Download the App!
show episodes
 
Fold em offers straight talk about dealing with the fall-out from gambling. Whether you are looking at stopping or scaling back your own gambling or helping a family member with a problem, this podcast will help you take back control. Hear from gamblers who have been through it. Tips from counsellors. There is a way out from the hold gambling has on your life. Learn more about how to address gambling problems and find resources and support at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca
  continue reading
 
Loading …
show series
 
Making changes isn't easy. When gambling gets out of control, change is often more challenging. It can be hard to get to that place where you're ready to pull back from gambling. When you do stop, there are so many other issues to address (finances, relationships, your health) that it can feel overwhelming. It's not unusual to find that gambling ho…
  continue reading
 
As you get pulled into gambling, your thinking changes. Your mind finds ways of convincing you to keep gambling, even when there are signs to stop. To an outsider, ideas such as "a win is just around the corner" or "I have a system that's guaranteed to win" seem irrational. But when you're in it, it feels real and true. In this episode, I'm joined …
  continue reading
 
Experiencing grief and loss is hard enough. But, when grief leads to gambling problems, it gets harder. Grief (like other big stressors) can create risk for gambling getting out of control. It can also set the stage for a relapse if you previously stopped gambling. In this episode of Fold em, we hear from Sam about her experiences with grief and pr…
  continue reading
 
One of the most distressing effects of problem gambling is the way is breaks down trust in relationships. In this episode, we offer guidance on how to rebuild that trust- emotionally and financially. You hear from Regina, who brings much experience on this topic. Seven years into her marriage, Regina's husband revealed he had a gambling addiction. …
  continue reading
 
In this episode, you hear from someone whose career has focused on better understanding gambling problems. Dr. Marc Potenza is a psychiatrist and professor at Yale University and Director of the Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research. Since he's very familiar with the research on gambling addiction, I asked him questions that I commonly hear in …
  continue reading
 
When you gamble, it affects your brain and body. It's common to experience an urge to gamble. This involves thinking a lot about gambling or winning, having a strong desire to gamble, and feeling restless, anxious, excited and/or irritable. Urges can also continue after you stop gambling and create risk for relapse. In this episode of Fold em, we r…
  continue reading
 
You may have heard this before ... gambling problems lead to isolation and the way forward is through connection. Maybe you're thinking, "That sounds nice, but connection is not on my agenda because I'm working all the time to pay off debt and the people in my life don't trust me." Well hang in with us, keep an open mind, and listen to this episode…
  continue reading
 
There are lots of options for free slots, poker and sports betting online. Seems innocent enough at first glance. However, there can be unexpected risks and costs of "free" online play, particularly if you've previously struggled with keeping gambling in check. In this episode, hear from two people who continued to play free online gambling games a…
  continue reading
 
When you've already taken those hard steps to pull back from gambling and face the fall out, you want to keep the momentum going, right? This is the final episode of four that provides guidance on how to stop gambling and stay on track long-term. In this one, we walk you through how to make a Recovery Plan for yourself. This plan outlines what is n…
  continue reading
 
There's an important step that often gets missed when stopping gambling. This involves asking someone who knows about gambling issues or addiction to help watch out for signs that you're at risk to gamble again. Why is this important? Because you may not be aware it's happening or will downplay it in your own mind. This is our third of four episode…
  continue reading
 
Want to make sure that you or a loved one doesn't get pulled back into a gambling problem? Then know what to watch out for. In this episode, learn about common and predictable ways that people get pulled into a relapse. And, how to identify signs that you are at risk to gamble again. Be prepared in order to protect yourself. We hear from Shane who …
  continue reading
 
What does it take to stop gambling and stay stopped? We're answering this question for you over the next four episodes. In this first one, we focus on the importance of being honest with yourself about the impact of gambling - on you and your life, as well as on those around you. If what you have been doing to address a gambling problem hasn't been…
  continue reading
 
Most of us encounter gambling daily in our communities. There's scratch and lottery tickets at the gas station, sports pools at work, and bingo down the road. In addition, there's all the gambling we encounter in fundraising - the 50/50 draws at local sporting events as well as raffles and community bingo. Do you think of all of these as gambling? …
  continue reading
 
After finding out that your spouse has a gambling problem or has had a relapse, it's understandable that you feel like your life has been turned upside down. You likely are feeling shock, anger and hurt because of the secrecy that typically comes with gambling problems. Stress and anxiety are also high because your financial security and trust with…
  continue reading
 
When you have concerns about someone's gambling, it's not easy to talk about. It's often challenging to prevent these conversations from going off the rails. In this episode, we offer guidance for these tricky conversations. Spouses, family members and friends will hear strategies to use when first talking about gambling or if you suspect there has…
  continue reading
 
When dealing with gambling problems, many people worry about switching to another bad habit or addiction. It's important to pay attention to this because switching or substituting addictions (also called cross addiction) can be frustrating, de-moralizing and really dammaging to a person's life. In this episode of Fold em, we tell you what you need …
  continue reading
 
