As one of America’s top resources for online treatment of gambling disorder, you may assume that our answer to the query “Should I stop gambling?” would be a flat “Yes” and nothing more. We’d be doing you a disservice if that were the case.
It’s important for you to understand why the activity could have the potential for causing you and your loved ones significant harm, if it hasn’t already. Consequently, we will respond with a look at other key questions and criteria that will help you arrive at a conclusion that best protects your wellbeing. Let’s review.
5 Other Questions to Ask Yourself When Deciding Whether or Not it’s Time to Quit Gambling
Have You Already Experienced the Consequences?
When referring to “consequences” we’re not talking about losing a few wagers throughout your tenure as an active casino gamer and/or sports bettor. That’s a given. Instead, we want you to take a good hard look in the mirror (literally and proverbially) to confirm the presence of repercussions that may be directly tied to the activity.
If you exhibit a combination of the outcomes below, therapeutic interventions to stop gambling need to be taken:
- You get defensive when asked about your gambling habit.
- You’re in debt because of gambling and have borrowed (and continue to borrow) money to recover losses or pay related debts.
- You receive calls from lenders and loan companies.
- You have lost a job due to gambling.
- You have divorced, separated, or broken up with a spouse, partner, or companion because of gambling.
- You often talk about gambling.
- You often gamble from your phone while at familial and social gatherings (dinner, etc.) and/or workplace functions.
There are even physical manifestations of problem gambling that you may have noticed. These include unhealthy weight gain or loss and chronic pain along with compromised sleep and sexual performance. View more about the physical consequences of gambling.
Does Your Profession Have a Complicated Relationship with Gambling?
Certain livelihoods have a complicated relationship with problem gambling. For instance, research finds that the rate of problem gambling among active duty military is 3.5 times higher than among civilians. Meanwhile, studies have found that the prevalence of problem gambling (6%), moderate-risk gambling (14%) and low-risk gambling (19%) in athletes far exceeds the equivalent rates of the general population. If you’re involved in these fields, and you’re already concerned about your relationship with gambling, you need to seriously consider quitting.
Does Your Profession Have a Policy Against Gambling?
Some organizations have strict policies in place against gambling to protect the integrity of the organization. It is commonly found in financial services, insurance services, and professional athletics. The latter has been particularly impacted, with waves of athlete suspensions for gambling being reported across the USA. Even if the policy applies only to on-premises gambling, there may be too much grey area to risk it. For instance, NFL players have also been suspended for placing online bets (on non-NFL games) from within their team practice facility. If they had done so across the road from the facility there would not have been a problem.
Your livelihood is your livelihood – don’t let gambling get in the way of that.
Have Prior Attempts to Take a Break Been Unsuccessful?
Have you made a conscious effort to take a break in the past, but returned to gambling before the intended hiatus was over? You may need to make a more concerted effort by quitting gambling altogether. The conundrum is that science has shown that it’s rare for people to quit on their own when they have gambling disorder. So if you have attempted to quit, and could not, it’s time to get help.
Still Unsure? Take This Quiz
If you have answered the questions and remain unsure about whether or not you should quit, we encourage you to take a quick FREE 5-minute quiz to find out of you have a gambling problem. Click/tap the button below to get started:
Ultimately, if you’re wondering if you should stop gambling, you should probably stop gambling, or at least talk to a specialist about your concerns. Kindbridge Behavioral Health is America’s online portal for gambling disorder support. Take advantage of the resources we have made available to you by contacting one of our care coordinators today.
CALL +1 (877) 426-4258
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