What triggers the urge to gamble?

By Samantha Hayes (clinical psychology registrar) & Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

Do you find that some days are harder to get through compared to others? That some days the urge to gamble might be stronger than others? Maybe it’s the weekend, or it’s your lunch break on pay day. Maybe it’s when you withdraw money from the ATM. Maybe it’s during Friday night football, or after having a couple of drinks with your friends. These could all be situations that trigger the urge or desire to gamble.

A trigger is something in your life that has the potential to set off a reaction that is similar to how you have reacted in the past. It is often a cue that is related to our habits and routines that we develop over time. A trigger can be developed from repeating the same behaviours in the same environment over time. For example, you may have gambled every pay day, and therefore when pay day comes around again, you continue to get urges to gamble.

The development of a trigger creates a neurological pathway in the brain, where a set of factors are associated with an outcome (e.g., pay day becomes associated with gambling). The brain then holds on to these factors and every time a similar situation occurs, it triggers you to respond in the same way as before. The more we repeat this pattern (e.g., gambling on pay day), the stronger, faster, and more automatic that pathway in the brain becomes.

The brain can be triggered by all sorts of things, including sights, sounds, taste, textures, people, places or feelings. These can then evoke thoughts, feelings or urges. For example, maybe the sound of a jackpot may make it too tempting to walk past the gaming room, or an ad for the football makes you want to pull out your phone to place a bet.

Even when you haven’t gambled in a while, these triggers can still lead to the same desire or urge to gamble. For example, returning to your local pub or attending a sporting match after a long period away, may signal to your brain to react and reactivate this pattern of behaviour.

Recognising the situations or factors that make you more likely to gamble is an important step on your journey to cutting down or quitting. It is important to understand that our triggers create instinctive and potentially impulsive responses that can be difficult to ignore. Some triggers may be more difficult to manage than others. There are also some other factors that may make your triggers harder to manage such as stress, alcohol, substances, or emotional distress.

We cannot always avoid our triggers so developing strategies to help manage can be beneficial. Write out a list of your triggers, to help you build awareness of what they are. When those situations occur, the first step may be stopping whatever you are doing - physically stop yourself and pause, even just for a moment. This can create the smallest of changes to your behaviour.

Take a breath – taking a deep breath can help you to decide whether this is an urge you want to respond to or not. Observe what is happening for you – are there thoughts, feelings or urges that have been triggered.

Proceed – make a decision of how to proceed based off your goals and values. Sometimes, just taking a pause before we act, can help us to not respond instinctively and allow us to consider if there is another action we can take. While this pause may not be enough to reduce the urge, there are also other strategies that you can utilise such as urge surfing, mindfulness, engaging in other activities to distract yourself or going for a walk to clear your head.

It may also be possible to challenge your thoughts that may be associated with these triggers. As we experience situations that triggered us in the past, and we do not engage in the same behaviours that we previously did, we reduce the strength of our triggers. We start to build alternative pathways in the brain, and reduce the strength of previous associations (e.g., reduce the automatic activation of gambling on pay day). We start to recognise that while a trigger may lead us to want to gamble, we can build the capacity to resist the urges and engage in alternative actions.

All of this can be difficult but you do not have to do so alone. For more support on this topic or any gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/what-triggers-the-urge-to-gamble/

How to support a family member who is struggling with gambling

By: Samuel Ma (Clinical Psychology Registrar) & Dr Anastasia Hronis (Clinical Psychologist)

If you have a family member experiencing difficulties with gambling, you are in a unique position to provide assistance, support and help start recovery. Although this can often be a challenging process, family support makes an enormous difference. Below are some ideas of how you can help.

First, encourage a discussion with your family member around gambling concerns. This will cultivate a sense of connection and openness. Actively listen to their thoughts, experiences and feelings, and try to do so in a non-judgemental way. While you may not have the same experiences or perspectives on matters relating to gambling, listening without passing strong opinions or judgement will help them feel heard and supported.

Problematic gambling often creates psychological distress, financial pressure and relationship changes. It may therefore be beneficial to discuss triggers for gambling, so that both you and your loved one have a greater awareness of what their triggers may be. These may include specific events, social environments, emotions, times of the day, or people.

Second, consider helping to create a healthy environment for your family member’s gambling recovery. You can encourage help-seeking through free and confidential, professional support services like Gambler’s Help.

Reaching out to your General Practitioner and obtaining a Mental Health Care Plan could also be helpful. As a family member, you could offer to attend an initial appointment with your loved one to mitigate stigma and offer support.

Once your family member has received support, understand that improvement is a non-linear process and lapses are a common component of recovery. Support your loved one to utilise strategies from professional supports and provide a secure financial environment (e.g., not loaning money, seeking financial advice) where necessary.

Finally, family members should actively engage in self-care themselves. Research tells us that a person experiencing significant problems with gambling can affect up to six other people around them, with moderate-risk gamblers affecting up to three others, and low risk gamblers affecting one other person in their life. Treat yourself with compassion if you notice you are being affected by the gambling behaviours of someone else.

Check out our resources for families of people living with mental health or gambling concerns. Engage in your own self-care actively through socialisation, prioritising a healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise, sleep), and seeking professional support for yourself where necessary.

Although support is valuable, recognise that gambling is the responsibility of your family member. In the long term, this provides them with a sense of autonomy and agency. Above all, recall that your family member is defined by more than their experiences with gambling. Their values, relationships, and passions remain, and with support these can be prioritised once again.

For more support on this topic or any gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help on 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/how-to-support-a-family-member-who-is-struggling-with-gambling/

7 ways gambling can harm you — and what to do about it

By Natalie Herron (Clinical Psychology Registrar) & Dr Anastasia Hronis (Clinical Psychologist)

If you are thinking about your gambling and gambling behaviours, an important question to ask yourself is, what is gambling costing me in my life?

For many people, gambling can result in a lot of harm, not only for themselves, but those they’re close to. In fact, there are seven distinct ways in which people can experience gambling-related harm to varying degrees. These seven areas are:

• relationship difficulties (e.g. conflict or tension with important loved ones)

• health problems (e.g. excessive worry or stress, sleep problems)

• emotional distress (e.g. feeling worthless or not good enough)

• financial problems (e.g. accumulating debt)

• issues with work (e.g. being distracted at work because you’re thinking about gambling)

• cultural problems (e.g. loss of identity)

• criminal activity (e.g. stealing to finance gambling).

