Gambling often leads to serious financial crises, impacting our loved ones and our mental health. Many individuals often struggle to overcome their gambling addiction. So quitting gambling is a significant achievement, as it often requires strong willpower and support from loved ones or professionals. In this article, we will explore what happens when a gambler quits gambling, focusing on the psychological, physical, social, and financial changes that occur during this transformative process.
When gamblers quit gambling they experience; First, an amazing feeling of freedom, a feeling of something that has been lifted on their shoulder, the feeling of everything going back to normal. Second, they will experience financial changes, they will be able to stop their financial crises and focus on rebuilding their finances. Third, they improve their mental health situation, leading them to be less stressed, and being able to rebuild their self-esteem, and confidence level. Fourth, they will improve their physical health as they will be waking up with a lot of energy due to a good sleep caused by less stressful life situations. Fifth, they will rebuild trust with their loved ones, and reengage in social activity. In addition, they experience cravings that will make them feel like they are missing their gambling experience. Last, they will rebuild a new life routine.
In the following lines, I will share in more detail each section of what happens when gamblers quit gambling so you can better understand the psychological, physical, social, and financial changes that occur during this transformative process.
1. Feeling of Freedom
Nothing is worse than the feeling of losing control over your behaviour and engaging in an activity despite its harmful consequences, and that is what gambling addiction leads people to. Quitting gambling is an amazing feeling that every gambler experiences. It is like someone being free from a jail cell. It is the feeling of regaining your life back and making you feel that you can decide the outcome of your life again. It is really the feeling of something being lifted from your shoulder so you can move forward freely.
2. Financial Changes
It's important to remember that gambling often leads to serious financial problems in the long run. Many people end up losing all their savings and spend years repaying debt they should not even have in the first place. Once someone stops gambling, they can begin to focus on rebuilding their finances and creating a better life for themselves and their loved ones, without losing everything they earn into gambling anymore.
3. Improve Their Mental Health
A lot of people live a very stressful life due to gambling, as they gamble with money they were not supposed to gamble with. All the time, they have to worry about what going to happen if they lose their bet, and when they do, it destroys their self-esteem, making them feel that they are not worthy of anything. People who quit gambling experience a big transformation in their mental health, as they stop living a very stressful life, and start regaining their self-esteem back and self-confidence back.
4. Improve Their Physical Health
Can you wake up in the morning with a lot of energy knowing yesterday you had lost a lot of money or the money you were not supposed to gamble with such as your rent? I guess not, People who quit gambling usually experience physical changes, such as waking up with a lot of energy, some start working out to maintain good mental health as working out helps people mentally.
5. Rebuild Trust With Our Loved Ones, and Reengage in Social Activity
Many people have lost the trust of their loved ones because of gambling. Some individuals gamble with money that should not be used for gambling, such as rent, savings, investments, and even properties. Due to gambling a lot of gamblers began to lie to their loved ones about their finances, and this kind of behaviour tears good relationships apart. Quitting gambling, and starting the recovery process usually leads people to start regaining their loved ones' trust. This process usually helps individuals feel good about themselves, and feel supported and it will give them the courage and the strength to start re-engaging in good social activity.
6. Gambling Cravings
People often experience cravings when they quit gambling, the reason is very simple. It is because of their brain's dependence on the dopamine surges associated with gambling experiences. The dopamine is usually released by the brain when gambling, creating an intense feeling of pleasure and reward, reinforcing their gambling behaviour. So when a person stops gambling, their brain misses these chemical rewards, leading to cravings as it seeks to restore the lost stimulation. People struggle to adapt to the absence of gambling-induced dopamine, as it is like a drug they have been receiving. Over time, with continued abstinence and support, these cravings typically diminish as the brain adjusts to a new, healthier balance.
7. Rebuilding a New Life Routine
Many people end up rebuilding even a better life than the one they had before their gambling journey. This is because difficult times often make people appreciate the simple things that they once took for granted. A lot of people start new routines, such as exercising, playing a musical instrument, starting a martial art, and starting businesses, a lot of people start YouTube channels or blogs to try to help others quit gambling. Many people find themselves mentally strong again, have good support from their loved ones, and rebuild even a better financial situation than the one they had before their gambling journey. Some end up back to the gambling cycle again, needing more time to quit completely. The only secret was to never lose the will to quit gambling, the will to move forward and seek help when needed without being ashamed.