Overcoming Compulsive Gambling : A Self-help Guide to Using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques

Struggling with a gambling habit? If you feel that a 'flutter' has evolved into something out of your control, this indispensable book is for you. This self-help manual uses cognitive behavioral techniques, pioneered by clinical psychologist Professor Alex Blaszczynski, and now used all over the world, to help with gambling addiction. It will help you to understand how your own gambling problem has developed and what is keeping it going; also, crucially, how to develop the motivation to stop and control any future urges to gamble again. Pt. 1. About problem gambling. Prologue: "Sweating on the win" What is gambling and when is it a problem? How does the problem develop? Who is at risk of being affected? What is the effect of problem gambling on the gambler What is the effect of problem gambling on family members and others? How can problem gambling be treated? The goals of treatment: abstinence or control? A short technical note Pt. 2. A self-help cognitive behavioral approach to overcoming problem gambling. Introduction Working out your motivation to stop Monitoring your gambling Controlling your urge using a relaxation technique Controlling gambling-related cues Identifyig irrational ideas; how to stop chasing losses Preventing relapses How your family can help A concluding remark. Struggling with a gambling habit? This self-help manual uses cognitive behavioral techniques, to help with gambling addiction. It also helps you to understand how your own gambling problem has developed and what is keeping it going; also, crucially, how to develop the motivation to stop and control any future urges to gamble again. Utilising cognitive behaviour techniques, this is a step-by-step recovery programme that will enable problem gamblers to address their compulsions. Using self-help techniques, bad habits can be replaced with healthy ones