3. Find help or alternatives.
If you suspect your parent is gambling simply because they are lonely or bored, try to find some other activities that might be of interest to them. Many communities have activities and clubs for seniors and many volunteer agencies rely heavily on retirees helping during the hours many others have to work. School districts and colleges also often offer low-cost or free classes for seniors. If you suspect that wagering is truly the draw and your parent might have a gambling problem, there are also steps you can take. You might wish to start with your parent's physician, particularly if you have noticed new and unusual behaviors. Declining health, medications and ailments such as dementia can cause many problems, including poor judgment or impulse control, which can help fuel problem gambling. If health is not a factor, you can reach out to the NCPG's National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. The 24/7 helpline can connect you with screening tools, local resources, and treatment facilities.
It's not always easy to spot someone with a problem, especially if we aren't living nearby or privy to their bank statement. And when it comes to our parents, most of us want to respect their choices and not treat them like they can't manage their lives. But problem gambling can be destructive and if not addressed, can leave your parent embarrassed, financially strapped and stressed. While you can't force your parents to stop gambling, taking some steps to provide them with resources and support will let them know your concerns and willingness to help them get better.
With so many people in New York State becoming addicted to gambling, many more family members and friends are forced to understand gambling addiction and its consequences, as well as how they should deal with the impact a parent's gambling addiction has on their own lives.
If you're the child of a problem gambler, we know it can be a difficult experience. You may be struggling to understand the addiction, and you might be asking, 'Why can't they just stop?' Maybe you want to help but you don't know how, or you're worried that your parent's addiction may lead you to your own. If you still live at home, you might be dealing with the loss or downsizing of your home, or the selling of possessions to pay off the debt of the family.
Elderly Parent With A Gambling Problem Must
Another sign of addiction is a new obsession with gambling that seems to have taken over your loved one's life. Some older adults who are addicted to gambling often talk about it nonstop, while others stay up late to gamble online. Gambling addiction may affect your loved one's health or relationships with others.
We know this is a hard time, but you are not alone. Here are some things you should know:
Your Parent's Gambling Addiction? It's Not Your Fault.
Many children of problem gamblers wonder if it was something they did that drove their parents toward their addiction. That is not the case. You did not cause it, and you cannot single-handedly stop it. Remove that pressure from yourself and do not feel guilty. It was no choice or action of yours that caused this addiction.
It's Not a Choice – It's a Gambling Disorder.
Gambling addiction is a disease. It's not a bad habit, carelessness or reckless behavior and it's not a sign of a lack of care for the family at home. Those are misconceptions – some of the myths of problem gambling. Just like addictions to drugs and alcohol, this addiction is a disease. It's a mental health issue, and that is why it is so hard for problem gamblers to stop.
Gambling addicts feel a 'high' when they gamble – just as alcoholics do when they drink and drug addicts do when they use their choice of legal or illegal drugs. The only difference is gambling doesn't require problem gamblers to ingest anything to reach a euphoric state.
Trouble saying no my Mom who is a gambling addict. I am really glad that I found this forum. I realized that my mom had some kind of issue gambling almost 16 years ago when I was in college. I am 36 now and my mom is 77. The fastest growing group of problem gamblers is female seniors, which is mainly due to the loss of a spouse, as women often have longer lifespans than men. Consequences of the 'Hidden' Gambling of Seniors. Addicted seniors are gambling their retirement funds away, and many more live on fixed income, leading to unmanageable financial strain. The same appears to be true for compulsive bettors when it comes to an afternoon at the racetrack, a weekend in Atlantic City or a poker parlor in Los Angeles. 'Disordered gambling,' according to an article abstract in American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 'is a clinically significant problem among older adults.'.
Help is Available.
Counseling, whether in one-on-one sessions or support groups, is available throughout New York State for problem gamblers and for anyone affected by problem gambling.
Elderly Parent With A Gambling Problems
While many family members may accompany the gambler to private therapy or counseling sessions, others find it valuable to go to Gam-Anon meetings attended by significant others, family members and friends of people with addictions. Gam-Anon provides you with the opportunity to share your story, concerns and frustration with people who have been through the same experience. You'll feel less alone, and you'll be able to get advice and emotional support from people who understand how you feel and how you can move forward.
Your Relationship May Be Strained Now, But It Can Be Repaired.
Gambling addiction can be cured, and work can be done to fix damage done, such as the accumulation of debt, the loss of property and the loss of the trust of family, friends and employers.
Elderly Parent With A Gambling Problems
While many family members may accompany the gambler to private therapy or counseling sessions, others find it valuable to go to Gam-Anon meetings attended by significant others, family members and friends of people with addictions. Gam-Anon provides you with the opportunity to share your story, concerns and frustration with people who have been through the same experience. You'll feel less alone, and you'll be able to get advice and emotional support from people who understand how you feel and how you can move forward.
Your Relationship May Be Strained Now, But It Can Be Repaired.
Gambling addiction can be cured, and work can be done to fix damage done, such as the accumulation of debt, the loss of property and the loss of the trust of family, friends and employers.
You may be angry at your parent. They may have lied to you in order to gamble, or simply kept the truth from you for months or years. Their financial situation may have jeopardized your lifestyle or purchases you had expected to rely on, such as money put away for a new family car or the savings that had been kept for your college tuition. You may have to deal with the reactions of other family members, friends, neighbors or coworkers who have found out about your parent's addiction and attempt to discuss it with you.
Your relationship with your parent can be repaired. It may take time, and it will take the work, but together you can begin communicating and return to a relationship that's open and honest.
Slotomania™ Free Slots: Casino Slot Machine Games Android latest 6.17.5 APK Download and Install. ‘Tis the season to SPIN! Our gift to you is a 1M-coin Welcome Bonus! Yes, you'll find dozens upon dozens of slot machines with varying themes to unlock bit by bit as you complete missions and level up. Slotomania is a slot machine game that despite having a very simple gameplay offers everything a slots aficionado could ask for: practically endless content so you can spend hours and hours playing slots. Slotomania - slot machines apk download. Download Slotomania app for Android. Have a ton of fun playing on a wide range of different video slot machines. Download Slotomania™ Free Slots: Casino Slot Machine Games apk 6.17.5 for Android. ‘Tis the season to SPIN! Our gift to you is a 1M-coin Welcome Bonus!
Elderly Parent With A Gambling Problem May
Need help?
If you're ready to talk to a counselor or support group about your family member's gambling, we are prepared to help you immediately. The NYS HOPEline offers help and hope to people every day. You can call toll-free anytime for assistance. Every call is anonymous and confidential.
Call 1-877-8-HOPENY.
Related Posts
