Gambling Has Left Me in Debt, What Should I Do First?
Not every repetitive behaviour is an addiction, and it is easy to medicalise ordinary things people enjoy.
Not every repetitive behaviour is an addiction, and it is easy to medicalise ordinary things people enjoy.
Shopping, gaming, pornography, scrolling, exercise or other activities can all be part of normal life.
The question becomes more useful when the behaviour repeatedly feels difficult to control, is being used to escape uncomfortable feelings and is beginning to cause harm elsewhere.
Look at function before applying a label
Ask what happens immediately before the behaviour.
Are you bored, lonely, anxious, rejected, angry or overwhelmed? Does the activity create excitement, numbness, distraction, comfort or a sense of control?
If the same emotional state repeatedly leads to the same behaviour, you have identified a pattern worth understanding.
Notice when choice begins to narrow
A behaviour may deserve attention if you repeatedly spend more time or money than intended, hide it, neglect responsibilities, lose sleep, withdraw from relationships or continue despite consequences you genuinely want to avoid.
The important issue is not whether somebody else thinks the activity is excessive. It is whether it is interfering with the life you want to live.
Be precise about what is and is not a recognised diagnosis
Clinical terminology varies between behaviours.
For example, gambling disorder and gaming disorder are recognised diagnostic concepts, while everyday language often uses “addiction” much more broadly for shopping, pornography, social media and other behaviours.
You do not need to settle the diagnostic label yourself. A professional can help assess what is happening and whether a recognised mental-health or behavioural condition is relevant.
Change the cue as well as trying to resist the behaviour
If the behaviour always happens in bed, after an argument, when you are alone, on payday or when you feel rejected, alter the situation where possible.
That might mean removing saved payment details, changing device routines, planning contact during lonely periods or leaving a particular environment.
The point is to interrupt an automatic sequence.
Build another way of meeting the underlying need
If gaming is your only social contact, simply deleting the game may increase isolation. If shopping gives a burst of excitement during low mood, removing shopping leaves the low mood. If pornography is being used to manage anxiety or loneliness, those feelings still need somewhere to go.
Work on the underlying need as well as the behaviour.
When professional support may help
Consider seeking professional help if the behaviour feels persistently out of control, is causing significant financial, relationship, work or wellbeing problems, or repeated attempts to change it have not lasted.
A GP, counsellor or appropriate specialist service can help you explore the behaviour without assuming in advance what diagnosis or treatment you need.
Last reviewed
6 September 2026
Important informationThis guide provides general information only and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional healthcare, addiction-treatment, gambling-treatment or other specialist advice. Alcohol, drug use, gambling and other repetitive behaviours can affect people in different ways. Appropriate support will depend on individual circumstances.