LifeMatters: Don't Gamble Your Life Away

Gambling as a form of recreation is becoming increasingly popular. If you are someone who gambles, whether in person or online, it’s important to set limits. People who take a healthy approach to gambling:

• Gamble for entertainment, not to make money.
• Balance gambling with other leisure activities.
• Accept losses as the cost of the entertainment experience.
• Only gamble with discretionary income (never with money that is needed to pay essential bills)
• Do not access additional funds (by going to the casino ATM, for example) once their initial gambling money is gone.
• Set a budget and stick to it.
• Set a time limit and quit when it’s up.
• Never borrow money to gamble.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Limit alcohol intake while gambling.

Others, however, may have difficulty with setting limits. Signs that gambling is becoming a problem include:

• An increased preoccupation with gambling.
• Gambling more often or for longer periods of time.
• Playing for higher stakes or to “chase” losses.
• Borrowing money to gamble.
• Feeling restless or irritable when not gambling or when attempting to stop.
• Neglecting personal needs, such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, or cleanliness.
• Losing control of the ability to stop gambling despite increasingly serious life consequences.

If gambling is harming your relationships or finances, LifeMatters can help – use the numbers below to contact them today.  The following link can help you locate local meetings and resources:

https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/

Monthly Features

Don’t forget to check out LifeMatters’ monthly webinars along with their monthly tip – both can be found on the dashboard using the below login credentials.

To access their online offerings, go to www.mylifematters.com and enter the password, Danos1.

LifeMatters Services

If you, or someone in your family, are experiencing difficult times, please contact LifeMatters by phone, 1.800.634.6433, or text “Hello” to 61295 to be connected with a professional counselor. Counselors are available to assist with emotional wellbeing, finances, and legal concerns. This service is free and is available 24/7/365. LifeMatters also has a free app – go to your app store to download.

Contact Emily Knight, Human Resources Specialist, with questions or feedback at [email protected] or by phone at 985.219.3337.