Saul grew up betting on fantasy baseball. He says it was "a part of my life" and "what tied my group of friends together." In college, when a friend suggested they bet on sports with a bookie he didn't think much about it before saying "I'm in." Saul's experience is pretty typical. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, about 67% of…
  continue reading
 
Lots of people are playing fantasy sports. For some, particularly when you play daily or with multiple lineups, it can take up increasing amounts of time, focus and money. Steve Delaney joins us to share his experiences with this and how, for him, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) turned into something that was stressful, costly and all-consuming. Listen …
  continue reading
 
When spouses and family members learn about a loved one's gambling problem, money issues come into the open. Usually this involves debt and it feels overwhelming and emotional. Typically, people don't know what to do. There is often a reflex to step in and pay things off quickly. In this episode of Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems, we offer guid…
  continue reading
 
It's not easy to talk openly about gambling issues. Nor is it easy to talk about living with mental health issues. In this episode, hear an open, thoughtful and inspiring conversation about one man's experiences with Bipolar Disorder and how this contributed to drinking, gambling and gaming getting out of hand for him. Hear how he is now free of ga…
  continue reading
 
It can be frustrating if you've promised yourself to pull back from gambling and then find you're back at it again. Sometimes this happens the next day. Sometimes after a month, year or more. It's not easy or simple to stay away from gambling when you're really hooked in to it. But as difficult as setbacks are, it's an opportunity to see more clear…
  continue reading
 
John Woods knows a lot about gambling addiction. He gambled for 30 years and tried it all - slots, horse races, online poker and sports betting. John knows about hitting rock bottom because of gambling, the promises you make to yourself to stop, and the tricky ways it pulls you back in. But most importantly, he has first hand experience with overco…
  continue reading
 
Gambling problems put a huge strain on relationships and finances. It's hard to know what to do and where to turn for help. Listen to this episode to hear from someone who gets it and got through it. Jane talks openly about how her marriage and family were impacted by her husband's gambling, what she learned from relapses, and what helped to stabil…
  continue reading
 
When gambling becomes a habit, you likely are not even aware of having urges and cravings to gamble. You just do it automatically. When you decide to pull back or stop gambling, then you might notice that it's hard to resist urges to gamble. In this episode, we help you to slow things down and notice gambling triggers, urges and cravings. We also o…
  continue reading
 
As you gamble more, it's common to notice more urges and impulses to gamble. These cravings can lead to gambling becoming a habit. They also can make it hard to decrease or stop gambling. In this episode, I'm joined by Kari Olson, who is a counsellor with Gambling Support BC who specializing in gambling problems, substance addiction and trauma. She…
  continue reading
 
The expansion of sports betting in North America had a headstart in the United Kingdom. In this episode, hear from James who lived through this in Britain. He talks about the impact on him of increased online access to sports betting and betting groups. And how what was once a Saturday afternoon trip to the betting shop to wager on a football game …
  continue reading
 
I'm joined by SIX people who host and produce podcasts about gambling problems. They all have personal experience with this issue and have done a lot of work to address it, so don't miss this conversation. Hear about all of their podcasts and what each can offer you. For those making New Year's resolutions listen to a great discussion about how to …
  continue reading
 
The holiday season can bring more exposure to gambling - through gifting scratch and lottery products, invitations to meet at the casino, or family and friends placing a bet on a card game or sporting event. In this episode, Tracy Tsui, who provides gambling outreach support joins me. We talk about why it is important to pay attention to gambling o…
  continue reading
 
As people face gambling problems, it's common to feel low, stressed and anxious. You may feel relief from opening up about this issue but find that feelings of shame and guilt are hard to shake. As you return to activities that used to be enjoyable, or do things to help yourself feel better, it feels flat. In this episode of Fold em, our brain expe…
  continue reading
 
There is no question that gambling problems are stressful and difficult. But, can good things emerge from these problems for you and your life? In this episode, hear from Julie who recently marked three years without gambling. She is joined by her counsellor, Allison Rice. They talk about all the ways that life has changed for the better for Julie …
  continue reading
 
Problem gambling leads people to do things they wouldn't normally do. For some, this includes committing a financial crime, such as forgery, embezzlement and theft. These crimes come about as a way to deal with debt and to get money to gamble. Facing a gambling problem is hard enough, but when it also involves dealing with charges and the court sys…
  continue reading
 
In this episode, hear from Marcia about how she not only stopped gambling, but also made changes to how she and her partner handle money. Almost two-years in, she tell us "It feels amazing to not be worried about money. Having that security also helps my gambling recovery." Amanda Martin, from the Credit Counselling Society, also returns to Fold em…
  continue reading
 
For some, gambling leads to a situation where you can't pay your bills and debts when they are due. This is incredibly stressful. Listen now to hear about two options for addressing insolvency: a consumer proposal and personal bankruptcy. Blair Mantin, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee and President of Sands and Associates, joins me in this episode. He…
  continue reading
 
