and approaches that can help overcome problems associated with pathologically trusted non UKGC casino sites. The term was coined by Robert Custer almost 50 years ago. Finding a path out of gambling addiction often requires several phases.
No matter which path you choose, you should definitely seek professional help. With a professional at your side, you have a better chance of successfully overcoming your problems and receiving help even if you encounter a dead end or are stuck along the way.
The following phases play a role in overcoming the problems:
Accept the Problem & Take Initial Action
The most important step is to accept that you have a problem. Think about what you can do now and who you can confide in. Above all, don’t be ashamed! Many people don’t admit to themselves that they have a gambling problem. By recognizing this and considering the first steps, you’ve made a start!
The first steps include not only considering who you can confide in. We understand that telling someone close to you about your problems can be difficult. You should explore professional support services. There are many online resources that also provide emergency phone numbers.
Take Further Measures & Organize Finances
The next steps should definitely start with professionals on your side. To overcome gambling problems, you obviously have to stop gambling at non GamStop casinos. That’s easier said than done, of course. This is where the professionals come in. They’ll give you tools that will prevent you from gambling any further.
Since pathological gambling is a behavioral addiction, you’ll learn to resist the urge to gamble through behavioral therapy. However, you should be aware that this success won’t happen overnight. It will take time. There may be setbacks. Even in these cases, don’t deviate from the professionals’ instructions.
Other measures include getting your finances in order if they have suffered as a result of your gambling behavior at non GamStop casinos. Seek out a debt counselor. There are also special hotlines for this, where you can initially get anonymous help. You will need a lot of time and energy to get your gambling problem under control. Therefore, you shouldn’t overwhelm yourself with too many things.
Getting Life Back Under Control
You’ll gradually distance yourself from gambling at non GamStop casinos. This will give you the opportunity to reorganize other areas. Your finances will continue to improve. You may even rekindle neglected social contacts. If you have any financial repayment agreements or settlements, you should definitely stick to them to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the long run.
The improved social contacts will do you good and also ensure that you can overcome your gambling problems at non GamStop casinos. Gradually, potentially damaged trust relationships will be rebuilt and tensions will be reduced. You have accepted the situation and see that the past, with its gambling problems, is gradually fading into the rearview mirror.
Grow & Gain Experience
During this phase, you’re stable again and in full control. Gambling no longer occupies a place in your mind, so you’ve gained enough energy for the rest of your life’s challenges.
One factor you shouldn’t underestimate: You’ll be richer for having had an experience—albeit a painful, sometimes costly, and unpleasant one. This gives you the opportunity to contribute your experiences for the benefit of others.
It’s quite common for former addicts to do everything they can to spare others from these experiences and warn them of the dangers. This experience also helps them better understand their fellow human beings and recognize harmful tendencies earlier.
How to Protect Yourself From Relapse
Many former addicts know the fear of relapse. The thought of it can be tormenting. The fear of falling back into the negative spiral haunts many sufferers. In a sense, this is comparable to a former smoker who is afraid of picking up a cigarette again.
This is where the so-called ” Transtheoretical Model ” by James O. Prochaska and CC Di Clemente comes into play. This theory is also known as the stage model of behavior change. This model includes six stages, all of which build on one another:
- Carelessness
- Awareness
- Preparation
- Plot
- Maintenance
- Continuous maintenance
When it comes to preventing relapse, the last two stages of this model are particularly interesting. During maintenance, those affected attempt to permanently establish the behavioral changes achieved through the previous steps.
Important: Setbacks can occur in all of these phases! However, you shouldn’t give up if this happens; instead, you should continue to work toward the final two phases of this model, even if it doesn’t work out the first time.