How do I overcome my gambling addiction?

By acknowledging that you are not addicted and accepting responsibility for your actions, you can make better decisions. Your free will is the strongest tool you have to bring about change in your life. Changing a behavior requires a genuine desire to do so. No one is forcing you to engage in harmful activities like gambling or substance abuse. These choices are entirely up to you, based on the lies and truths you tell yourself. Research shows that people only overcome behavioral problems when they truly want to. While addiction may seem powerful, ultimately, it is your choice whether to put a cigarette in your mouth or consume alcohol or pills. Some may argue that withdrawal is an excuse, but it's important to be honest with yourself about your actions and intentions. If you're using money meant for your child's needs to gamble, you are deceiving yourself about the purpose of that money. Honesty with yourself is crucial in making the decision not to place a bet. Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous have helped many people, but they have high dropout rates and a flawed approach. They deny the existence of free will and emphasize a diseased perspective. Instead of helping people change their behaviors, they primarily focus on managing the consequences. Groups for gamblers can be especially damaging, as they encourage you to publicly declare yourself as an addict who can't be trusted with money. This often leads to losing jobs and friends. It doesn't have to be difficult to quit gambling; you simply need to genuinely want to stop. When you're honest with yourself and truly see your actions for what they are, you will be able to put an end to destructive habits. Until then, any excuses or theories about addiction are merely untrue justifications. Joe Cocker's wife was surprised at how easily he stopped drinking and drugs, questioning why he hadn't done it sooner and put her through years of torment. The choice is yours. Choose your free will and a life of freedom instead of self-imposed limitations.