Recovery from any kind of addiction looks different for different people, but most people agree that recovery is about finding hope in life by gaining a better understanding of one’s self. This may include looking at your strengths and weaknesses and making new mindful decisions around how to live with purpose through self-improvement.
How Recovery Works
The recovery process involves seeking the support needed to aid in vulnerable, healthy human connection and environmental change to pursue a gambling-free lifestyle and understanding how to avoid the behaviors which led to gambling becoming a problem. Those seeking recovery from problems with gambling may make mindful decisions to live a gambling-free lifestyle, understanding that even a single bet could cause a re-occurrence of symptoms.
One way to do this is to understand the persons, places, and things that elicit an increased desire to gamble. To find success in recovery, a person may make mindful decisions to engage with new or different friends, avoid certain locations, or eliminate items which may cause someone to experience the urge to gamble.
Recovery is an ongoing journey of growth that does not happen overnight, but instead with support, time and mindful choices.
There are many routes a person can choose when starting their recovery journey, from professional treatment, to self-help books, as well as 12-step programs like Gamblers Anonymous, and Gam-Anon (for family members).
Tools
Many tools are available to help support recovery from problem gambling. These tools are not a solution on their own but can be a great starting point.
Choosing to begin a recovery journey can be overwhelming at first, and that is completely normal. In North Carolina there is a growing community of people in recovery and individuals who support recovery and are available to help. You can access these individuals and learn more about recovery by calling the helpline.
Groups
Problems with gambling can affect both the gambler and people they care about, and there are support groups available for anyone who is impacted by gambling. Gamblers Anonymous is available for anyone struggling with problem gambling interested in surrounding themselves with others on their journey to recovery. Similarly, Gam-Anon is available for anyone affected by someone else’s gambling.