Building Resilience
Gambling harm as we know can be a very destructive and have far-reaching consequences for individuals, their families, and loved ones. It can cause financial ruin, damage relationships, and lead to physical and mental health problems.
Overcoming a gambling addiction and taking steps towards building a more positive, healthy, and resilient life isn’t easy. Resilience is something that many people we work with want to improve to be better equipped to deal with the challenges that lie ahead.
Here are some steps you can take to build resilience and continue the path to recovery:
- Seek support: Building resilience is not something you have to do alone. It is important to reach out to trusted friends, family members, or peer support groups to help you through this process. Having a strong support system can provide you with the encouragement, motivation, and accountability you need to stay on track.
- Practice self-care: Building resilience requires taking care of yourself both physically and emotionally. This may include eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep. It may also involve engaging in activities that bring you joy, such as hobbies or spending time with loved ones.
- Learn from your experiences: One way to build resilience is to reflect on the challenges you have faced and what you have learned from them. This can help you gain a greater understanding of yourself and your strengths, as well as provide you with tools to better cope with future challenges.
- Set goals: Having a sense of purpose can be a powerful motivator and can help you stay focused on your recovery journey. Consider setting short-term and long-term goals that align with your values and priorities. This can help you stay motivated and focused on your recovery.
- Practice gratitude: Building resilience often involves cultivating a positive outlook and finding ways to appreciate the good things in life. Try starting a gratitude journal where you can write down a few things you are thankful for each day.
- Take things one day at a time: Building resilience can be a long process and it is important to be patient with yourself. Rather than focusing on the long journey ahead, try to focus on one day at a time. This can help you stay focused and motivated and help prevent you from becoming overwhelmed.
Remember that building resilience is a journey, and it is normal to have setbacks along the way. The important thing is to keep moving forward and to continue seeking out support and resources to help you. A lot of the things suggested above can be completed by using a journal (EPIC Journal for those on our programme), this can also help you form new habits that help shape the life you want moving forward.