New Hampshire Council on Problem Gambling

09/01/2026

08/28/2026

Yes! Strong emotions can lead us to cope in unhealthy ways. Master your mind 🧠 and heart ❤️ to stay centered!

Strong emotions can be difficult to manage, and sometimes gambling may feel like a temporary escape. But using gambling to cope with stress, sadness, anger, anxiety, or other difficult feelings can create additional challenges instead of addressing what’s underneath.

Healthy coping can look different for everyone. Taking a walk, journaling, practicing mindfulness, doing something you enjoy, or simply talking to someone you trust can help you process emotions in healthier ways. Small changes can become meaningful steps toward recovery.

📞 If gambling is becoming a way to manage difficult emotions, confidential support is available. Call 1-800-MY-RESET.

GamblingRecovery MentalHealthAwareness SupportIsAvailable YouAreNotAlone ChooseRecovery MCPG HopeStartsHere

08/27/2026

💯‼️🙏

Sometimes the strongest step forward is accepting what you can't control and focusing on what you can.

Recovery is built one decision at a time.

Learn more about problem gambling prevention, support, and recovery at svpgc.org

08/25/2026

You really, really do.

08/25/2026

MYTH: Poker is a game of skill, and I’m good at it!
BUSTED: Yes, there are some elements of skill, but don’t be fooled into thinking your skill can outweigh chance.
With millions of possible hands, the luck of the draw is most often the deciding factor.

08/24/2026

You keep asking when it gets better.

I understand why. I asked the same thing.

You’re tired. You’re looking at all the harm gambling caused, the debt that still feels impossible, and the trust that’s been broken. You don’t know what your future looks like or whether you’ll ever feel like yourself again.

So, from one woman who’s lived through this to another, I want you to hear me when I say: It DOES get better.

Not because everything will magically work itself out. The debt won’t disappear overnight, and some things will take time to repair. I know that’s probably not the answer you want. It wasn’t the answer I wanted either.

I needed to know when the hurting would stop. When the urges and shame would go away. When the people I loved would forgive me.

More than anything, I wanted to know when I would forgive myself.

Recovery didn’t answer those questions all at once. In the beginning, it simply meant getting through the day without gambling. I learned to sit with hard feelings instead of trying to escape them. I joined meetings and listened because I didn’t know what to say or what to do next.

It still didn’t feel like enough when I wanted my whole life fixed right then. But every day I didn’t gamble meant there wasn’t another lie, more debt, or a bigger mess waiting for me the next morning.

After a while, I noticed gambling was taking up less space in my mind. I started facing the things I’d been avoiding. I answered the phone, opened the mail, and looked at my bank account. None of it was easy, but every time I faced something instead of running from it, I was healing.

Life still has bad days. Recovery didn’t take away my emotions or protect me from everything that hurts. It taught me that I could feel all the emotions without burning everything down or giving up on myself.

Somewhere in all those days and all that work, I started to feel like myself again. After years of chaos, life is pretty damn good.

So, when does it get better, you ask?

I can’t give you a date. For me, it happened little by little, through the good moments and the hard ones, as I learned to live with honesty, accountability, and curiosity.

You may not be able to see that life yet, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get there.

You don’t have to fix everything today. You don’t have to know how this story will go.

For now, just get through today without gambling. Let tomorrow meet you when it gets here.

You are going to be okay.❤️

08/20/2026

Recovery from problem gambling isn’t about getting your life back to exactly the way it was. It’s about building something better…with more peace, more freedom, and more control over where your time, energy, and money go.

It can start with one honest moment: “This isn’t working for me anymore.”

From there, every choice not to gamble is a step forward. Every conversation is a step forward. Every day you choose yourself over the urge is a step forward.

And if you’ve stumbled along the way, that doesn’t erase your progress. Recovery isn’t perfect. It’s personal, and it’s possible.

You are not defined by how much you’ve lost, how long you’ve struggled, or how many times you’ve tried.

There is a life beyond gambling—and you’re worth fighting for it. ❤️

08/20/2026

Sometimes the habit isn't gambling.
It's worrying about gambling.

If you've found yourself checking your bank account over and over, replaying recent bets in your mind, or hoping the numbers look different than you remember, you're not alone.

Problem gambling doesn't always begin with big losses. Sometimes it starts with thoughts that become harder to ignore.

Taking a moment to recognize those patterns isn't about judgment. It's about giving yourself the opportunity to make informed choices.

Learn more about the signs of problem gambling and available resources at svpgc.org.

08/18/2026

Families: If every crisis feels like you have to rescue — you’re not alone.

In last week’s Family Recovery Compass, we explored one small shift that breaks the cycle of codependent reacting:

✅ When the request comes — pause.
✅ Say: “I understand, and I need a moment to think about the best way I can help.”
✅ Use that pause to choose a response that supports recovery, not rescuing.

It’s a tiny pause that changes everything: less guilt, more clarity, stronger boundaries.

Get grounded, practical tools, in Family Recovery Compass, every week → lk2.app/frc7

08/14/2026

Public understanding of gambling addiction is changing.

According to a 2026 national survey, 79% of Americans believe gambling addiction is as serious as or more serious than alcohol or drug addiction.

Recognizing problem gambling as a real and treatable health condition helps reduce stigma. It also encourages more people to seek support when they need it.

Learn more at svpgc.org.

Source: National Council on Problem Gambling and The Harris Poll (2026)