How to Stop Gambling Poker
Gambling can be highly addictive and difficult to break the cycle of. Recognising signs of gambling addiction in yourself or others – such as chasing losses, missing events and even stealing money in order to fund gambling – is crucial. Once this has been acknowledged, then taking steps toward change should follow; first by admitting you have an issue; next up should be finding something stimulating your brain as an activity to replace gambling; this may involve reigniting an old hobby or discovering something entirely new!
Staying busy is key to avoiding boredom, which is a leading cause of gambling addiction. Achieve this goal requires healthy eating and getting plenty of restful sleep – anything less is known to lead to unstable moods and can even result in depression. Meanwhile, lack of physical activity may result in weight gain and other health complications.
Focusing on your goals and dreams for the future can also keep you occupied, helping to make you feel more capable. Perhaps taking up a new sport or traveling somewhere new, starting a journal, reading more books…these activities can help focus your mind on all the positive aspects of life rather than fretting over missed poker wins.
Talking through any gambling issues with someone who will listen without judgement – whether that be family members, friends, or professional counsellors. Additionally, reduce financial risks by staying away from casinos, online gambling sites, and carrying large sums of cash – or spend time with loved ones or friends doing non-gambling activities instead.
When faced with gambling urges, don’t give in! Feeling ashamed or embarrassed could prevent you from seeking assistance; if you believe gambling addiction may be an issue for you, reach out to a counsellor immediately for support.
Stress and anxiety management is another key part of stopping gambling. Stress relief techniques like meditation, yoga and deep breathing exercises can be especially useful for helping manage urges to gamble when cravings strike – these techniques have proven particularly successful when dealing with persistent urges to gamble.
As part of your recovery from gambling addiction, it is advisable to avoid those and places which remind you of your previous life as a gambler – this includes online poker rooms/TABs/gambling clubs as well as driving past casinos on your commute. Removing gambling apps from your phone and computer may help keep you focused on recovery and prevent relapse. At this stage it is also important to remember that urges may still arise due to emotional triggers like stress or anger; developing skills to handle such urges will assist with breaking free of addiction more easily in future. Practicing can make managing future urges to gamble easier as time progresses.