Ep. 22 - Gambling Help: Online & In-Person Support Groups
Most people are initially reluctant to attend a support group for gambling problems. It’s hard enough to admit to yourself that gambling got out of hand. But, now you want me to tell a room full of strangers about the debt, lies, and losing control? No way!
What if I told you that support groups will help you to feel better? It is such a relief to hear that you are not the only one.
And, what if I told you that support groups work? They do! I’ll tell you why later in this blog.
For now, don’t just take it from me. Listen to episode 22 of Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems. Hear from a poker player who has been attending Gamblers Anonymous for the past 4 years and says that it has helped him to stay away from gambling. You’ll also hear my conversation with Matt Mclean who offers an online problem gambling support group. He’ll tell you why he and the participants are big fans of online groups.
Listen now by clicking on the green play buttons above.
If you prefer to tune in directly from Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts, click on the red “Listen and Subscribe” button below.
“After trying unsuccessfully to deal with gambling on my own I knew I had to do it differently.
It turns out a support group was exactly what I needed.”
Common Reasons People Avoid Gambling Addiction Support Groups
In episode 22 of our podcast, Fold em, Harry talks about what helped him to break free from a 15-year addiction to poker. Early on, a counsellor and a friend had both suggested he try a support group. He reluctantly did, but it wasn’t easy in the beginning.
Harry, like many others, find they have lots of reasons to avoid groups or, if they do give it a try, to not go back.
Common reasons why people avoid groups are:
minimizing the gambling problem, e.g. “My gambling problem isn’t THAT serious. I don’t need a group.”
feeling embarrassed and ashamed, e.g. “I can’t face strangers and let them know about what I did.”
telling yourself that you can handle it on your own, e.g. “I self excluded. That’s good enough to stop this from happening again” OR “the people in that group aren’t like me.”
Harry says that after a number of attempts to stop gambling on his own, he knew he needed to do something different. Even though walking into a group meeting was difficult, he did it. For him, it was exactly what he needed.
Five Reasons To Attend a Gambling Addiction Support Group
In this episode of Fold em, you also hear from Matt McLean who facilitates an online problem gambling support group. Harry and Matt share many reasons for including groups in your recovery. Here’s their top five:
It’s such a relief to learn you’re not the only one: e.g. seeing that others got pulled into the same patterns of lies and chasing losses and have similar feelings and challenges as work on moving forward.
It feels good to talk openly with people who understand: e.g. “after keeping this to myself it feels good to talk about it.” “My family and spouse try to understand but it’s different to talk to other people who have lived through it.”
It helps you to stay away from gambling: e.g. “we’re all working together on staying away from gambling and we check in about this at each meeting.”
We don’t just focus on stopping gambling. We also talk about how to make positive changes for ourselves, e.g. how to rebuild our relationships and deal with stress
Groups give you new ideas and perspectives: e.g. “addiction took me to a negative, closed way of thinking. Listening to others talk and sharing with others helps me to see things differently.”
Tune in to episode 22 of Fold em to hear more from Harry and Matt about what happens at gambling support groups and how they can help you.
Listen now by clicking on the green play buttons at the top of this blog. Or, tune in directly from Apple or Google podcasts by clicking on the red button below.
Check out the other episodes and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out when new ones are released.
If you would like to find about free online groups offered through Gambling Support BC, click on the red “Connect with Support in BC” button below. We offer drop-in support groups for gamblers, spouses and family members and couples. We also offer a series of specialized problem gambling recovery workshops called Discovery.
For information on other online and in person gambling support groups that are available in British Columbia and elsewhere, here are some options:
Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon: to find meetings in British Columbia click here, otherwise search for GA in your area.
If you live in British Columbia and would like to access free support and counselling services, go to the Gambling Support BC website or call the Gambling Support Line at 1-888-795-6111. Or, click on the Connect With Support in BC button below.
Free, confidential services are available to residents of British Columbia who are concerned about their own or a loved one’s gambling.
Fold em is a podcast hosted by Adrienne Cossom and her colleagues at Gambling Support BC. Whether you are looking at stopping or scaling back your own gambling or supporting a family member with a problem, this podcast will help you take back control. Hear from gamblers who have been through it and get tips from counsellors.
To learn more about gambling concerns and how to access resources and support, go to the home page of this website, click on the red “Learn More” button below, or connect with us through Facebook.