As you may have noticed, quitting problem gambling is easy. You’ve probably told yourself that many times, yet find yourself back in your gambling habits without realizing what happened. It’s staying in recovery- making a permanent commitment to stay away from gambling- that is such a challenge. Maintaining recovery for problem gambling and gambling addiction is possible if you surround yourself with people to whom you’re accountable, avoid tempting environments, give up control of your finances (at least at first), and find exciting or enjoyable activities to replace gambling. It’s also important to keep stress in check, since stress can trigger compulsive gambling or make it worse.
Changing your lifestyle and making healthier choices
One way to stop yourself from problem gambling is to analyze what is needed for gambling to occur, work on removing these elements from your life and replace them with healthier choices. The four elements needed for problem gambling to continue are:
* A decision: Before gambling occurs, the decision to gamble has been made. If you have an urge to gamble: stop what you are doing and call someone, think about the consequences to your actions, tell yourself to stop thinking about gambling, and find something else to do immediately.
* Money: Gambling cannot occur without money. Get rid of your credit cards, let someone else be in charge of your money, have the bank make automatic payments for you, and keep a limited amount of cash on you at all times.
* Time: Gambling cannot occur if you don’t have the time. Schedule enjoyable recreational time for yourself that has nothing to do with gambling, find time for relaxation, and plan outings with your family.
* A game: Without a game or activity to bet on there is no opportunity to gamble. Don’t put yourself in tempting environments or locations. Tell the gambling establishments you frequent that you have a gambling problem and ask them to restrict you from betting at their casinos and establishments.
Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to as the “hidden illness” because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers typically deny or minimize the problem. They also go to great lengths to hide their gambling. For example, problem gamblers often withdraw from their loved ones, sneak around, and lie about where they’ve been and what they’ve been up to.
Do I have a gambling problem?
You may have a gambling problem if you:
* Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. You might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won’t understand or that you will surprise them with a big win.
* Have trouble controlling your gambling. Once you start gambling, can you walk away? Or are you compelled to gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost money back?
* Gamble even when you don’t have the money. A red flag is when you are getting more and more desperate to recoup your losses. You may gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, and then move on to money you don’t have- money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You may feel pushed to borrow, sell or even steal things for gambling money. It’s a vicious cycle. You may sincerely believe that gambling more money is the only way to win lost money back. But it only puts you further and further in the hole.
* Family and friends are worried about you. Denial keeps problem gambling going. If friends and family are worried, listen to them carefully. Take a hard look at how gambling is affecting your life. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help.
Does my loved one have a gambling problem?
If your loved one has a gambling problem, he or she might:
* Become increasingly defensive about his or her gambling. The more a problem gambler is in the hole, the more the need to defend gambling as a way to get money. Your loved one may get secretive, defensive or even blame you for the need to gamble, telling you that it is all for you and you need to trust in the “big win someday”.
* Suddenly become secretive over money and finances. Your loved one might show a new desire to control household finances, or there might increasingly be a lack of money despite the same income and expenses. Savings and assets might mysteriously dwindle, or there may be unexplained loans or cash advances.
* Become increasingly desperate for money to fund the gambling. Credit card bills may increase, or your loved one may ask friends and family for money. Jewelry or other items easily pawned for money may mysteriously disappear.
The breast cancer is a rapidly spreading disease of women worldwide and recently the US researchers have found a new area that can enhance the growth of breast cancer and according to researchers it is the household products like air fresheners and insect’s killers.
These household are used in almost every home but the cancer risks comes for those ladies who have a high rate of using these products as compared to those who just sparingly use these cleaners.
The study was carried by Dr Julia Brody, from the Silent Spring Institute, whose headquarters are in Newton, Massachusetts, and colleagues, you’ll get the complete report on a online journal Environmental Health on 20 July.
While talking with the press about this new issue, Brody said that “Women who reported the highest combined cleaning product use had a doubled risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest reported use”. A complete analysis of the usage of these household products was analyzed and the results took the researchers to this conclusion that the cleaning products are contributing to the Breast cancer among the ladies.
Up till now the researchers have said that some sort of chemicals in these products contributes to the development of breast cancer as the reason is because many of them contain mammary gland carcinogens or chemicals that disrupt hormones.
Still researchers said that a further complete study is required on this issue that will study this link and also bring measurements from environmental and biological data.