(For more information see Types of harm from gambling (responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au)).

Considering how impactful gambling can be, how can you build motivation to change your behaviours?

Something that might be helpful for you to do is develop a pros/cons list of acting on gambling urges. For example, are there any advantages to gambling and acting on the desire or impulse to gamble? What are the disadvantages? (Maybe they’re some of the points mentioned above). Also importantly, what are the advantages of resisting the urge or impulse to gamble? What are the disadvantages? This list will be personal for you, but here is an example below to get you started:

Acting on the urge to gamble:

Pros:

• Feels good in the moment

• Provides a temporary escape

• Can be a temporary distraction from problems

Cons:

• My partner will be angry with me

• I won’t be able to pay the bills

• I’ll feel so guilty that I won’t be able to sleep

• Losing money

• In the long run, I risk developing a serious addiction to gambling

Resisting urge to gamble:

Pros:

• I will feel proud of myself

• I won’t have to worry about finances or paying bills

• I won’t have to experience feelings of guilt or shame

• It helps me work towards the life I want to live

• I will be able to spend quality time doing the things I find meaningful — like playing with my child instead

Cons:

• It is really uncomfortable because the urge to gamble is so strong

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/7-ways-gambling-can-harm-you-and-what-to-do-about-it/

If you do write these out, be sure to carry them with you so they’re easily accessible. Also consider rehearsing your pros and cons over and over again! When rehearsing them, it can be extra powerful to imagine the positive short-term (just today) and long-term (tomorrow and beyond) consequences of resisting the urge, as well as considering the short-term and long-term negative consequences if you were to gamble.

Chasing losses: The goal post that keeps moving

By Kelly Tow (Clinical Psychology Registrar) & Dr Anastasia Hronis (Clinical Psychologist)

Have you ever put a lot of time and energy into something, only to reach a point where things just aren’t working out, but you feel you’ve invested too much valuable time and energy that it just doesn’t feel right to stop?

It’s a very common experience. It comes down to the fact that we, as humans, often find it hard to ‘cut our losses’ at the right time. Whether it’s that entire hour you spent trying to solve a puzzle to no avail, those hours you spent trying to fix something that just couldn’t seem to get fixed, or that movie that you knew was absolutely terrible about halfway through but that you just kept watching because, well, you’d already watched the first half and it seemed too late to stop… most of us have had trouble cutting our losses at some point in our lives.

However, the issue is that we tend to worsen the result for ourselves when we don’t cut our losses at a good time.

For example, in the case of the terrible movie that we’ve found ourselves halfway through, we are faced with two options: The first option is to watch the rest of the movie. The second option is to stop the movie and do something else with our time. We often end up choosing the first option because we say things to ourselves like “It might get better” or “I’ve already watched the first half, so it’s a waste of time if I don’t watch the second half”. The problem here is that we have a pretty good idea that the rest of the movie is going to be equally as disappointing as the first half. In this sense, by choosing to continue watching, we are just setting ourselves up to waste another portion of our time on something that is not valuable to us. In contrast, if we chose to turn off the movie, knowing that it wasn’t likely to get much better, we would have the opportunity to use that time watching a better movie, or doing something else more fun or more valuable with our time.

So, what does this have to do with gambling? Well, our very same thought processes also apply to gambling, which makes it extremely hard to know when it’s the right time to cut our losses and stop.

After people experience a big loss in gambling, or after they notice how much money they’ve lost over the course of a gambling session (or a series of gambling sessions), it’s very common for people to then find themselves feeling desperate to win their money back.

That is, the more you lose, the more desperate you feel to gain the money back, and the more bets you find yourself placing to try and break even or to finish on an up. What makes this all the more challenging is that some losses actually feel like “near-misses”. A near-miss is when the outcome from placing a bet feels like you could have almost won (for example, your horse comes second in a race, or you get “cherry-cherry-lemon” on a poker machine). These near-misses can encourage a person to feel hopeful for future wins. Therefore, even though winning outcomes are determined largely or purely by chance, a person can develop a feeling of control where they believe they can recoup past losses.

The issue is that this can all be a very vicious cycle and typically leads to further losses. This is because the unfortunate reality is that the odds are not in our favour. So, when you place additional bets, you’re likely to lose even more, and to subsequently feel even more desperate than you did before. It’s like trying to reach a goal post that just keeps moving further and further away.

Just like the example of the terrible movie, while it might not seem the most desirable or comfortable option to tap out at a low point in gambling, doing so will stop you from worsening the situation further. It will stop you from losing more of your time, energy, and money.

Of course, tapping out is easier said than done. So, if it’s something you’ve found yourself struggling with, one of the best things you can do is to take a break after a loss, clear your mind (for example, by using Mindfulness Strategies, going for a walk, and/or heading home) and actively remind yourself that placing further bets is very unlikely to help the situation. Also try to check in with yourself and notice if you are interpreting a loss as a “near-miss”. If you notice the urge to place a further bet, you can experiment with strategies like Urge Surfing to help you to move through the urge. By clearing your mind a little and resisting the urge to chase your losses, you’ll be better placed to consider the most appropriate step forwards.

For some people, the most appropriate step forwards might include seeking some additional support to work through the situation. If you’d like some support on this topic or any other gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/chasing-losses-the-goal-post-that-keeps-moving/

Spotlight on self-exclusion

By: Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

If you’ve been struggling to manage your gambling, then self-exclusion may be a useful option for you to consider.

Self-exclusion is a voluntary process where a person bans themselves from entering specific gambling venues, or from accessing online providers. All Australian gambling providers are required to provide the option to customers to self-exclude from accessing their venue or their products. Self-exclusion may not be available from gambling websites that are registered outside of Australia.

So, when might self-exclusion be an option for you to consider?

There are several signs that indicate a person might be struggling with gambling. If you identify with any of these signs, then it may be worth you considering self-exclusion as an option to manage or restrict your gambling.

