Discussion Board and Blog Posts
Gambling can be done online or physically in casinos and other entertainment places. It can be in the form of poker, slots, scratch cards, and sports bets among others. This addiction involves the loss of control of the urge to gamble; even if it means hurting oneself, family and friends. Excess gambling urge needs to be rectified to avoid addiction.
Strategies for dealing with gambling
Three primary strategies can be used to deal with gambling addiction. The first strategy is joining a support group, such as the gamblers anonymous (Orford, 2008). The strategy involves twelve recovery steps, which are derived from alcoholic anonymous to help in solving gambling addictions. The primary step towards rectifying the habit is to find or identify a sponsor or person, who is involved in gambling addiction in his or her previous life. He or she can help an addict in freeing himself or herself from the addiction, since he or she has reformed from gambling addiction. The sponsor can offer guidance and moral support as well. The second strategy is undergoing psychotherapy; cognitive behavioral therapy. An addict talks to a therapist, who helps him or her in identifying the thinking patterns or activities that lead to gambling in this approach (Orford, 2008). The therapist recommends some steps and activities that would help an addict in replacing gambling with important beliefs, practices, and events. The last strategy is medication, where antidepressants, moods stabilizers, and narcotic antagonists are offered. Gambling is associated with depression, bipolar disorder and treating them would help in solving it as well.
Helpful online links and materials in counseling substance abuse clients
https://www.lionrockrecovery.com/
It is an online recovery platform, which specializes in alcohol and drug addiction counseling. It involves connecting with a personal counselor through a mobile application at the comfort of a home.
http://www.onlinesubstanceabusetreatment.com/
It is an interactive online platform, which offers counseling and treatment for substance abuse. It offers lessons, programs and tutorials that would help in solving addiction.
http://www.addictionrecoveryguide.org/treatment/online
It involves recovery and counseling sessions for substance addicts. It provides online counseling and team sessions that are directed by peer support, addiction counselors. It provides necessary tools for recovery as well.
References
Orford, J. (2008). Asking the right questions in the right way: the need for a shift in research on psychological treatments for addiction. Addiction, 103(6), 875-885.