With gambling debt, it can feel like you're backed into a corner. But, there are options for moving forward besides hoping for a big win. In this episode, hear Adrian share his story of stopping gambling and getting out of a tough cycle with payday loan companies and living pay cheque to pay cheque. Amanda Martin, a Financial Educator with the Cred…
  continue reading
 
The ads with celebrity endorsements and incentives to give sports betting a try are everywhere. Hear from Joel Soper, a compulsive gambler who knows the industry well, about the risks and downsides of sports betting. Listen now to this episode and learn about: Joel's personal experience with sports gambling Why it's hard to pull away from sports be…
  continue reading
 
It's common to get caught up in the emotions of gambling. Who hasn't had thoughts such as, "I'm on a lucky streak!" or "I'm due for a win anytime." In this episode, we share examples of how our thinking gets off track because of the emotions of gambling. We present some facts to help you think straight and keep gambling in control. Learn about: how…
  continue reading
 
How do you know if gambling is a problem? In this episode we help you to recognize the warning signs of a gambling problem. We also offer guidance on next steps to take if you or a loved one have concerns about gambling. Listen now to learn about: seven warning signs of a gambling problem what to do if you notice signs of a gambling problem in your…
  continue reading
 
Most of us gamble. In British Columbia, nearly 75% of adults gambled at least once in the past year. For some (about 3-4% of adults), it gets out of hand and causes problems. If you gamble, how do you keep it in check? What limits should you set for yourself? How do you stick to these limits? In this episode, we tell you about guidelines that have …
  continue reading
 
There are many options for help, support and treatment for gambling concerns. Everyone is different so it's important to find what works best for you. In this episode, hear Brian's personal experiences with various recovery programs. He is now a Certified Gambling Recovery Peer Mentor and shares tips for moving forward. Listen now to learn: what's …
  continue reading
 
A common question with gambling problems is, "Why Can't I Stop?" In this episode we hear from Deirdre Querney, MSW, and Dr. Iris Balodis who answer this question by telling us about the brain and gambling addiction. Tune in to learn about: how gambling addiction changes the brain why people with gambling addiction have a hard time pulling back from…
  continue reading
 
It's hard on parents and families when an adult son or daughter have a gambling problem. In this episode of Fold em, a mother shares what she has learned as her son dealt with gambling addiction for the past seven years. Irene Tang, who has counselled families through gambling problems for twenty-five years, share strategies for moving forward. Lis…
  continue reading
 
Gambling problems can create a lot of stress in families. Children and young people may not know that a parent or caregiver is struggling with gambling, but they feel the impact. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Toula Kourgiantakis about: how parental gambling problems affect families and children signs that a young person is impacted by a parent'…
  continue reading
 
In this episode, hear my conversation with a former sports better about: how sports betting took over his life what happened when family got involved how he solved a debt problem what helped him to get to 10-months without a bet his suggestions for others who have had sports betting take over their life Learn more about why it's hard to step back f…
  continue reading
 
Gambling problems can return, and addiction may show up again in different ways. To keep your momentum going, take steps to prevent a relapse and rebuild your life and relationships. Allison Rice, a counsellor specializing in gambling problems, offers guidance learned from 20-years of working with people to overcome addiction Learn more about preve…
  continue reading
 
As you begin to face gambling problems, it's hard to know if you're on track. To keep things moving in a positive direction, it's helpful to get guidance from people who have been through it. Allison Rice, a counsellor specializing in addiction, shares her learnings about what works in the beginning. This episode offers guidance for those strugglin…
  continue reading
 
Permission giving thoughts come up to justify, rationalize and allow gambling to happen - even when part of you isn't so sure about it. In this episode, learn how to notice your permission giving thoughts so you can slow things down and have more control of gambling choices. A former gambler gives examples of her permission giving thoughts. Jackie …
  continue reading
 
There has been a dramatic increase in advertising for sports betting as well opportunities to place a bet. However, the public conversation has been pretty silent about gambling problems associated with sports betting. John Simmons shares his personal story about an addiction with poker and sports betting. He's a former casino worker and talks open…
  continue reading
 
Listen in for information and first hand experience with managing adult ADHD. We explain why adults with ADHD are at increased risk for gambling problems. Hear about strategies specifically for adults with ADHD - how to keep gambling in check and how to prevent a relapse if you struggle with compulsive gambling. I'm joined by Darryl Anderson, a cou…
  continue reading
 
If you gamble and have ADHD there is a greater risk that gambling will become a severe problem. In this episode, learn about the symptoms of ADHD and challenges of living with it as an adult. Darryl Anderson, a Clinical Counsellor specializing in mental health and gambling concerns, explains why ADHD increases the risk for gambling problems. He als…
  continue reading
 
After gambling gets out of hand, both the gambler and their family want to know ... How do we make sure this doesn't happen again? How do we rebuild trust between us? Not all relationships survive gambling addiction. But, if you're committed to working together, this episode offers guidance and inspiration. Hear Sam's story of opening up to her hus…
  continue reading
 
Loading …

Quick Reference Guide