Signs that you may be having difficulty with gambling include:

• Thinking about gambling regularly/every day

• Hiding your gambling from family and friends

• Borrowing money to gamble

• You let bills go unpaid

• Gambling is affecting other areas of your life such as work or relationships

• You use gambling as an escape from problems in life

• You find you need to gamble more or for longer periods

• You feel anxious, sad, embarrassed or guilty about your gambling

• You’ve tried to cut back your gambling in the past but haven’t been successful at maintaining it.

What is the process involved when you opt for self-exclusion?

Different states and territories have different regulations, processes, and time frames for self-exclusion. If you are wanting to discuss the options for self-exclusion, speak with your gambling operator about the process, or click here for more information.

By law, Australian gambling providers must give consumers the option to self-exclude from their venue. You can ban yourself from venues like clubs, pubs, casinos or TABs. Venue operators will work with you to assist you to enter into a voluntary self-exclusion agreement that bans you from entering the gaming areas of that club, pub or casino.

You will enter into a deed which excludes you for an agreed minimum period of time. The deeds often authorises venue management to take reasonable steps to remove you from the restricted gaming area of these venues if you breach the agreements of the deed.

You can also self-exclude from gambling websites. Most reputable gambling websites will allow you to block yourself from holding an account with them. Be wary of using offshore gambling sites which are illegal, and can sometimes disguise themselves to seem Australian based, with “Aussie” branding and slogans. Self-exclusion may not be available from sites registered outside of Australia. For a list of gambling websites which have been verified as being Australian based, click here.

In the coming months, Australia will also launch “BetStop”, a national self-exclusion register. Once ready, people will be able to self-exclude from all licensed interactive wagering services for a minimum period of 3 months and up to a lifetime. BetStop will be a free service. If you choose to self-exclude, wagering providers will be required to close all your betting accounts and must not let you place a bet, let you open a new account and send you marketing messages.

To find out more about BetStop and keep updated with the national self-exclusion register launch, click here.

For some, self-exclusion is a step taken when other methods of minimising harm have been tried without much success. For others, self-exclusion can be the first step. If you would like to talk to someone about your gambling contact Gambler’s Help on 1800 858 858. Or visit here to find out more about self-exclusion.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/get-help/help-yourself/self-exclusion/

Values: What are they, and why do they matter?

By: Samuel Ma (registered psychologist, clinical psychology registrar) and Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

Values play a critical role in the way we think and interact with the world around us. They shape the decisions we make, the way we relate with others, and motivate us to achieve lifelong goals. But what exactly are values, and why are they important in the context of gambling?

Values are our “deepest desires” that guide our way of life. They specify how we want to relate to ourselves, other people, and our community. Values are different to goals, in that goals are observable, specific, and achievable. A common analogy is that values are the direction you may be travelling on a road trip, such as North-West. However, the stops that you make along the way, whether it be a country town, landmark, or lookout, are goals that can be completed.

Values can be thought of as an inner compass, that might guide us in a particular direction in life. Values, unlike goals, may not ever be completely achieved, but rather shift in importance as we progress through our life. Values can, however, be very useful in helping us set goals for ourselves that are meaningful and fulfilling. When we live a life that aligns with our values, we tend to have greater satisfaction and quality of life.

Values shape us on an ongoing basis - not just today, tomorrow, but the months and years ahead. They are deeply ingrained qualities and are therefore broad in nature. Importantly, values reflect what is important to us as individuals, free from obligation or the expectations of others. There are no right or wrong sets of values, rather which is or isn’t important to us. Common values include creativity, persistence, safety, intimacy, gratitude, or skilfulness. The list is endless!

Values are critical when considering accessing help and support around gambling. Some common values that may underlie recovery include self-acceptance, self-compassion, engagement, independence, and gratitude for close relationships. Spend some time reflecting on what life directions are important to you, and how gambling may or may not fit into these values. For many people, gambling can take away from living a life consistent with personal values, and we know this often be true for those living with a gambling addiction. Consider how you may capitalise on your unique strengths when building a life consistent with your values.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/values-what-are-they-and-why-do-they-matter/

Embracing Mindfulness

By: Natalie Herron (registered psychologist, clinical registrar) and Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

Mindfulness is a term you might have heard a bit of recently, but what is it?

Mindfulness is a practice which aims to ground ourselves in the present moment. When used effectively, it helps us to focus our awareness of what is happening within ourselves, while balancing what is going on outside of ourselves. Being mindful is essentially the opposite of engaging in habitual or automatic behaviours.

An inherent aspect of mindfulness is to be able to observe our surroundings and participate in experiences without judgement. This can be particularly effective for thoughts which might be uncomfortable or distressing, as it allows us to change our relationship with our thoughts instead of struggling with our thoughts. For example, mindfulness skills can be particularly helpful if we find ourselves often getting caught up in the past (e.g., “I can’t believe I did that!”) or worrying about the future (e.g. “What if this happens again?”).

The overall goal of mindfulness is to build flexibility to acknowledge thoughts, feelings, and behaviours as they come up, and to be able to let them pass without judgement. Importantly, research has shown that those who practice and develop the skill of mindfulness, experience a variety of health benefits. Some of these include improved mood, reduced stress, enhanced physical health, and overall improvements in well-being.

The great news is, mindfulness practice isn’t just about sitting on your lounge room floor in an uncomfortable position trying to meditate. In fact, the most effective mindfulness strategy is the one which works best for you. Here are just a few ways you can start to practice mindfulness:

Mindful activity

Focus your mind by taking a moment to simply observe, describe, and participate fully in your chosen activity. Use your senses to fully be aware of the activity you are doing mindfully. E.g. if you are washing the dishes mindfully, notice the feeling of water on your hands, the sound of water splashing, what the soap suds look like etc.

Grounding using our senses

Can you calmly and slowly name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can feel, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste? This exercise helps us ground ourselves into the present moment, and can be particularly useful during times of emotional distress or if you’re experiencing urges to gamble.

