Overcoming Your Gambling Triggers Posted On June 27, 2013

When you make the decision to stop gambling and recover from your addiction, you will have to figure out how to keep yourself from gambling in the future.

The first step is to identify your gambling triggers.

What are gambling triggers?

These are the reasons or circumstances that most often cause you to gamble, whether your most common way of gambling is purchasing lottery tickets, going to the casino, partaking in online gambling, or another method. Gambling triggers can range from feelings such as anger and frustration to circumstances such as being around people who are gambling.

How do I know what my gambling triggers are?

You may not have paid attention to what caused you to gamble before you sought to recover, but now that you’re actively working to end your gambling problem, these triggers may become more apparent.

When you feel the urge to gamble, think about the circumstances. Ask:

What am I feeling right now?

Is it stress, frustration or anger that is making you want to gamble? How can you deal with these feelings without gambling? What can you do to cope with stressful or frustrating situations, and how can you manage your anger without placing a bet?

Or is it happiness that is making you want to gamble? Gambling is a method of celebrating and socialization for many people.

Emotions drive many of our decisions. As you identify what emotions cause you to want to gamble, you may need to seek advice from counselors or other recovering problem gamblers on alternate ways of managing feelings so that you can keep your recovery on track.

What is the environment I am in right now?

Are you in a place where gambling is encouraged? Are you surrounded by people who are gambling? There will be times that you will have to remove yourself from a setting that may be disruptive to your recovery. Whether it’s deciding not to visit the casino with friends or choosing to not participate in a workplace gambling pool, avoiding these triggers will keep your recovery safe.

Staying Safe After Problem Gambling

Avoiding gambling opportunities can be very difficult, as there are so many methods of placing bets and places within our communities that allow us to partake in gambling.

Our latest e-book, Staying Safe After Problem Gambling, addresses many difficulties of the problem gambling recovery process. Find out more about identifying gambling triggers by visiting Section 03, and read on for information about overcoming urges to gamble and making lifestyle changes that allow for a gambling-free future.

If you are a recovering problem gambler and are having a difficult time overcoming gambling triggers, know that help is available. Reach out immediately.

Call the NYS HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY.