When someone suffers from disordered gambling, the potential damage reaches much further than their own individual lives: Their behavior affects their loved ones, as well.
Sometimes, the disorder manifests itself in anxiety and depression, possibly putting a strain on a person’s relationship with their significant other. Likewise, their performance at work can suffer. In more serious cases, disordered gambling can lead to bankruptcy and divorce.
At the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), we dedicate ourselves to providing resources to anyone struggling with disordered gambling. Through our awareness campaigns, we strive to educate the public about the consequences disordered gamblers can face when their condition remains untreated.
By seeking treatment and support through the CCGNJ, such individuals can avoid pushing their loved ones even further away and eventually recover. From Camden to Parsippany and Woodbridge, we are committed to helping disordered gamblers in NJ however we can.
According to Rehab International, 65% of marriages that involve one spouse with a gambling disorder end in divorce. Problem gambling’s deleterious effect on marriage stems from a number of factors.
For example, people that engage in problematic gambling behavior in Atlantic City casinos or race tracks in Monmouth County often experience feelings of shame and guilt, potentially leading them to conceal their behavior. The ensuing lack of trust puts significant stress on marriages and other domestic partnerships, as does the financial strain incurred by gambling debts.
Households with disordered gamblers also report a much greater rate of domestic violence. When a household becomes chaotic due to the financial and emotional instability a gambling disorder can cause, both gamblers and their loved ones may try to regain control in unhealthy ways.
To add to the issue, gambling and mental health disorders often go hand-in-hand. Problem gambling has a remarkably high rate of comorbidity with mood disorders like anxiety and depression. People that engage in excessive gambling also frequently develop substance use disorders. If such individuals refuse to get help, gambling can easily destroy their lives. Fortunately, however, there is hope.
All of the CCGNJ’s efforts are directed towards offering disordered gamblers support, treatment, and hope.
One way in which we help problem gamblers recover is to assist them with finding professional counseling. Trained therapists can help disordered gamblers develop coping strategies to better handle their urges and address the factors that may have led to their problematic behavior in the first place. Family counseling can also help repair relationships damaged by a loved one’s gambling disorder.
Additionally, financial counselors can teach problem gamblers how to better manage their money, improving their understanding of gambling’s impact on their family’s finances.
We also help disordered gamblers find local Gamblers Anonymous meetings. These meetings allow people that are struggling with excessive gambling to share their experiences and support their peers’ efforts to recover. The Gamblers Anonymous organization also holds Gam-Anon meetings for family members and other loved ones of problem gamblers.
Gamblers Anonymous meetings can be readily accessed by residents of the following areas and elsewhere throughout NJ:
Help is available no matter where you live in the state. If you feel that your or a loved one’s gambling is a problem, do not hesitate to reach out to us.
We strive to spread awareness of disordered gambling and provide access to as many resources and treatment options as possible. Wherever you live – Freehold, the Meadowlands area, Trenton, Vineland, or anywhere else in the state – there is hope. Call or text 800-GAMBLER for confidential, 24/7 support today.