BodyScan

Sit down in a comfortable position, letting your body relax into your seat. Take a deep breath in, and slowly breathe out. Start to bring attention to your body. Draw your attention to the top of your head. Can you notice any sensations? If so, describe them. Continue this down your body, releasing any tension as breathe in and out, noticing any sensations are they arise.

Guided meditation

Try some meditation which uses imagery, music, or breath to help you focus or open your mind and guide you through the activity. Consider using YouTube and other apps to try these out.

Mindfulness strategies can be used when we are feeling calm, relaxed and in control, but can also be used when we are feeling overly emotional, stressed, or when we are having urges. It is always recommended that you practice skills and strategies like these mindfulness exercises, when you are calm and in a good mental state, so that they become easier to use when you are not.

For more support on this topic or any gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/embracing-mindfulness/

Spotlight on Schema Therapy

Breaking Negative Patterns

As humans we all have basic, fundamental needs. The need for food, the need for shelter, for safety and for clothing. However, in order for a person to grow, develop and flourish, there are a number of core emotional needs which also must be met. These include the need for secure attachments with other people; the need for safety and predictability; for autonomy and a sense of identity; for acceptance and empathy; the need for freedom of expression; and the need for spontaneity.

When some or all of these core emotional needs are not met throughout childhood (e.g. due to difficult childhood experiences or abuse), individuals can develop unhelpful and self-defeating emotional and cognitive patterns that are called schemas. Schemas encompass beliefs about oneself, others and the world, which develop during childhood and can continue into a person’s adult life. These schemas are often rigid and the individual accepts the beliefs and feelings without question. These can include beliefs such as “I’m not good enough”, “I’m unlovable” and “people will leave me”. Such beliefs can lead to significant dysfunction in a person’s life, problematic relationships and chronic mood difficulties.

How does Schema Therapy work?

Schema Therapy is an evidence-based treatment. It incorporates elements from a number of other therapeutic frameworks, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychoanalytic Therapy, Attachment Theory and Gestalt Therapy. Schema Therapy looks at core themes within a person’s life to help them break negative, rigid and unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving.

To help a person break these unhelpful patterns, Schema Therapy uses a combination of cognitive, experiential and behavioural strategies, while also engaging the therapeutic relationship to foster change. A person’s schemas and unhelpful patterns develop over the course of their lifetime and can be very rigid. For this reason, Schema Therapy is a longer-term treatment option (e.g. 15 or more sessions), as it focuses on the core dysfunctional themes in a person’s life as well as symptom reduction.

Who would benefit from Schema Therapy?

Schema therapy is particularly effective for people presenting with diagnoses or features of personality disorders, including Borderline Personality Disorder. In addition, individuals with chronic mood disorders who relapse or have failed to respond to other therapies may benefit from a Schema Therapy approach. It can also be helpful for people with childhood traumas, eating disorders and addictions, to address underlying schemas driving these issues.

Schema Therapy or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?

Both Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Schema Therapy have been shown to be effective treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder. While both use principles of cognitive and behaviour therapies, there are some key differences between them. Both therapies aim to help the individual improve emotion regulation however. While DBT focuses on directly teaching skills to manage emotions, Schema Therapy addresses issues underlying emotional dysregulation to improve a person’s functioning and management of emotions.

In addition, Schema Therapy places greater emphasis than DBT on the relationship between patient and therapist as a mechanism for change. Schema Therapy also incorporates experiential and emotion focussed intervention strategies which DBT does not, in order to explore and resolve dysfunctional schemas. These experiential strategies include imagery work and Gestalt chair work.

If you would like to know more about how Schema therapy could be of benefit to you, please contact us.

Seeing what we want to see – thinking errors in gambling

By: Kelly Tow (clinical psychology registrar) and Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

Let’s face it... As humans, we tend to like being right.

… And sometimes we are right! However, as humans, we also undoubtedly spend plenty of time not knowing things, because we can’t possibly know everything about anything.

The reason that we can’t know everything is that there’s an endless amount of information in the world around us and it would be impossible for us to take it all in. As such, our brains are cleverly designed to take short-cuts that help us to process large amounts of information quickly.

If our brains didn’t take these clever little short-cuts, we’d spend hours and hours deliberating every little thing we do in our daily lives, and we’d never get anything done! However, despite being important, such short-cuts can also lead our brains to miss important information and generate some ideas and assumptions that are not completely accurate. We sometimes call these incorrect ideas and assumptions, ‘Thinking Errors’.

It's very common for people to make thinking errors when gambling, and there are many different types of thinking errors that people can make. In another article, we talk about a common thinking error known as ‘The Gambler’s Fallacy’. In this article, we’ll talk about another common thinking error known as ‘Confirmation Bias’.

Here are some thoughts and phrases that could be examples of ‘Confirmation Bias’:

“They’re the best team. They only lost those games because of injuries and dodgy refs.”

“I’ve used this strategy before. I know it works.”

“The machines pay out more at night.”

Such thoughts and phrases can feel so reasonable and accurate that we don’t even question them. However, given that these thoughts and phrases can sometimes justify our decisions to place further bets or to place higher bets, it’s important to understand the role of ‘confirmation bias’.

‘Confirmation bias’ is a thinking error that causes humans to (unknowingly) favour information that supports the beliefs they already hold. That is, we are naturally better and more interested in searching for, noticing, and remembering things that confirm the stuff we were already thinking.

In other words, our thinking errors cause us to focus on information that fits neatly into what we already know and believe, and to inadvertently ignore contradictory information.

Let’s look at those previous examples and understand how ‘confirmation bias’ fits in:

“They’re the best team. They only lost those games because of injuries and dodgy refs.”

… It’s natural to have a favourite team, or to have a team that we feel most confident in. However, in this example, our thinking error causes us to focus only on information that confirms our beliefs about our chosen team being the best, and to disregard other evidence.

That is, when we are given evidence that our favoured team actually might not be the best (i.e. our team recently lost some games), we find ourselves trying to discount that evidence.

For example, although our team’s good players were injured, and even though there was some dodgy refereeing, there were probably other factors that also contributed to the loss.

