Gambling / Problem Gambling
Recreational gambling has become increasingly commonplace, with online betting through phones and other mobile devices, now eclipsing in person involvement in many countries (Banks et al., 2018).
Occurring at mild, moderate, and severe levels, “gambling-related harms are the adverse impacts from gambling on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and society” (Wardle et al., 2019, p. 4).
How do I know if I have a gambling problem?
Typically, a gambling problem is apparent if you are able to identify with three or more of the following statements:
- I have gambled despite risking or losing a relationship, job, or opportunity.
- I have unsuccessfully attempted to reduce my gambling.
- I try to win back gambling losses with more gambling.
- I have asked or wanted to ask family, friends, or another third party for financial assistance as a result of my gambling.
- I feel agitated and uncomfortable when I cannot gamble
- I am obsessed with thinking about gambling
- I have frequent thoughts about gambling experiences, whether past, future, or fantasy.
- I require larger or more frequent ‘bets’ to experience the same “rush”.
- I am restless and/or irritable when I try to stop or reduce gambling.
- I can sometimes gamble to improve how I feel or to try and escape problems.
- I hide or have hidden the extent my gambling by lying to family, friends, or others.
- I have broken the law in order to obtain gambling money or recover gambling losses.
What support do you offer?
Our Senior Psychologist has extensive insight and experience in aiding clients address the difficulties that this issue brings to their lives. Having previously been employed in the gambling industry, he has subsequently completed a research dissertation studying the effectiveness of warnings in gambling adverts (involving 525 participants from across Ireland and the UK). His expertise in this area is further supplemented via dedicated training in the area of Problem Gambling interventions in University College Cork.
We can therefore work with you on a one-to-one basis to raise awareness of your triggers and vulnerabilities and establish and maintain alternative and productive patterns. Beyond the immediate term, our overall approach explores underlying factors, which acknowledge not only your relationship with gambling, but your relationship with yourself.
