First Steps out of Problem Gambling , livre ebook

Lion Hudson - Jane Ustok Lisa , Joanna Hughes

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48 pages

English

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Description

First Steps is a new series of short, affordable self-help on a range of key issues. In First Steps out of Gambling, Lisa Mills and Joanna Hughes draw on extensive experience, both professionally and personally to address the issue of gambling addiction. What is gambling? How does it become an addiction? How to recognise an addiction. How to take the first steps away from gambling. Other titles in the First Steps series include: Anxiety, Bereavement, Depression, Eating Disorders and Problem Drinking.

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Health

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Publié par	Lion Hudson
Date de parution	22 avril 2011
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9780745959672
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0250€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

First Steps out of Problem Gambling

Why this book? Do you wonder whether you, or a friend or loved one, might have a gambling problem?
Do you find yourself feeling out of control? damaging others by your gambling behaviour? spending a lot more money or time than you intended to on gambling? chasing the money you ve lost in the belief that you definitely will win, if only you gamble just that little bit more?
If so, then this book will help you to understand what practical things you can do to change your behaviour; how to set realistic goals and stick to them; how to provide support to a compulsive gambler.
This book is full of help and answers for you. It will give you what you need to take the first steps out of problem gambling.
Dedicated to the Memory of Stephen Butcher and Don Ford

Copyright 2011 Joanna Hughes and Lisa Ustok
This edition copyright 2011 Lion Hudson
The authors assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work
A Lion Book
an imprint of
Lion Hudson plc
Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road,
Oxford OX2 8DR, England
www.lionhudson.com
ISBN 978 0 7459 5537 7 (print)
ISBN 978 0 7459 5967 2 (e-pub)
ISBN 978 0 7459 5966 5 (Kindle)
ISBN 978 0 7459 5968 9 (pdf)
Distributed by:
UK: Marston Book Services, PO Box 269, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4YN
USA: Trafalgar Square Publishing, 814 N. Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
USA Christian Market: Kregel Publications, PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
First edition 2011
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
First electronic format 2011
All rights reserved
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Cover: Radius Images/Corbis
Contents

Cover

Dedication

Title Page

Introduction

1 Gambling problems in focus

2 Self-assessment

3 Building your motivation for change

4 Setting your goal

5 Involving others

6 Ready, set, go!

7 Reducing gambling

8 Avoiding relapse

9 What if I slip?

10 Moving forward

For the family

Useful resources

Appendix

Also currently available in the “First Steps” series
Introduction

Welcome! You are at the beginning of a new journey and by opening this book you are inviting hope into your life. This book tells the story of gambling: how and why we gamble, and what we can do about it. If you want to stop gambling, you need to take stock, listen to yourself, and create a new future in which you are not enslaved by addiction. This book is our way of bringing you our insights that have helped others overcome a gambling problem. It is the path of freedom and hope. We believe that stepping out of gambling will enable you to walk along new paths - paths of emerging joy and satisfaction - leaving behind old, unhelpful patterns of thought and behaviour.
Who is this book for?
This book is for anyone who thinks or even vaguely suspects that they are gambling more than they want to. This feeling may be a desire to stop completely or just reduce your gambling. This book is also for partners or loved ones who are worried about someone s gambling behaviour.

Food for thought
According to a recent study, 68 per cent of adults in the UK had participated in some type of gambling over the previous year. However, gambling can be addictive and the rate of problem gambling in the adult population is around 0.6 per cent. This may not sound much, but it amounts to around 284,000 people.
Why listen to us?
We have extensive history of working with people with addictive behaviours. In the course of our work we have come to realize that there is little help and support for people whose addiction is gambling.
We are passionate about seeing people change. We know that people can and do change; people do walk away from addiction. Walking away from addiction will take a lot of hard work and motivation. If you are desperate to see things change in your life, then this book will help you on your way.
How to use this book
Our advice would be to read through the book from start to finish, using the exercises on the way. After that, the book is designed to be dipped into as a manual or workbook.
Beginning your journey: How are you feeling?
You may be feeling fearful about taking the first step on the path to change. Fear is common when entering a new part of your journey, so write down how you are truly feeling right now. It is important to properly acknowledge to yourself how you are feeling, and to give yourself permission to feel that way, but then to say to yourself that you are still going to have the courage to move forward with your life and see good changes soon.
When you acknowledge a feeling, fear, craving, or desire, either by speaking it out loud or writing it down, by bringing it out into the open you can take away its power and hold over you.
Take a deep breath; take action despite all that is against you. Gambling has stolen from you. It is now time to fight back, take a stand, and reclaim your life and all that it has to offer.
Mythbuster
Some people are born with addictive personalities that they can do nothing about or have any control over.
We are all a mixture of nature and nurture, and everyone has the capacity to change, given the right motivation and help.
1
Gambling problems in focus