Maybe the opposition was playing unexpectedly well, and our players’ injuries resulted from them working extra hard in the face of this expected competition? Maybe our team’s remaining players had a bad game that day? Maybe the referees made dodgy decisions for both teams that day, but we only noticed when those decisions that impacted our team? Our thinking errors cause us to ignore, forget, or discount such information, leading to an over-confidence in some potentially biased beliefs.

“I’ve used this strategy before. I know it works.”

…When a betting strategy works, we will likely remember it. However, our thinking error means that we typically forget some of those times in-between the wins; we forget how many times our strategy actually didn’t work for us. This can cause us to feel over-confident in our strategy and can lead to poorer betting decisions.

“The machines pay out more at night.”

… Such beliefs often come from having experienced a win, or a few wins, at a particular time of day. In this case, we likely had a few good wins at night at some point. We then build up the belief that the machines work best for us at night and begin subconsciously noticing all the times we win at night and all of the times we don’t win during the day. We likewise disregard the times we won at other random times of the day and we disregard all the times that we lost at night.

If your gambling has ever been affected by confirmation bias, you’re certainly not alone. Thinking errors like confirmation bias are very common, and often we don’t notice them until they’re pointed out to us. Starting to recognise and understand thinking patterns and biases can be a helpful first step in managing your gambling.

For more support on this topic or any gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/seeing-what-we-want-to-see-thinking-errors-in-gambling/

Communication is key – how to have the tough conversations

By: Georgia Ashworth (psychologist) and Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

Like most things in life, struggling with gambling can be made more manageable with the support of friends and family. Research shows that having social support significantly increases the ability to manage or abstain from gambling, and helps to maintain hard earned gains. However, surrounding yourself with supportive people often means having some pretty difficult conversations, and sitting with the uncomfortable feelings that come along the way. Whilst our normal human response is to avoid situations that cause anxiety and fear, there are a number of ways that having these conversations can be made easier and more effective.

Firstly, it is important to have a plan of what you would like to share with others. Think about what information you think would be helpful for others to know. This could include:

• how long you’ve had difficulties with gambling;

• how often you gamble;

• and the types of gambling you struggle with (e.g. online gambling, sports betting, poker machines).

Additionally, it could be helpful to let loved ones know about:

• your intentions and goals, whether you’re wanting to stop completely or reduce your gambling;

• what your triggers are;

• and how you plan to work on your gambling, including any treatments or programs you might be engaging with.

Loved ones may be interested in how they can help, so it would be useful to think carefully about what you need from them. This could include:

• regular check-ins and a commitment to being honest with each other;

• practical support, e.g., planning events at venues without gambling, and/or help with setting and keeping to gambling limits.

Whilst being open and honest is important, be sure to consider what you don’t feel comfortable sharing, or what wouldn’t be helpful. This is a personal choice and will likely depend on who you’re speaking with. It’s important to remember that you have a right to privacy and only need to share what will be helpful.

When planning the conversation, there are several things to consider, including:

• where? A private, comfortable space is best, where each person feels they can share openly

• when? Set aside a fair amount of time, as these conversations shouldn’t be rushed

• how will others respond? Expect questions, and remember to listen to what others are saying as they come to understand the situation

• what will you do afterwards? Consider rewarding yourself for having the conversation or planning how you might like to unwind.

And finally, a few helpful ways to start the conversation might include:

‘As important people in my life, I wanted to share with you that I’ve been struggling with gambling.’

‘Gambling has become a problem for me, and I’d like to talk about it with you.’

‘I’ve been having a hard time lately and wanted to speak with you about it, would that be ok?’

For more support on this topic or any gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/communication-is-key-how-to-have-the-tough-conversations/

What to expect when seeing a counsellor

By: Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

If you’ve been contemplating going to see a counsellor to get help for your gambling, then this article is for you. The process of going to see a counsellor can be quite daunting, so let’s talk about what therapy involves and how it can help.

Having a conversation with your doctor/GP can be a useful first step to navigate the process of getting a referral to a mental health clinician. There are many different types of professionals that may be able to assist you – counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, financial counsellors etc. Your doctor will be able to recommend what sort of professional would be best to help you, and can provide a referral.

Your first couple of sessions with a counsellor are usually “get to know you” sessions. The counsellor will ask you a number of questions to understand not only your current situation, but also your past. The counsellor will likely ask you about more than just your gambling patterns. They will also want to know about your relationships, work, day-to-day life, general stressors, other potentially addictive patterns, and more. They will also ask about your general mood and mental health, and whether you may be experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, trauma or other conditions. This is all what we as therapists refer to as an “assessment”.

Following on from this, you and your counsellor will work together on setting some goals and coming up with a plan. You and your counsellor may discuss whether it is better for you to take an abstinence approach to your gambling, or to work on reducing your gambling.

Depending on your needs, counselling can cover the following:

• Understanding why you may have developed difficulties with gambling

• Understanding what your triggers are to gamble

• Understanding what might be getting in the way of you stopping or reducing gambling

• Learning skills and strategies to manage the urge to gamble

• Learning skills and strategies to manage general mental health, and improving overall social and emotional wellbeing

• Identifying and modifying negative or unhelpful patterns of thinking

• Building healthy ways to manage feelings of stress, anxiety, low mood and loneliness

• Processing past traumas

• Building a support network

• Developing healthy relationships with people in your life

• Providing recommendations for programs, apps, websites, self-help resources that can assist you in managing your gambling urges

If you don’t feel like the first counsellor you see is the right first for you, don’t be disheartened. For many people, it takes a few sessions with different counsellors before finding someone that they feel comfortable with. Gambling counselling can often be about much more than gambling itself, and therapy can help you to build a life that feels meaningful, satisfying and fulfilling.

For more support on this topic or any gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/what-to-expect-when-seeing-a-counsellor/

Gambling and alcohol - A risky combination

By: Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

Have you ever noticed that your gambling gets out of control when you drink? Or perhaps the reverse - that you drink more when you gamble? 

It’s common to see people mixing drinking and gambling. Gambling and drinking are both legal in Australia and for many people, are ways to socialise with others. The reality is however, that mixing alcohol and gambling can actually be quite a risky combination. 

