Australians spend over $23 billion a year on all forms of gambling, with over half a million of our citizens considered to be problem gamblers. We have some of the highest rates of gambling in the world, due to our unlimited access to poker machines, lotteries, sports betting, racing, card games, online gaming, and many other forms of wagering.
Gambling becomes an addiction when an individual cannot stop themselves from “playing”. Driven by a need to experience the same highs and lows (yes…even the lows are addictive!) that gambling provides, the addict repeats the behaviour as frequently as possible and more often than not, spends much more than they can afford to lose.
The inability to stop, combined with the impact on their financial freedom and quality of life, drives many gambling addicts to the brink of insanity. Approximately one Australian commits suicide every day as a result of their addiction to gambling.
Common symptoms of gambling addiction include:
- Constant thoughts about gambling
- Trying to win back losses by gambling more
- Increasing the amounts of the bet to maintain excitement
- Lying to friends and family
- Borrowing or stealing money to gamble
- Seeing gambling as the only good thing in your life
- Saying you want to stop, but continuing anyway
But there is a way out, and hypnotherapy can provide a very successful avenue for dealing with (and curing) gambling addiction.
Hypnotherapy works by finding and shifting the thoughts and triggers that force you to gamble. Repeated gambling is often sub-conscious, so it can be very difficult to control with self-discipline alone. In hypnotherapy, we by-pass the conscious and deal directly with the sub-conscious, essentially changing the way it “thinks” and aligning it with your personal goals of happiness and financial freedom.
It is possible that you will experience improvements after a single session, but will often need 2-4 sessions in order to gain absolute control over your thoughts, and see gambling for the destructive and painful addiction that it really is.
It takes a little time, effort and patience…but the end result may just save your money, your health, your relationships, and your life.
For more information, or a confidential discussion about your (or a family member’s) gambling addiction, please call me on 0433 786 174 or email [email protected].
Blessings,
Rebecca