They say that the first step to take is to admit that you have a problem.
Dealing with someone who is addicted to gambling can be painful. They tend to withdraw from their family and loved ones, so what should you do when someone you care about has become addicted to gambling?
You will need to do several things, and some of them are very difficult to do.
The first thing you should do is hide all your valuables, and if this person lives with you, you will need to keep them behind locked doors; if that doesn't happen, then take them to the bank and lock them in a safe box.
If this person is a child or spouse, you will have to limit how much you can afford. In many cases, people have spent their family's savings and college fees. So if possible, try to get those people's account names before it's too late, then cancel all of their credit cards.
At some point, you will have to deal with them. It is important not to scream or be angry just to let them know how their actions affect you in dealing with them. Make sure everyone close to you is there to help with this.
Everyone needs to take turns and tell that person how their gambling has affected their relationship in a non-judgmental and caring manner. This will help the person see that the people who care about them see something they may not see and hope that they will honestly look at their gambling.
Remember that the purpose of dealing with a person is not to stop him from gambling; it is to help him see that he has a gambling problem and encourage him to seek professional help.
Some people recommend that you get your friend to an anonymous gambling meeting, but I do not recommend this. Gamblers Anonymous is a great organization that really helps those with gambling problems to stay away from gambling. Still, before you can get ready for this, many people need one session with a psychiatrist or counselor trained to deal with gambling addiction.
After everything is said and done, you should be prepared because the gambler usually continues to gamble; they will probably make a short attempt to quit before starting and in private.
With a lot of addiction, the person with the problem needs to hit what they call “down.” When a gambler loses everything that means something to them, such as family and friends, and it is at this point that many come to see the problem and seek help.
If you know someone unwilling to admit their gambling problem, I recommend that after you have tried your best to get this person to seek help, if they do not get it, you may need to be prepared to leave them, remember sometimes you have to leave the sinking ship before you go with them.
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