For some people, drinking leads to excessive gambling, while for others, gambling may lead to excessive drinking. It’s hard to know what causes what, and it may vary from person to person. In these cases, the focus really becomes less about “the chicken or the egg”, and more about the risky combination of both alcohol and gambling. 

When we drink, alcohol has an impact on the part of the brain called the Frontal Lobes. The frontal lobes of our brain are responsible for cognition, thoughts, memory, judgements, decision making, and impulse control. Drinking alcohol makes it much more difficult to regulate ourselves, reduces our inhibitions and makes it harder to make sound and rational decisions. Drinking alcohol can result in us taking risks we wouldn’t ordinarily take. 

For some people, combining alcohol and gambling results in:

• Drinking more than they intended to

• Spending more money gambling than they intended to

• Stay at the venue for longer than intended

• Experiencing changes in mood as a consequence of drinking and gambling.

Gambling in itself can be an emotional roller coaster, and drinking can amplify that experience. 

If you’re planning to spend time drinking or gambling, consider if you can have one without the other. If you are intending to both drink and gamble, think about ways in which you may be able to set pre-defined limits for yourself e.g. limits of money or time. Consider signing up for voluntary pre-commitments or placing limits on the betting apps ahead of time. Making these decisions once you’ve already have had something to drink can be very difficult, so planning in advance is always key. 

Remember, one size does not fit all. For some people, having a drink and placing a bet may be possible without significant consequences or a loss of control. For other people, it is best to avoid the combination completely, especially if you are someone who is vulnerable to having difficulty controlling either your drinking or gambling. 

For more support on this topic or any gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/gambling-and-alcohol-a-risky-combination/

The Nature of Depression: An Updated Review

The Nature of Depression: An updated review presents connections between depression and other neurological and psychiatric disorders; reviewing comorbidity with addiction, trauma, anxiety and psychosis. Our clinic director and Clinical Psychologist Dr Anastasia Hronis, was given the opportunity to co-write Chapter 8 within this book, unpacking the relationship between gambling and depression.

Weighing up the risk - When your loved ones stop supporting you

By: Samantha Hayes (clinical psychology registrar) and Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

Are your loved one’s starting to comment on your gambling behaviours? Your partner isn’t supportive of your gambling? Feeling judged by your family?

This can feel extremely confronting and can often leave you feeling isolated and wanting to hide your habits. Often it can be hard to hear your partner or family express their concerns about your gambling. It is normal if your first instinct is to be defensive and dismiss them. When our loved one’s comment on our actions, it can often feel personal and can be really uncomfortable. It can bring up feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment, anger, remorse, and even desperation. To manage these difficult emotions, it is often easier to push our loved ones away, hide these habits, and/or deny everything, however this often just creates greater strain on our relationships.

It is important to consider if your partner or family are coming from a place of concern and care. Gambling can place a lot of pressure on relationships; time spent away from each other, sensitivity discussing finances, etc. It is essential to consider how your gambling could be affecting your partner or family as ignoring these consequences can lead to greater problems within your relationships. If your partner or family raises their concerns with you:

• Take a moment to breathe, especially if you are feeling defensive. Your brain will automatically start trying to protect you by going into a defensive mode (e.g., either shutting off or becoming angry and aggressive) as it will feel threatened that someone is trying to take gambling away from you. Taking some deep breaths allows the body to calm down and regulate so you can actually hear and process what your loved one is saying.

• Allow your loved ones to speak openly and honestly. Allow them to express themselves so you can understand their concerns and then consider whether gambling has become detrimental.

• Take some time to consider what they have said. Considering someone else’s perspective can be confronting but it allows you to see how it impacts others and the impact on your relationship. Discussing it with other people you trust may also be beneficial to gain other perspectives. Talking to others can also help to develop strategies to reduce or quit gambling and expand your support network.

• Have an honest discussion with your loved ones, explaining your perspective. Allowing them to understand what you experience, can help them to support you longer term.

Creating a support system around you can be beneficial. Spending more time around people that understand your experiences and support you to reduce or stop gambling can be helpful.

For more support on this topic or any gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/weighing-up-the-risk-when-your-loved-ones-stop-supporting-you/

Sports betting – can we have one without the other?

By: Georgia Ashworth (clinical psychology registrar) and Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist)

As the weather starts to cool and the nights become longer, sporting codes around the country are kicking off for the season. For sports fans this means weekends spent supporting their favourite teams, spending time outdoors and enjoying quality time with friends and family. Unfortunately, it also means gambling ads, multi bets, tipping competitions and office sweeps. In Australia, sports and gambling have become such a synonymous pairing that it has become difficult to imagine one without the other. So how can we experience the joys of our favourite sports whilst being mindful of gambling?

Firstly, consider why sports betting is tempting. Asking yourself questions such as 'Would I be thinking about placing the bet if I hadn't seen that ad?', 'Am I betting just because they're my team?' 'Am I trying to keep up with my friends?'. The better that behaviours can be understood, the easier they are to recognise and change. Also, taking a moment to consider your thoughts can delay the decision to gamble and lead to healthier choices.

Next, be mindful of the environment and how this could be a trigger for gambling. Are there places that encourage you to gamble? Watching sports on the big screen at the pub might be great time, but if it’s leading you to gamble it could be worth thinking about locations with less gambling-related cues e.g., signs, screens, pokie rooms. Change things up and host a night at home with friends, or seek out a venue where gambling is less present. Many venues are moving towards #proudlypokiesfree, offering a similar atmosphere without the same availability of gambling.

If you’re planning to watch the game with friends, it’s important to think about how you might respond to peer pressure and plan for difficult questions. This might include being assertive with your responses, setting clear boundaries, or redirecting conversations if it keeps coming back to why you’re not gambling. Also, it's always a good idea to be upfront with a trustworthy friend who can provide support and help keep you on track.

Finally, remember that the urge to gamble will pass. Most urges last no longer than 1 hour, so whilst the first half of the match may be challenging, the second half should be easier.

For more support on this topic or any gambling issue you might want to talk about, call Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/sports-betting-can-we-have-one-without-the-other/

“Due for a win”: Thinking errors in gambling

By: Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist) and Kelly Tow (clinical psychology registrar)

It goes without saying that our brains are incredibly complex.

