Programmes
Gambling
Addiction to gambling is defined as an impulse control disorder and is characterized by some of the symptoms and behaviours associated with substance addiction.
Persistence and preoccupation with the activity, increasing tolerance to and decreasing reward to the effects of winning, emotional withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, denial and jeopardizing one’s financial and personal security. The gambler who ‘chases loses’ is akin to the addict who continues to use to offset withdrawal.
More About Gambling
CLOSEThe stakes and risks inherent in game playing and gambling for money create a surge of chemicals in the brain and these chemicals, like those released during substance abuse, sex or high danger activities; produce a feeling of reward that can become addictive.
Gambling initially involves a temporary escape from the reality of everyday life. However, as the addiction progresses, reality becomes more and more difficult to face and the gambling addict faces mounting anxiety and depression that accompanies their high levels of guilt, shame and remorse. This can result in the individual taking even greater gambling risks.
The consequences of compulsive gambling can be catastrophic.
In most cases, denial prevents the gambling addict from seeing the reality of what is happening.
At Montrose Place, we approach gambling addiction as a medical condition or disease and our treatment programmes focuses on remission through abstinence.
We will assist the client in identifying and addressing the underlying neurological, psychological and spiritual factors that cause and maintain an addiction to gambling. Our overarching objective at Montrose Place is to enable our clients to embark on a journey of self-sustainable recovery in order to minimize or prevent the occurrence of relapse.
Our extended care treatment programme for gambling addiction is an integrative programme that consists of the following elements:
• Assessment
• Psychiatry
• Psychotherapy
• Life skills and recreation programme
• Wellness programme
• Family programme
• Relapse prevention programme
• Resuming education initiative
• Continued care programme
