Alcohol affects your brain and body. You often feel less anxious or tense and become more daring. This can cause you to take risks more quickly while gambling. Some people think they gamble better with alcohol, but this is not true. You actually think less clearly and you make unwise choices more quickly. Do you drink to feel better or to relax? Stopping or drinking less can help you keep your gambling behaviour under control.
Some people with gambling problems use sleeping pills or tranquilizers. Examples are Seresta® (oxazepam), Valium® (diazepam) and Temesta® (lorazepam). Doctors prescribe these medications for anxiety, stress or sleep problems. They make you calmer. You feel less tense. A major disadvantage of these medications is that you can become addicted to them. Therefore, never use them for a long period and always consult your doctor.
Drugs such as cocaine or speed make you feel alert, awake and often confident. You might think you have a better chance of winning at gambling, while you actually take risks more quickly. You can continue gambling for much longer, sometimes even nights in a row. Without drugs you would probably have stopped already. Drugs can have a negative influence on your body and how you feel. It is addictive and exhausts you. Stopping with drugs helps you keep your gambling behaviour under control.
If you suffer from gambling problems, it is important to also look at your use of alcohol, drugs or medication. Stopping these substances also makes it easier to stop gambling. This way you regain control of your life and feel better.
