Dealing with your Gambling Addiction with Hypnosis

Using the power of suggestion, hypnotherapy works to alter the way you think and react to certain situations, like viewing gambling as a form of stress relief.

Hypnotherapy for addiction aims to access your unconscious to identify causes and change the negative thoughts and behaviours associated with the addiction.

For hypnotherapy to be a success, you must want to make a change. Changing for someone else won’t have the same effect – you need to accept that you have a problem and want to make the change for yourself. While certain thoughts and behaviours can be altered through hypnosis, you must want to address the problem for hypnotherapy to be an effective treatment.

Problem Gambling

There’s a big difference between a person who enjoys an occasional scratch-card or bet at the races every year, and a person who can’t get through the day without gambling. While the lines can blur.

There are some signs that indicate a habit may have become a problem, including:

You find it difficult to stop or manage your gambling.
You spend more money and time gambling than you can afford.
You are arguing with loved ones about money and gambling.
You have lost interest in activities you previously enjoyed, like spending time with friends.
You are always thinking about gambling.
You lie about your gambling to others.
You are gambling to get out of financial trouble, or gambling until all your money is gone.
You need to borrow money, skip bills or sell belongings in order to pay for gambling.
You are having to gamble larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of relief or excitement.
You are neglecting your work, school, family or personal needs because of gambling.
You are feeling anxious, worried, guilty or irritable.

Managing your addiction

Changing your behaviour is difficult, especially when the problem has become a big part of your life. Trying to break the habit will take determination and willpower, and a real want to stop. As with hypnotherapy, breaking a habit is incredibly hard to do successfully if your heart’s not in it.

But as well as seeking professional help, there are some steps you can take to manage your addiction and cope with any mental health or financial problems you may be experiencing.

Limit the amount of money you spend gambling

If you are gambling, set a limit of how much you are willing to spend per week or month.
If going out to gamble, leave your debit cards at home, take cash only.
When using on-line websites, put a limit on your spending.
On payday, ensure you pay all priority tasks and bills first (mortgage, rent, food etc.).

Reduce the time you spend gambling

Set yourself a limit on how many times a week you will gamble, be specific and name the day and time allowance. Let others know so you are held accountable.
Try and avoid the ‘I’ll just have a quick game’ scenarios.

Don’t view gambling as a source of income

Remind yourself that it is for entertainment only.
Be prepared to lose and stop when you have scheduled to stop.
Do not spend your savings or investments on gambling.
Ask loved ones not to lend you money if you ask.

Spend time doing other activities

Instead of gambling, spend more time with family and friends.
Take up a new hobby or revisit one you previously enjoyed.
Join a social group or organize events with those who don’t gamble.
Talk to people about your worries.

If you’re worried about a loved one…

It’s difficult to know if someone has a problem with gambling. It’s not easy to detect, and often, people will try to hide their behaviour from loved ones. If they know it has become a problem, it’s likely they’ll feel ashamed or guilty, and so may get defensive if questioned.

If you’re worried about someone, there are ways you can help them, as well as helping yourself. Coping with a loved one who is suffering can be incredibly overwhelming, as much as you want to help them, you need to look after yourself too.

Imagine what it would be like to:

Feel totally calm and in control!
Enjoy greater financial freedom!
Earn the respect of family and friends!

This hypnosis sessions has been designed to help you ‘program’ your subconscious mind so that you begin to think and act like a non-gambler. This sessions includes a variety of advanced hypnotherapy techniques that can help the rational part of your brain regain control and reduce the effect of the emotional part of your brain, to help guide you to freedom.

Hypnosis is not a miracle cure for anything and we do not suggest that this hypnotherapy sessions can make your gambling problem go away overnight. But by going for hypnosis sessions you will be giving yourself a wonderful opportunity to develop the mindset needed to achieve success and to break free from gambling for good!