What To Tell Yourself When You’re Tempted To “win It Back”
There is a certain type of desperation that follows a large gambling loss. Your heart beating, your mind racing, and a single thought keeps going through your mind that, ‘’If I manage to do one more round, I can win it all back.’’ It seems sensible at the time, and perhaps obligatory. But this is how the cycle continues.
It is at that moment right there that you need something different. No more bets. Take a break. Here are some tips that are effective in overcoming gambling addiction.
This is no longer about the money
This hurry to recover what you have lost? It is not even about the money. It is an attempt at reversing an emotion: regret, panic, shame. You are not after the money, but emotional relief.
However, the gambling does not alleviate those feelings. It postpones them or aggravates them. Each attempt you make to gamble yourself out of a loss, the more damage you are risking. It results in more debt and more regret.
The odds are the same; they are against me
Your brain alters logic when you are desperate. You start to think you deserve to win. That the next hand or spin will rescue you. But odds are not concerned with what you have lost. Apps and casinos are designed to keep you playing.
So, the next time you hear that voice promising you that you will get it back, step back. The house is always going to win in the end. And even now, you are giving it the opportunity.
There is a reason why I keep ending up here
If you have always had the urge to gamble more to recover your losses, then this is serious. The fact that you may be doing the same cycle over and over again is a trend. It denotes that there is a behavioural reason behind this. You may be doing this because of stress, anxiety, boredom, or loneliness.
In this case, seeking expert help is advisable. Science-driven gambling addiction treatment can help you figure out your emotional triggers and gambling effects. This includes:
- How the habit is built
- How the craving process works
- Habits that make it hard to quit.
It will provide you with practical solutions to help break the cycle and cope with urges. You also get to form healthier habits that last in time.
I don’t have to win it back
That is the most difficult one: to learn not to win. It feels like a failure to walk away. But it is the strongest step you can take.
It is by stepping aside that you will reclaim authority. That is the way to break the loop. It may be painful at the time, but you will later be glad that you did it. The other option, which is to gamble even more due to desperation, has already demonstrated where that can lead.
Final thoughts
You don’t have to wait until a gambling addiction gets worse. It takes just one moment of clarity to say: This is no good anymore. Now may be the time to seek help.
