Veterans and gambling. How to avoid this from happening

There is a connection between veterans and gambling problems. There are statistics that have shown that this is something that we all should be worried about. Especially, if we have veterans in our families. 

It is important to make sure that we all know the risks that veterans can have and problems they can struggle with when they return to normal life. We all should know that gambling is just one of the things that they might escape to when life is getting too much for them. This is everything you need to know about veterans and gambling. And, how you can help someone close to you. 

Gambling addiction does not avoid veterans

Statistics have shown that most of the people with gambling addiction are veterans. Veterans with PTSD and that is looking for an escape from real life. They start by just going to the casinos to have some fun. The fun they didn’t have when they were at war, but before they realize it, gambling became a serious problem.

Veterans are more vulnerable to gambling because of their mental state. Normal gambling so now and then isn’t the problem. The problem is that because of PTSD it is easier for them to make gambling their escape. And, to start struggling with gambling addiction. 

How to recognize the problem

It is important for the family to know how to recognize the problem before it became serious. The vets will not know that they are in danger of getting into trouble with gambling addiction. It is our responsibility as their family to see the warning signs and to prevent it from escalating.

These are the first signs that there is a problem and that their hobby of going to the casino can become a gambling addiction.

• He just can’t stop. He is gambling for hours and even gambling his winnings away
• Starting to lie just to go gambling. Even gamble online every moment he can 
• Using money for essentials to gamble. Talking it away and not caring about the money he is losing
• He starts to gamble to try getting the money back that he losses
• Going to the extreme to get money for gambling

How to prevent it

This is the hardest part. How to prevent it from happening in the first place? To see that the veteran is on the road to self-destruction and to try to prevent it from becoming an addiction. 

You should know the signs of addiction (read more here) and make sure that you know what his mental state is. Especially, if he has changed from, he returned. The moment that you see that he is starting to gamble more, you need to get assistance to prevent it from becoming an addiction. If the vet was diagnosed with PTSD, he should stay away from gambling in the first place, to prevent creating an escape from his feelings. 

How to help

How to help? First of all, know that you can’t do it alone. You will need the assistance of a professional to help the veteran that is addicted to gambling. Getting him to admit that he has a problem is the first and most important step in recovering. 

You will need to seek assistance for him at centers that are helping veterans with PTSD and other disorders. Getting assistance to help him correctly. They will know how to handle the situation and how to get him the help he needs to recover from the addiction or to help before it became an addiction. Don’t argue too much and make sure that he knows he can always trust you. 

How to care after the treatment

Even after he has gotten the help he needed, you will still need to assist him and support him. You will need to make sure that you trust him. Not always looking over his shoulder to see if he is gambling again. But, you should make sure that there isn’t any opportunity for him to gamble again.  

Make sure that he knows that he can count on your support, no matter what. This is the most important thing after he was getting assistance for gambling problems. He needs support, love, and the reassurance that you will always care. 

Veterans and gambling problems. Something that is really a problem for many veterans. The main reason is because of undiagnosed PTSD that so many veterans are struggling with. They are looking for an escape from their feelings and problems. It is our responsibility to see the warning signs and to get the right help to them as soon as possible.