How Do You Know When Gambling is a Problem?

While some people can bet responsibly, others have no control over their urge to gamble. Gambling addiction can be identified by large amounts of time gambling and the negative consequences associated with it.

Some symptoms of gambling addiction include:

• Concealing the amount of time and money spent gambling.
• Getting into debt as a result of betting.
• Inability to control the impulsive urge to gamble.
• Decreased productivity at work or school.
• Strained relationships with family and friends.
• Co-occurring mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.

How is Gambling Addiction Treated?

When people are in the throes of compulsive gambling, walking away from a losing streak can seem impossible. That’s why gambling addiction is best treated in the early stages, before patterns become deeply ingrained. Discussing concerns and symptoms with a therapist is an important first step in determining how to address gambling addiction.

As gambling is a process addiction, changing habits or patterns of behaviour, establishing effective stress management techniques and tackling the underlying causes of addiction are critical. It is also essential to develop relapse prevention skills, allowing those recovering from gambling addiction to leave inpatient or outpatient treatment and return to normal life, armed with the tools to remain free from addiction.

The Cabin in Chiang Mai: Effective Confidential Treatment for Gambling Addiction

Reach at The Cabin is a 8-week treatment programme designed to successfully treat gambling addiction and help develop healthy habits. This includes combining specialised behavioural management techniques, individual and group therapy, and physical activity.

Reach is a gender-segregated programme, designed especially for men with their lived experiences in mind. It is clinically evidenced that gender-segregated, or ‘gender-responsive’ programmes, have higher success rates.

Our residential treatment centre, part of The Cabin in Chiang Mai, offers participants an environment away from triggers and temptations so they can fully focus on their recovery. Premium villa accommodation in beautiful surroundings includes healthy cuisine, spacious gym and swimming pools, promising clients a home away from home.

Our gender-responsive therapy focuses on tackling the underlying reasons for gambling addiction, as well as addressing the pressures and challenges uniquely faced by men. The Reach programme curriculum is also ‘trauma-informed’, which means it focuses on each client’s traumas, both big and small, which are often linked to addiction and the strive for reward provided by gambling.

Clients have access to various different types of therapy to ensure that individual needs are covered. All of our counsellors are Western-trained to the highest standard and we have specialist gambling addiction counsellors on staff.