How to Lesson Stress Over the Holidays When You’re Dealing with a Gambling Problem

The holidays can be stressful for anyone, but when you add gambling addiction and all that comes with it, the pressure can feel overwhelming. Extra expenses for family meals, gifts, travel, and having children home from school can quickly add up, and by the time New Year’s arrives, the stress can seem endless. Whether you’re the person struggling with problem gambling or have a family member affected by it, the stress may look different – but the weight of it can feel the same. Negative stress is negative stress no matter what it looks like.

For many people, visiting family during the holidays can be a trigger to gamble, drink, or engage in other unhealthy behaviors – while some may choose to avoid gatherings altogether. Family traditions like betting on games, exchanging scratch-off tickets for fun, or drinking too much at the table can easily lead to tension, arguments, and hurt feelings. For some, these environments are also where they first learned behaviors like drinking, using drugs, or gambling, which can make the holidays especially challenging and stressful. Keep in mind that if children are present, observing all of this can have significant impacts for them down the line.

If you are in recovery for problem gambling or live with someone who is in the midst of the addiction, the financial and emotional strain of the holidays can feel overwhelming. The gambler may be physically or emotionally absent, leaving others to handle the many responsibilities that come with the season. On top of that, gambling losses can severely impact the family’s finances, making it difficult to afford extra food, gifts, or travel. In these moments, both the gambler and their loved ones may feel pressured to hide the truth or make excuses for why they can’t fully participate in family celebrations. This is also the time of year when it’s hardest to keep the secret!

Once in this stress mode, it is difficult to imagine ways to relieve the tension. We have to live with stress either way, but we can also manage it by doing some small things to let out some of the steam from the teapot – before it explodes. Here are some easy ways to clear stress from your mind that actually work:

• Pause and take a deep breath
• Listen to your favorite music
• Take a drive in the country by yourself
• Go for a walk or jog, or visit the gym
• Call a friend, or spend time with one
• Spend time with pets or visit a nature preserve
• Go to the beach, feel the breeze, and take in the fresh air
• Lay in your yard or a park and take in the peace of nature
• Offer to help someone else that may be struggling
• Volunteer in your community to give back
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help
• Call or text the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine to connect with free resource referrals for problem gambling

These are just a few of the many ways you can step away from negative feelings and find a little peace amid the chaos. Remember to take care of yourself – because if you don’t care for your own well-being, it becomes much harder to care for those who matter most to you. Make a list of activities that help YOU de-stress, and keep it nearby or save it in your phone’s notes app. When things start to feel overwhelming, pull out that list and put it to use!

If a gambling problem is keeping you from enjoying the holidays and time with family, call or text the 24/7 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine and connect with free resource referrals tailored to your situation. It’s never too late or too early to discover that there is hope, and recovery is possible.