Quote from: Fortify on May 09, 2021, 08:49:25 AM

Quote from: FatFork on May 09, 2021, 07:27:08 AM

When you are tempted to gamble online, use that to motivate you to go for a walk or exercise instead.
If you decide to gamble, you should keep a record of how much money and time you spend on gambling daily. Studies show that gamblers lose track of how much time and money they spend on gambling.
Social distancing should not lead to social isolation, so talk to your friends and peers and discuss your gambling problem with them. Having support can make a big difference.
Finding other mental stimulation to keep your mind busy can be very helpful in suppressing thoughts of gambling. If you need to be online then seek out online activities that help you to overcome the urge to gamble.
Seek expert advice if you feel your gambling activities are getting out of hand. BeGambleAware.org is a very good place to start.

Does any of these methods work for you? How do you keep a rein on your gambling habits?

That's generally good advice, although gamblers generally need to break out of the tunnel vision and bad habits that have sometimes built up over years of playing. Like any addiction it's not just the physical act of dropping money on to a game, but can sometimes be the environment and feel-good memories associated with it, even if the good times were created a long time ago.

Another thing to think about when you're trying to break such an ingrained habit is the triggers and it is somewhat covered by the first point mentioned. If you think about smokers for instance, they might subconsciously go for a cigarette after eating or when drinking, so when you're trying to stop - really assess anything that might trigger your mindset towards gambling. If you popped in the bookmakers when you go to visit a the grocery store, try using a different store for a while until you have a bit more control. Control is key and you might feel powerless at the beginning, once you have it back the world seems a lot clearer.

Also, some games have elements of gambling (poker, blackjack, etc.) but there are a few people who can eek out a profit based on skill. If you are consistently losing money, you need to walk away.

Man, triggers is the devil. It can sneak up on you unconsciously at that moment when you think, "well I'm strong now, I can beat this". These nothing harmful about triggers per say but it's the strong association that has been made between them and the addiction that needs to be broken.