November is here and the onset of the holiday season begins this week. Now is a perfect opportunity to take a moment of pause to acknowledge the people and things we are grateful for in our lives. If you or someone you know is in recovery from a gambling problem, there is much to be thankful for. On the other hand, if you or a loved one are in need of assistance, be grateful, and take comfort knowing that it’s never too late to begin the path to recovery. Being set free from the chains of a gambling addiction can be life-changing, for the gambler and their families. Loved ones…read more
Octubre es el mes Nacional de Prevención del Abuso de Sustancias y, a menudo, es más fácil comprender el problema del juego comparándolo con el alcoholismo y la adicción a las drogas. Si bien las similitudes son muchas, existen algunas diferencias importantes que han hecho que el juego compulsivo sea más difícil de identificar y tratar. Para empezar, un trastorno del juego es una adicción oculta, por lo que es difícil de detectar porque no hay síntomas físicos externos visibles, como pupilas dilatadas. Además, el 100% de abstinencia es un gran desafío porque el dinero es la “droga” que alimenta la adicción. Los juegos de azar no requieren la ingestión…read more
October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, and it is often easiest to understand problem gambling by comparing it to alcoholism and drug addiction. While the similarities are many, there are some important differences that have made compulsive gambling more difficult to identify and to treat. For starters, a gambling disorder is a hidden addiction, so it’s difficult to detect because there are no visible outward physical symptoms, such as dilated pupils. In addition, 100% abstinence is very challenging because money is the “drug” that fuels the addiction. Gambling requires no ingestion of chemicals, yet persons engaging in the activity frequently experience the same physiological “highs”. It is also true…read more
Did you know that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month? The COVID-19 pandemic has, among its long list of detrimental effects, increased the rate of domestic partner violence. Police departments from around the country noted upticks in domestic violence incidents following the start of the pandemic. [1] Not only that, but the health crisis also exacerbated the severity of family violence according to Jacky Mulveen, project manager of Women’s Empowerment and Recovery Educators: “It gives [the abuser] more tools, more chances to control you. The abuser says, ‘You can’t go out; you’re not going anywhere,’ and the government also is saying, ‘You have to stay in.’” [2] There are also…read more
Millions of Americans partake in the annual tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions, but did you know that only 35% of those who made resolutions last year say they kept them all?[1] So, where do things go wrong? According to Psychology Today, the top four reasons New Year’s resolutions fail are not setting clear goals, feeling overwhelmed, feeling discouraged, and not being ready to change [2]. Though the most common New Year’s resolutions going into 2021 will sound familiar – exercising more, following a better diet, and losing weight; [1] Did you know that many among the hundreds of thousands of Floridians suffering from problem gambling made resolutions to cut…read more
Did you know that October is Financial Planning Month? Financial planning is vital to reach long-term goals while paying short and long-term expenses, whether working towards a down payment on a new home, saving for your child’s college tuition, or ensuring a more comfortable retirement. This alone isn’t an easy balancing act, and many hire financial advisors for help. It’s pretty easy to see why a gambling problem doesn’t fit into a financial plan. However, the impacts reach much further than most realize. Data from contacts to the 888-ADMIT-IT Problem Gambling HelpLine illustrate the financial pressure placed on those who suffer: The average amount of lifetime gambling losses was reported…read more
Sanford, FL: Today, the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) released its FY 2019-2020 Annual Report of its statewide 24-hour Problem Gambling Confidential and Multilingual HelpLine (888-ADMIT-IT), which revealed important findings, some of which present significant implications. During this past fiscal year (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020), the agency received 17,848 contacts, of which 3,153 were requesting help and/or information regarding a gambling problem. According to FCCG Executive Director Jennifer Kruse, the numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. “Many Florida residents, like many Americans, are struggling given the unforeseen consequences resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. For disordered gamblers and their families, the effects of the virus can…read more
Multiple factors can influence a person to develop a gambling addiction. It is essential to know that most individuals who struggle with this addiction by no means planned to let their gambling spiral out of control. To help individuals who battle with problem gambling, we must understand the difficulties they face. Problem gambling results in far-reaching challenges beyond the financial hardships that can affect nearly every area of one’s life. There are many ways that gambling addiction can also bring turmoil to the individuals that surround the gambler. For every case of problem gambling, 8-10 other people are also affected. Conversations about gambling addiction may be a difficult task when…read more
National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that treatment services can enable those with mental health and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives. Our goal is to provide hope and help to the individuals who want to get started on the path to recovery from problem gambling. As problem gambling is known as a hidden addiction, learning the signs is a huge step forward. Striving towards the next few steps, such as contacting our 888-ADMIT-IT Problem Gambling HelpLine, is what can get you or a loved one into recovery. In this pandemic, online gambling expanded unlike ever before. Due to temporary…read more
While there is no problem with recreational gambling, the moment when a person loses control over their gambling, it is when it becomes clear they have developed a gambling disorder. According to the DSM-5, or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, Gambling Disorder is a diagnosable and treatable behavioral addiction with many similarities to Substance Use Disorders. In many ways, gambling disorder affects not only the gambler but the lives of their loved ones. Relationship problems are very evident in the lives of individuals struggling with gambling disorder. In fact, the top reason reported for making contact with our 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine during…read more