They take in huge amounts of information from the world around us and use it to help us to understand everything we see and experience. However, our brains are also designed to work extremely quickly and in doing so they often take short-cuts.

Unfortunately, at times, these short-cuts can lead our brain to produce ideas and assumptions about the world that are not entirely accurate. Let’s call these incorrect ideas and assumptions, ‘Thinking Errors’.

It's extremely common for people to make thinking errors when gambling. This is partly because gambling involves probability, and our brains don’t always recognise how complex probability is. There are lots of different types of thinking errors that people make when gambling. One particularly common one is known as ‘The Gambler’s Fallacy’.

Here are some thoughts and phrases that are examples of the Gambler’s Fallacy:

“It hasn’t landed on red for a long time. Red is due for a win.”

“The machine will pay out soon”.

“I’m on a winning streak, so I should keep going.”

At a glance, these phrases can seem completely reasonable and are sometimes reasons that people place further bets. When we look closer, however, we will realise that, in each of those statements, the chance of winning the next bet (or any subsequent bets) is actually no greater than it was before.

As an example, imagine you flip a coin five times. On the first flip, the chance of it landing on heads will be 1 in 2. This seems simple enough. However, now imagine that on your second, third, and fourth flip, it continues to land on heads. This is where our brains often fall into this common thinking error known as the Gambler’s Fallacy.

In this scenario, the Gambler’s Fallacy often leads people to believe that the chance of the coin landing on heads (after four consecutive heads) has changed. For example, people might think, “Surely all the heads have been used up by now… Surely it won’t be a head again, it will have to be a tail next”.

However, in reality, the chance of the coin landing on heads remains exactly the same. It remains just as it did on the first flip… 1 in 2. This is because every flip is completely independent of the last. The coin has absolutely no idea what side it landed on last. Nor does it care!

Keeping this in mind, let’s take a look back at those three common phrases we mentioned earlier…

“It hasn’t landed on red for a long time. Red is due for a win.”

… Our thinking error tells us it’s very likely that the ball will land on red soon. However, the roulette ball unfortunately has no idea what colour it landed on last. Every single time it is spun, it has the exact same chance of landing on black as it does of landing on red, irrespective of how many times it has landed on black in a row.

“The machine will pay out soon”.

… Our thinking error tells us that pokies which haven’t won for a while are more likely to win soon. However, pokies essentially run on random number generators. Each number is randomly generated, completely independently from the last. This means that the time it takes to generate a win will remain entirely random and different machines of the same type are never any more likely to win than others at any given point in time.

“I’m on a winning streak, so I should keep going.”

… Our thinking error tells us that our previous wins were all connected, and we are now likely to win again. However, each previous win was independent of the win before it, and any subsequent bets will remain independent of the previous bets. The chance of winning stays the same with every new bet, so there is no change in our likelihood of winning the next bet if we won the bet prior.

If you’ve ever experienced any of these thinking errors, you’re certainly not alone. They’re very common, and often we don’t notice thinking errors until they’re pointed out to us. Starting to recognise and understand thinking patterns like these can be a helpful first step in managing your gambling.

Read the full summary here:

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/due-for-a-win-thinking-errors-in-gambling/

Regulating the Game 2022

This week, Dr Anastasia Hronis presented alongside Alan Feldman, Distinguished Fellow in Responsible Gaming from UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation on the topic of responsible gambling for Regulating the Game 2022.

“Feldman and Hronis believe that more needs to be done to separate responsible play from gambling addiction – the latter of which comes with a significant negative stigma.

“To date, we’ve had quite a reactive approach and honestly, it still is quite reactive. But if we stick with that we’ll forever be playing catch up,” said Hronis. 

Hronis explains that gambling addiction is particularly hard to get ahead of as it is “silent” when compared to other forms of addiction.

“When we compare it to some other forms of addiction, like alcohol or drug use, it’s often the case that when the problem starts to become quite severe, someone’s usually around to notice. For example, your family, friends, colleagues are going to notice you’re slurring your words, that you’ve [shown] up to work smelling like alcohol, but with gambling, and the advancements in gambling technology, the addiction can potentially get much worse before anyone even realizes.”

“A person can quite literally be betting around the clock with no one knowing,” she said.

Feldman and Hronis believe that more needs to be done to separate responsible play from gambling addiction – the latter of which comes with a significant negative stigma. 

“You can experience gambling-related harm without having a gambling problem, just as you can experience alcohol-related harm without being an alcoholic.”

“I think that’s potentially one of the reasons why some of the messaging around Responsible Gambling isn’t hitting the target. It’s too closely entangled with problem gambling or having some sort of addiction.”

“We have not eliminated alcoholism, we have not eliminated harm that is related to alcohol abuse. Those things haven’t happened. But with a majority of people, we have at least broadly defined the outlines of responsible play. And I don’t think that in the industry, that’s quite happened yet, and I think we’ve got 

Read the full summary here:

https://agbrief.com/news/australia/08/03/2022/the-future-of-rg-will-be-about-destigmatizing-responsible-play-experts/

Urge surfing - Tips on how to manage the urge to gamble

By: Dr Anastasia Hronis (clinical psychologist) and Natalie Herron (clinical psychology registrar)

Often, despite all the hard work we’ve put in, we continue to get urges to gamble. The good news is, these urges can be tolerated without having to act on them!

In psychology, we think of these urges to gamble like a wave. It starts out small, and then rises in intensity. However, like a wave, as time passes it gets smaller and the intensity decreases. We can call this “urge surfing”. We can learn to ride these urge waves to build our tolerances, and our ability to.resist.

An important step in being able to ride the waves of gambling urges, is first being able to notice it when it arises. Take a moment to notice the urge, pause to observe it, and describe your experience. When describing your experience, try to do this in a non-judgemental way and without reacting to it. For example, “I’m noticing a really intense desire to place a bet which is causing my hands to be sweaty and tingly”. The more you practice this, the greater your tolerance and ability to master the difficult urges.

