Overcoming Gambling Addiction: How Mindfulness and RecoverMe Can Help

Two case studies have been published that describe the use of mindfulness (see de Lisle et al., 2012), and in both cases, mindfulness was successful in helping the client towards recovery. In addition, two studies have examined the efficacy of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) which includes mindfulness as a component of the treatment. Korman et al. (2008) used a DBT model to provide an integrated treatment for problem gambling, anger, and substance abuse. They found that the integrated treatment model reduced substance use, but no measure of specific mindfulness skills were reported. gullybet india Recently, Christensen et al. (2013) reported an evaluation of the use of a modified DBT approach with treatment-resistant problem gamblers.

The key result was that there was a statistically significant improvement in the levels of mindfulness of participants as a result of taking part in these groups (as indicated by the MAAS). As a seventh theme we have grouped together a small number of comments that reflect what participants see as barriers to mindfulness. Three people noted that lack of time was a barrier to engaging in meditation, especially finding time to do the homework.

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NT, PC, JP, & FJ all participated in revising and editing the final version of the paper. The mindfulness groups were available to problem gambling clients within the treatment agency. Engaging in a behavior that leads to physiological and/or psychological dependence on the behavior as well as a significant impairment in an individual’s ability to function in important areas of their life. Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions. Discover how therapy can help treat addiction by offering a safe space to explore your goals, learn new skills, and move forward.

Another participant noted having achieved a much greater understanding of the mind and body (“10 fold”) and therefore was able to have more control over every aspect of his or her life. Having achieved self-control, one participant noted that the technique not only helped limit the inclination to gamble, but also, more importantly, was a positive career influence. These responses indicate that the participants learned to use the mindfulness techniques offered in the group to improve their self-control and, in particular, their control over their gambling. The third most common response was that participants felt calmer, more relaxed and more patient.

Mindfulness and Meditation: Holistic Allies Against the Grips of Gambling Addiction

In recent years there has been a growing literature on the relationship between mindfulness and problem gambling (see de Lisle et al. 2012; Shonin et al. 2013b). According to de Lisle et al. (2012) the literature indicates that there is an inverse relationship between dispositional mindfulness and psychological distress, and this may be mediated by a number of factors including emotional, cognitive, and behavioural flexibility. For example, Lakey et al. (2007) found a significant negative correlation between gambling problems and mindfulness amongst undergraduate students. In a second study they showed that mindfulness was related to performance on two risk-related judgment and decision-making tasks. Lakey et al. (2007) speculated that “greater attention to and awareness of ongoing internal and external stimuli that characterizes mindfulness may represent an effective means of mitigating the impulsive and addictive responses and intemperate risk-attitudes of individuals with PG” (p. 1708). A 2011 study by de Lisle et al. (as reported in de Lisle et al., 2012) replicated some of these findings with two samples of treatment-seeking problem gamblers.

• The fourth theme involves improved self-discipline, self-control, or control over gambling.
• Practicing mindfulness can help individuals in recovery develop a deeper connection with the present moment, reducing the tendency to dwell on past mistakes or worry about future uncertainties.
• Working with a licensed therapist can help you explore what’s fueling your compulsive gambling, identify your triggers, and build healthier coping skills so you can break the cycle.

This practice involves cultivating a heightened awareness of the present moment, allowing individuals to observe their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment. By integrating mindfulness techniques into their daily lives, individuals struggling with gambling addiction can develop a powerful toolset for long-term recovery. Some of the themes we noted above have also been found in previous qualitative studies of mindfulness.

This purpose of this paper is to appraise current directions in gambling disorder research as they relates to mindfulness approaches, and discuss issues that are likely to hinder the wider acceptance of mindfulness as a treatment for gambling disorder. It is concluded that although preliminary findings indicate that there are applications for mindfulness approaches in the treatment of gambling disorder, further empirical and clinical research utilizing larger-sample controlled study designs is clearly needed. Mindfulness-based approaches have some functional similarities with traditional behavior therapies, such as exposure and response prevention (Foa & Kozak, 1986). Traditional exposure therapy introduces triggering environmental “cues” to participants in gradually more intense degrees.

In order to identify mindfulness as a construct, it has been necessary to develop valid and reliable tools of assessment. Several interventions adapting mindfulness-based practices as treatment have been developed over the last two decades. At the same time, assessment measures have been developed in an effort to quantify mindfulness and determine mechanisms of change. At present, there is a growing body of literature indicating that these measures are psychometrically sound (Eisenlohr-Moul, 2012), and the correlation of scores between assessments suggests a similar concept of mindfulness (Baer, 2011). However, some have expressed concern that our current operationalizations of mindfulness may only allow for a limited measurement of the full effects of mindfulness practice (Grossman & Van Dam, 2011).