Success stories: How others managed to quit
1. Alexey, 34 years old: from debt to financial freedom
Problem: lost more than 200,000 ₴ in a year, accumulated debts and hid from the family.
Failure methods:
2. Maria, 28: replacing excitement with creativity
The problem: Gambling became an "escape" from depression after being fired.
Failure methods:
3. Dmitry, 42 years old: family as a support
The problem: tension at home, constant quarrels over debts.
Failure methods:
4. Elena, 31 years old: professional support and self-help
Problem: Gambling addiction was combined with panic attacks and insomnia.
Failure methods:
5. Conclusions and general principles
1. Transparency and accountability. All successful stories begin with honest recognition of the problem and the involvement of loved ones.
2. Support system. Sponsor, psychotherapist, mutual assistance groups and a reliable check-in partner.
3. Tracking and analysis. Data on days without playing, traction levels and techniques used give objective feedback.
4. Habit replacement. New activities - sports, creativity, volunteering - are becoming a source of sustainable remuneration.
5. Hybrid approach. The combination of technical methods (blocking, self-locking), psychotherapy and social practices gives the maximum effect.
Each story is unique, but they all demonstrate: with clear goals, systematic actions and support from others, abandonment of the game becomes an achievable and stable new norm of life.
Problem: lost more than 200,000 ₴ in a year, accumulated debts and hid from the family.
Failure methods:
- 1. Self-locking - handed over bank cards to his wife and gave passwords to the phone.
- 2. CBT - 12 sessions with a therapist, where he analyzed the automatic thoughts of "another bet."
- 3. Failure tracker - daily kept a table of days without play and traction level (0-10).
- The result: after 6 months, he closed all debts, created a safety cushion of 3 monthly expenses and returned his wife's trust.
2. Maria, 28: replacing excitement with creativity
The problem: Gambling became an "escape" from depression after being fired.
Failure methods:
- 1. GA groups - attended 2 meetings a week, where she chose a sponsor.
- 2. Behavioral activation - introduced a daily plan "5-5-5" (physics, meditation, creativity).
- 3. Online chat 24/7 - with a rush I turned to the "Stop game" and practiced breathing techniques.
- Result: in 4 months she acquired the skill of drawing and began to sell her own works, the level of traction dropped to 1-2.
3. Dmitry, 42 years old: family as a support
The problem: tension at home, constant quarrels over debts.
Failure methods:
- 1. Honest conversation with his wife - announced the figures of losses and asked for help.
- 2. "Check-ins" with his wife - daily SMS reports in the morning and evening.
- 3. Family activity - joint training three times a week instead of an evening game.
- The result: improved family relations, two months later his wife entrusted him with a joint budget, and they are working together on a financial plan.
4. Elena, 31 years old: professional support and self-help
Problem: Gambling addiction was combined with panic attacks and insomnia.
Failure methods:
- 1. The psychiatrist prescribed SSRIs and a short course of anxiolytics.
- 2. Individual CBT - 16 sessions, homework on restructuring thoughts.
- 3. Diary of mood and triggers - recorded the connection "stress → craving."
- The result: the emotional state stabilized, the craving disappeared, normal sleep was restored, and Elena returned to full working hours.
5. Conclusions and general principles
1. Transparency and accountability. All successful stories begin with honest recognition of the problem and the involvement of loved ones.
2. Support system. Sponsor, psychotherapist, mutual assistance groups and a reliable check-in partner.
3. Tracking and analysis. Data on days without playing, traction levels and techniques used give objective feedback.
4. Habit replacement. New activities - sports, creativity, volunteering - are becoming a source of sustainable remuneration.
5. Hybrid approach. The combination of technical methods (blocking, self-locking), psychotherapy and social practices gives the maximum effect.
Each story is unique, but they all demonstrate: with clear goals, systematic actions and support from others, abandonment of the game becomes an achievable and stable new norm of life.
