Help for gambling addiction

Dear LA, 

Kudos to you for reaching out about your concern for your partner’s mother! Many people are able to enjoy gambling once in a while, without harmful side effects. However, when the hobby becomes compulsive—feeling the urge to gamble regardless of negative consequences—it's best to seek help from a mental health professional. Compulsive gambling may affect relationships, finances, career, physical health, and mental health. Some of the common treatments to help compulsive gamblers recover include therapy, medication, support groups, or a combination of these methods. Just as your partner's mother may need help if she decides to stop gambling, it might be helpful for you and your partner to seek support to protect yourselves emotionally and financially. Read on for more information about compulsive gambling, as well as some steps that you and your partner can take to help yourselves during this time. 

There’s no one specific population of people who are more likely to engage in compulsive gambling, though some factors may increase your risk of this behavior. These factors include: having other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; starting gambling at a young age; being surrounded by others who experience compulsive gambling; and having a competitive or impulsive personality. Taking medications for Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome are also risk factors because these medications have been linked to impulse control disorders leading to gambling addictions. 

Some symptoms of compulsive gambling include: 

• Thinking about gambling all the time 
• Feeling like gambling isn't thrilling or fun without increasing the amount of money each time 
• Lack of success or feelings of irritability, in ending or decreasing gambling 
• Attempting to get rid of other negative feelings or "escape" through gambling 
• Gambling to make up for money lost previously 
• Hiding the habit from loved ones or straining relationships with others 
• Engaging in illegal activities, such as theft, or needing to borrow money from others to make up for gambling losses 

List adapted from Mayo Clinic 

Those who gamble compulsively may find that seeking help is difficult without the support of family and friends. You may be able to assist your partner’s mother in this process by offering some resources for support and treatment. The National Council on Problem Gambling provides resources such as a hotline, various screening tools, and tools to find a treatment facility or mental health professional who can help. Additionally, there are many programs available to both gamblers and their family and friends. You might choose to do an internet search to find information, resources, or programs near you. If you do embark on a search, consider using phrases like "gambling addiction" or "problem gambling" alongside "health department" or "medical center near me." For example, New York State has a page for Problem Gambling as part of the Office of Addiction Services & Support. 

While it’s great that you want to help your partner’s mother, you may also want to think about how you can take care of yourself during this time. People close to compulsive gamblers may also benefit from seeking assistance from a mental health professional in coping with their loved one's addiction. It’s key to remember that while you can provide resources to her on how to quit gambling and seek help, only she can make that decision for herself. That said, taking care of your own emotional needs, and also looking into options to protect yourself financially may be an important step in this process. You may find it beneficial to seek assistance from a mental health professional in order to cope with her compulsive gambling. If you haven’t already, you may want to let her know how her gambling is affecting you and the emotional toll that it’s taking on you and your partner. You may share your concerns with her about how it’ll affect you all in the present as well as the financial implications it’ll have for the future. You might also offer your own support to help her quit gambling. If she's open to support, you and your partner could offer to assist her with finances and manage the living expenses—if you have the means—to ensure some stability. 

Regardless of her interest in support, it may be helpful to communicate some financial boundaries in your relationship. 

You could outline in what ways you will or won't help her in order to protect both you and your partner’s finances and living situation. You may also want to work with your partner to figure out your joint finances—if you have them—and make preparations in case the living situation you were planning on doesn't pan out. If you speak to a mental health provider, or reach out to another resource on problem gambling, consider asking if they can provide you with any resources that may be able to help protect the two of you financially. This might include the phone number for a certified personal accountant (CPA), a representative from a bank or credit card company, or a lawyer. 

If you have additional questions about these kinds of behaviors, be sure to check out the Obsessive & Compulsive Behaviors section in the Go Ask Alice! archives. Best of luck getting help for your partner's mother. 

Take care,