Hypnotherapy for Gambling Addiction in Wolverhampton
Gambling addiction is fast becoming a significant problem in our society and the NHS estimates that as many as 250,000 people in the UK are addicted to gambling, spending a combined total of £7 billion every year and yet only about 5% (approx 12,000 people) of gambling addicts actually seek help for their problem.
There are a variety of options available for those suffering with a gambling addiction and hypnotherapy is an increasingly popular option. Hypnotherapy aims to tackle both the addiction itself and any underlying problems that may have triggered the addiction (such as trauma, stress, lack of self-confidence or depression), in an attempt ease the addict out of the ‘need’ to gamble.
Why Do People Gamble?
Clearly, gambling is something that appeals to the human mind, as it has done for thousands of years. So why do we do it when it is common knowledge that ‘the house always wins’? This means that betting shops and casinos calculate the odds so as to make a profit from losing gamblers. The bottom line therefore is that gamblers are more likely to lose than to win.
However, gamblers tend to believe that they are MORE likely to win following a run of losing bets whereas in reality, the number of times that you lose has absolutely zero bearing on the likelihood of winning.
Do you have a Gambling Addiction?
There is a big difference between a person who enjoys an occasional bet at the races a few times a year, and a person who can’t get through the day without betting on something.
This has been made much easier, of course, by the licensing of on-line gambling apps and casinos.
Signs of a Gambling Addiction ...
There are a number of signs to look out for if you think you may be developing an addiction to gambling, including:
- finding it difficult to stop gambling
- spending too much money – often more than you have
- increasingly argumentative or defensive about money
- becoming increasingly reclusive
- losing interest in socialising
- always thinking about gambling
- lying or hiding habits from other people
- gambling to get out of financial trouble
- borrowing money, selling items or ignoring bills to fund gambling
- needing to risk larger amounts of money to get enough of a ‘buzz’
- neglecting relationships or responsibilities
Hypnotherapy for Gambling Addiction
Hypnotherapy is a popular and effective method for treating gambling addiction. Hypnotherapy induces a state of deep relaxation which makes it easier to access a client’s subconscious mind.
By digging deeper into a client’s subconscious, a hypnotherapist can explore certain behavioural patterns and, by using the power of suggestion, help the client to break out of these patterns. By altering their thought processes and learning to channel their emotions in different ways, an addict can learn to overcome their gambling addiction and also learn techniques to keep them going even when their hypnotherapy sessions are over.