A research-based guide to controlling the destructive urge to gamble From Howard Shaffer, PhD, a noted expert on gambling addiction, and Harvard Health Publications comes Change Your Gambling, Change your Life, a landmark new book which explains how gambling problems are related to other underlying issues: such as anxiety, mood fluctuation, difficulty with impulse control, and substance abuse problems. Dr. Shaffer offers a series of self-tests to help evaluate the degree of gambling problem and analyze the psychological and social context of the behavior, with specific strategies and approaches for ending the problems with simple tools that anyone can do. Explains why many people have a problem controlling their urge to gamble and how that can be corrected Includes a toolbox of resources for anyone who wants to stop the vicious cycle of gambling Offers advice for avoiding slips and preventing backslides and how to deal with the consequences With candor and expert advice, Change Your Gambling, Change Your Life provides proven techniques for controlling the urge to gamble.

A research-based guide to controlling the destructive urge togambleFrom Howard Shaffer, PhD, a noted expert on gambling addictionand Harvard Health Publications comes Change Your GamblingChange your Life, a landmark new book which explains howgambling problems are related to other underlying issues: such asanxiety, mood fluctuation, difficulty with impulse control, andsubstance abuse problems. Dr. Shaffer offers a series of self-teststo help evaluate the degree of gambling problem and analyze thepsychological and social context of the behavior, with specificstrategies and approaches for ending the problems with simple toolsthat anyone can do.* Explains why many people have a problem controlling their urgeto gamble and how that can be corrected* Includes a toolbox of resources for anyone who wants to stopthe vicious cycle of gambling* Offers advice for avoiding slips and preventing backslides andhow to deal with the consequencesWith candor and expert advice, Change Your Gambling, ChangeYour Life provides proven techniques for controlling the urgeto gamble.

Preface ixAcknowledgments xvIntroduction: How to Use This Book 1Part One How to Begin 91 Assessing Your Problems 112 Connecting the Dots 233 Setting Goals to Help You Change 29Part Two How to Change 414 Getting Your Gambling Under Control 435 Anxiety and Gambling 696 Mood Disorders and Gambling 1037 Impulse Control and Gambling 1278 Substance Abuse and Gambling 155Part Three How to Stay the Course 1879 Preventing Relapses 189Resources and Further Reading 205References 211About the Authors 217About Harvard Medical School 219Index 221