Gambling is a popular form of entertainment and an exciting, thrilling form of risk-taking. For these reasons it can also be addictive. There are many places one can gamble legally, ranging from playing poker at a friend s house to casinos in Las Vegas. There are fruit machines in pubs, online betting, bingo, lottery tickets, and scratch cards. Nearly all gambling is available remotely - through the internet or digital television or telephone.
According to newspaper reports and online information, gambling addiction is the fastest-growing addiction problem in the UK (see, for example, www.actiononaddiction.org.uk). Like any other addiction, it can be tackled effectively through treatment and rehabilitation, which is where this First Steps book comes in.
When gambling becomes a problem
A distinction is often made between social gamblers and problem gamblers .
Many people gamble, and do so as a pastime with no adverse effects on the rest of their lives. These would be called social gamblers. They would consider gambling to be a form of entertainment and would see the cost of the gambling activity to be payment for the entertainment experienced. Social gamblers would feel in complete control of how much time and money they spend gambling, and if they want to stop, they are able to do so.
Problem gambling, however, involves a certain loss of control. Problem gamblers continue to gamble even if they are experiencing negative consequences as a result of their gambling habit.
If you feel that gambling has become a problem, then there are many people who are in the same position as you. One of the reasons why it can be so addictive is the thrill or buzz it can provide. There is also the escape that gambling can bring from the problems and pressures of everyday life. Another lure is the feeling that the money is there to be won back, and so the problem gambler keeps trying to beat the system.
In the tick list below, tick which applies to you and your situation.
Problem gambler
Social gambler

I spend more than I can afford.
I keep within my financial constraints.

I am secretive about my gambling.
I use gambling as a form of entertainment.

I use gambling to cope with other stresses/problems.
I can take it or leave it.

I spend large amounts of money on gambling.
I have a limit to the amount I spend and stop when I have reached this.

I have the urge to gamble regularly.
When I feel down or stressed, it does not occur to me to gamble.

My relationships and/or employment have been affected by gambling.
My relationships have not been affected by gambling.
The number of statements you have ticked on either side of the chart gives an indication as to whether you are more of a problem gambler or social gambler.
Problem gambling can affect a person s whole life, and it is often not just about excitement and entertainment. It can start off this way, but gambling can become a damaging activity that leads to feelings of helplessness and lack of control. This book is for those who are finding that gambling is affecting relationships or their work life, harming their own mental or physical health, or simply leading them into debt.
Problem gamblers are not all the same. People with gambling problems do not fit a stereotype and they come from all walks of life. Some develop gambling problems gradually over time, and others find themselves quickly spiralling into a gambling problem. Whichever it is for you, you are not alone.

Personal story
Mike, aged 40
Mike is a successful businessman with a large family. He has always enjoyed poker at his local pub. But, as a result of stress at work, he has become addicted to gambling. He is spending more and more time and money and using gambling as a way of escaping. He has recently come to the realization that he is a problem gambler because he is unable to stop and his relationships are suffering.

Personal story
Alice, aged 35
Alice lives in a racing town and enjoys a day out with her friends at the races. She does not gamble at any other time and simply looks forward to gambling as a social occasion. Alice is a social gambler, and, at this point in time, this is not a problem for her.
What are your reasons for gambling?
If you are wondering whether you are a problem gambler, you could ask yourself why you are gambling. Is it to win back money you ve lost? Are you hoping for a big win? Do you gamble to escape life s problems? Do you enjoy the excitement of taking risks? Are you trying to feel better about yourself? Do you gamble to help cope with anxiety and depression?
The consequences of problem gambling
Problem gambling can have massive consequences, a