Is Gambling Affecting Your Mental Health?

Gambling can have a significant impact on mental health. Our Women’s Pathway Team shares some guidance and self care resources to help you protect your wellbeing if you’re experiencing gambling related harm. 

Life can often be stressful – challenging jobs, tough relationships, feelings of loneliness and anxiety. These can all take a toll on our mental health, and we might look for ways to make things more bearable.

However, some of the things that can give us an instant boost can lead to things being worse further down the line.

Things like gambling and online gaming can be like a plaster to help us escape or cope in the moment. In the long run, it could lead to bigger issues such as financial stress, relationship breakdowns, and isolation.

Gambling and mental health

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, people who gamble at harmful levels are more likely than others to suffer from low self-esteem, develop stress-related disorders, to become anxious, have poor sleep and appetite, to develop a substance misuse problem and to suffer from depression.

If you’re a woman, you might experience other physical and social factors that can impact your mental health such as hormones, pregnancy, menopause, caring responsibilities and work and family stresses.

What role is gambling playing in your life?

It’s natural to seek relief from stress, but if gambling is your main way to feel good, it might be time to explore other options. We can help with that.

First, check in with yourself to see if gambling is playing a bigger role in your life than you realised.

Here are a few questions to consider:

1. Do you ever use gambling or online games to cope with the stress of daily life?
2. Do you ever gamble or play online games to distract you from negative thoughts or feelings?
3. Do you ever use gambling to ‘reward’ yourself or make yourself feel good?
4. Do you ever feel guilty about your gambling?

Remember, there’s no judgment here. If any of these questions resonate with you, it might be helpful to talk to a friend, family member or call us here at GamCare.

Coping with stress

Let’s talk about some healthier ways to cope with life’s stress and take care of our mental health.

There are other ways that we can help to improve our mood, that we can build our resilience and ability to cope with stress and feel better about ourselves. Eating well, taking time for ourselves, getting out into nature, connecting with friends and family are just a few of the things that can help.

You can try our self-care activity that guides you through some practical ways you can boost your mood in different parts of your life.

Getting help

Sometimes though our mental health may require help from a professional, a GP, counsellor or other mental health professional. Always contact your GP if you think your mental health requires more than self-help solutions.

If you need to speak to someone urgently you can call the Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123 or if you are in crisis and you feel that you are at risk call 999.

Other support

Mind
Free Mental Health support

NHS Mental Health Services
Mental Health support options from NHS

Cruse
Bereavement Support

Refuge – Domestic Abuse Helpline
24/7 Domestic Abuse helpline & info

Women’s Aid
Domestic Abuse support & information

Shout
Mental Health support via text

Anxiety UK
Support for those living with anxiety

Samaritans
24/7 helpline for people who need to talk

Sane
Mental Health support & helpline

British Red Cross
Support for those feeling lonely or isolated