Why Gambling Addicts Can’t Just Stop Cold Turkey

A gambling addiction is a serious condition that often requires treatment and support, making it unlikely that an addict can just stop without help.

It’s rare for people with gambling addiction to quit abruptly and completely. Quitting can be a challenging process, and it’s best to have support to strengthen your recovery from gambling.

Let’s examine why quitting “cold turkey” is unrealistic for many gamblers.

Gambling Dry Spells

A gambling addiction can take time to develop, sometimes months or even years.

Approximately 30% of people who attempted to cut back on their gambling reported being successful, according to one study. However, this figure included people who didn’t yet meet the criteria for an addiction.

Let’s suppose you find yourself chasing losses, but you don’t have other signs of a betting addiction. You could be at risk of an addiction in the future. 

At this stage, you may be able to take a break from gambling or even abstain for a long period of time. It’s also possible that some individuals in this situation decide to never gamble again.

However, if gambling has progressed into a full-blown addiction, it is very challenging for a person to just quit without support behind them to stay away from gambling.

Stopping Cold Turkey Doesn’t Work for Gambling

If you have an addiction, going “cold turkey” on gambling is unlikely, as underlying mental health issues can drive your gambling. Many gambling addicts use gambling to cope with stress.

For these reasons, it is best to seek support when trying to stop gambling.

Help includes professional support, such as therapy or counseling, as well as personal support from friends, family, coworkers, and colleagues. A gambling recovery coach can also help.

Before you receive professional help, there are steps to quit gambling, such as self-exclusion from casinos or online gambling platforms in your state or jurisdiction. These actions can help you begin the process while you seek additional support.

Dopamine Makes it Hard to Stop Gambling

Gambling can release dopamine, a neurotransmitter tied to the reward system in your brain. You can develop intense cravings for gambling.

Some forms of gambling are more addictive than others, but the activity is fundamentally addictive and potentially harmful.

You may be successful taking breaks from gambling without help, but quitting and remaining in recovery most often requires support from people around you.

Trying to quit gambling by yourself, all at once, is unrealistic for most addicted individuals.

Does ‘Mind Over Matter’ Work?

You don’t need to be a superhero. People from all walks of life have problems with gambling. You are not alone.

You can be the toughest person in the world and still not be able to just quit gambling on the spot and never return to it. Failing to quit doesn’t mean you’re weak.

Gambling addiction is ferocious. You can beat it, but it takes patience, time, and support.

It can be tough if you’re lonely or feel like you don’t have a support system. Don’t worry, you can find communities that will understand you, such as Gamblers Anonymous or online forums.

Don’t Be Discouraged

Gambling addiction carries significant shame, but it shouldn’t. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Trying to abruptly quit on your own and failing can add even more shame and guilt.

Understand that long-term recovery rarely happens by stopping gambling cold turkey on your own, especially with long-term addiction.

There can be triggers, such as sports betting commercials (if you have a problem with that form of betting). The good news is that gambling addiction is treatable and recovery is possible.

Call 1-800-GAMBLER today for help where you live.