Quitting gambling triggers real grief — mourning, guilt, and loss. Research on urge surfing explains why saying no feels like punishment, and why it transforms into freedom.
Peer-reviewed psychology reveals that giving up an addiction triggers a genuine grief response, complete with mourning, guilt, and a sense of betrayal. Research on craving, self-efficacy, and urge surfing explains why the first moments of saying no feel like punishment, why so many people relapse, and why the grief eventually transforms into something the addiction could never deliver.
By Kate Mosley, Gambling Recovery Coach.
The Grief of Saying No: Why Refusing to Gamble Feels Like Losing a Friend