In the beginning of practicing this skill, a lot of people find it helpful to pick some activities they can do to help ride the wave. Particularly during the peak of the wave, which is the highest and hardest part of the urge. Some things which might be helpful to do include distraction activities (things like watching a TV show, going for a walk, calling a friend, reading, or You-Tube) or self-soothing strategies (think of things which feel good for your senses – looking at nostalgic pictures, listening to your favourite song, spraying a nice cologne, eating a tasty snack, or having a relaxing bath/shower). Using words of encouragement – either written down on your phone, or for a loved one to remind you, might also be helpful. These could be things such as “Every wave is an opportunity to be patient and confident” or “For every urge I resist, the next one becomes weaker”.

The skill of urge surfing is an important foundation of being able to manage our emotions and addictive behaviours, and can be used in many different aspects of our life. The more you are able to resist an urge without acting on it, it is likely the less intense and frequent they’ll become. Of course, if you do slip up, you can still use the urge-surfing skill to reduce the wave again.

https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/urge-surfing-tips-on-how-to-manage-the-urge-to-gamble/

Why do we find making new friends so hard as adults?

If you’ve ever tried to make new friends as an adult, you’ll probably see why loneliness is at an all-time high. Making new friends feels just plain hard.

In school, making friends can be as simple as going on the monkey bars together. But as adults, making, developing and maintaining friendships can be much more difficult.

This matters, because we need friends. And while old friends are golden, nothing stays the same forever. Old friends move away, or have their time taken up by child-rearing or their careers. Without action, loneliness can quietly grow around you. It’s worth taking seriously, because evidence now suggests chronic loneliness can be lethal – the equivalent impact of 15 cigarettes a day on mortality rates.

It’s not just you, either. In many countries, loneliness is at epidemic proportions. And that was before COVID-19 made it much harder for us to see our friends.

The challenge of trust

Before COVID, around a third of Australians reported feeling at least one episode of loneliness. Since COVID brought widespread disruption to our work and social lives, loneliness has soared. Surveys now find over half (54%) of Australians report experiencing greater loneliness since the start of the pandemic.

As we reach for a new COVID-normal, it’s worth taking stock of your friendships – and assess whether you feel your social life is fine, or could use a little help.

When researchers interviewed adults about making friends in a recent study, the most important challenge cited was a lack of trust. That is, people found it harder to put their trust in someone new and fully invest in them as a friend compared to when they were younger.

Perhaps that’s why many people try to keep their circle of old friends as long as possible, given the trust they may have built up over many years.

Who found it harder? Women were more likely than men to say they didn’t make new friends easily because they struggled to trust others.

So what is it about adulthood? Well, as adults, we have greater self-awareness than children. While that is often a positive, it also means we’re more aware of the risks of being judged by others, of not being liked, of being rejected, and of being hurt. Or perhaps it just means we’ve been through high school and our 20s.

If we’ve had previous rejections as friends or suffered a breach of trust, we may find it harder to be trusting of others in the future. To trust a new friend means opening ourselves up and being vulnerable, just as we do in relationships.

Building new friendships requires vulnerability, trust and time. Getty Images

Friendships need time

After the trust issue comes time. “Lack of time” was the second-most common reason people gave after “lack of trust” when asked why they found it hard to make friends as adults.

This won’t be news to many of us. When we have demanding work schedules, very involved family lives or a combination of the two, our time for investing in friendships drops. Even when we meet a promising new friend, it can be hard to carve out time to invest in it. This is a bigger problem for older adults, given most people find their obligations increase with age.

How long does it actually take to make friends? It shouldn’t surprise us that closer friendships take longer to build than casual acquaintances. US researchers have tried to quantify this, estimating it takes roughly 50 hours of shared contact to move from acquaintances to casual friends. To be a close friend? More than 200 hours.

What’s more, the hours you spend together need to be quality. While you may well put in the time with work colleagues, professional interactions don’t count for much. To develop a new friendship, you need personal connection. It doesn’t have to be an intimate conversation to strengthen a friendship. Casual check-ins and joking around can be just as important.

There are many other barriers stopping us from having the friendships we want. This can include having an introverted personality, health barriers, personal insecurities, or maintaining a formal facade and not allowing potential friends in.

Older people are more likely to cite illness and disability as a barrier to socialising, while younger adults are more likely to be stopped by introversion and fears of rejection.

How can we get better at making friends as adults?

It’s entirely possible to overcome these barriers as adults and build meaningful, long-lasting friendships. We don’t have to accept loneliness as inevitable. And while you might think everyone else is having a great social life, remember loneliness is widespread.

So how do you do it?

Build friendships for ten minutes a day

You don’t have to be climbing mountains or bonding intensely over a shared hobby to solidify a new friendship. If you put in ten minutes a day, you can maintain existing friendships and build new ones. Send a text, forward a meme, add to the group chat or give someone a quick call. Don’t get caught up on how much effort, energy and time goes into building friendships. Ten minutes a day may be all you need.

Make the most of any quality time

When you do get to properly spend time with a friend or acquaintance, make the most of it. Avoid distractions if possible, keep Instagram for the couch at home, and be present with your new friend.

Lean into your vulnerability

We’re often scared by the idea of being vulnerable. I think we should embrace it. Remember you are in control of how much you trust and how much you open up. If you struggle with trust, consider sharing personal information slowly, rather than all at once.

Yes, there is a risk in being vulnerable – but there is also the potential to connect on a meaningful level with another person who may very well become a good friend. And that is a fine reward.

https://theconversation.com/why-do-we-find-making-new-friends-so-hard-as-adults-171740

If you’re drinking or betting more in lockdown, you’re not alone.

For the millions of Australians currently living under lockdowns — many without clarity on when things might return to “normal” — there’s no doubt the restrictions on our day-to-day lives present a variety of challenges and hardships.

But for people who have addictions, or who are at risk of developing an addiction, lockdowns can pose a unique set of difficulties.

Dr Anastasia Hronis, founder of the Australian Institute for Human Wellness, writes for the Conversation about the impact of lockdowns during COVID for people with addictions, or at risk of addictions.

Read the full article here:

https://theconversation.com/if-youre-drinking-or-betting-more-in-lockdown-youre-not-alone-but-watch-for-these-signs-of-addiction-165621